Deer

You will need
• Stylecraft Special DK, 100% acrylic (323yd/295m per 100g ball):
1 x 100g ball in 1064 Mocha (A)
Small amount in 1218 Parchment (B) for forehead
Small amount in 1002 Black (C) for paws, feet and nose
Small amount in 1054 Walnut (D) for antlers
• 3.5mm (UK9, USE/4) crochet hook
• Tapestry needle
• Polyester stuffing
• 12mm safety eyes

The deer is 17in/43cm tall

Ears (make 2)
Using 3.5mm hook and A, make a magic ring.
Round 1: 1 ch, 4 dc into the centre of the ring (4 sts).
Round 2: (1 dc, dc2inc) twice (6 sts).
Round 3: (2 dc, dc2inc) twice (8 sts).
Round 4: (3 dc, dc2inc) twice (10 sts).
Round 5: (4 dc, dc2inc) twice (12 sts).
Round 6: (5 dc, dc2inc) twice (14 sts).
Round 7: (6 dc, dc2inc) twice (16 sts).
Rounds 8–12: Work 5 rounds straight.
Round 13: (6 dc, dc2tog) twice (14 sts).
Round 14: (5 dc, dc2tog) twice (12 sts).
Fasten off leaving an 8in (20cm) tail of yarn. Flatten ear.

Antlers (make 2)
Using 3.5mm hook and D, make a magic ring.
Round 1: 1 ch, 5 dc into the centre of the ring (5 sts).
Rounds 2–7: Work 6 rounds straight.
Fasten off leaving an 8in (20cm) tail of yarn. Put a little stuffing in each antler piece. Sew one piece halfway up the other to create an antler.

Head
Using 3.5mm hook and A, make a magic ring.
Round 1: 1 ch, 6 dc into the centre of the ring.
Round 2: 2 dc into each st (12 sts).
Round 3: (1 dc, dc2inc) 6 times (18 sts).
Rounds 4–5: 1 dc in each st around.
You will now work the head in Mocha (A) and in Parchment (B). When you are not crocheting a colour run the yarn through the back of the stitch and then pick up this strand of yarn when you need to change colour.
Round 6: (2 dc, dc2inc) three times, then change to Parchment (B) (2 dc, dc2inc), then change to Mocha (A)
(2 dc, dc2inc) twice (24 sts).
Round 7: (3 dc, dc2inc) three times, then change to Parchment (B) (3 dc, dc2inc), then change to Mocha (A)
(3 dc, dc2inc) twice (30 sts).
Round 8: (4 dc, dc2inc) three times, then change to Parchment (B) (4 dc, dc2inc), then change to Mocha (A)
(4 dc, dc2inc) twice (36 sts).
Round 9: (5 dc, dc2inc) three times, then change to Parchment (B) (5 dc, dc2inc), then change to Mocha (A)
(5 dc, dc2inc) twice (42 sts).
Round 10: (6 dc, dc2inc) three times, then change to Parchment (B) (6 dc, dc2inc), then change to Mocha (A) (6 dc, dc2inc) twice (48 sts).
Round 11: (7 dc, dc2inc) three times, then change to Parchment (B) (7 dc, dc2inc), then change to Mocha (A) (7 dc, dc2inc) twice (54 sts).
Round 12: (8 dc, dc2inc) three times, then change to Parchment (B) (8 dc, dc2inc), then change to Mocha (A) (8 dc, dc2inc) twice (60 sts).
Round 13: (9 dc, dc2inc) three times, then change to Parchment (B) (9 dc, dc2inc), then change to Mocha (A) (9 dc, dc2inc) twice (66 sts).
Round 14: 33 dc, then change to Parchment (B) 11 dc, then change to Mocha (A) 22 dc (66 sts).
Round 15: 33 dc, then change to Parchment (B) 11 dc, then change to Mocha (A) 22 dc (66 sts).
Round 16: 34 dc, then change to Parchment (B) 11 dc, then change to Mocha (A) 21 dc (66 sts).
Round 17: 34 dc, then change to Parchment (B) 11 dc, then change to Mocha (A) 21 dc (66 sts).
Fasten off (B) just work in A.
Make slots for ears and antlers
Round 18: 25 dc, 3 ch, miss 3 sts, 5 dc, 2 ch, miss 2 sts, 9 dc, 2 ch, miss 2 sts, 5 dc, 3 ch, miss 3 sts, 12 dc (66 sts).
Round 19: 1 dc in each dc and each ch.
Rounds 20–21: Work 2 rounds straight.
Round 22: (9 dc, dc2tog) 6 times (60 sts).
Round 23: (8 dc, dc2tog) 6 times (54 sts).
Round 24: (7 dc, dc2tog) 6 times (48 sts).
Round 25: (6 dc, dc2tog) 6 times (42 sts).
Round 26: (5 dc, dc2tog) 6 times (36 sts).
Round 27: (4 dc, dc2tog) 6 times (30 sts).
Round 28: (3 dc, dc2tog) 6 times (24 sts).
Stop at this point. Put a safety pin on your working loop. Using the photograph as a guide, position and secure safety eyes on the head. Then place the base of the ears in each ear slot and sew on firmly. Then place the base of the antlers in slots and sew on firmly. Stuff the head firmly. Then return to finishing the decreasing, putting the working loop back on your crochet hook.
Round 29: (2 dc, dc2tog) 6 times (18 sts).
Round 30: (1 dc, dc2tog) 6 times (12 sts).
Round 31: Dc2to