Tester Call: How to Crochet Reindeer Dumpling Plushie for Christmas Gifting

Author: Talha

I am a crochet designer, macramé maker and a crafter who also loves doing MATH.

Today, you can test another oh-so cute crochet Christmas dumpling plushie! Introducing the crochet reindeer bao bun and dumpling in a steamer box plushie that you can learn to crochet with a FREE written pattern.

The idea is to crochet a dumpling in a steamer basket with antlers and a cute reindeer face. You can make the antlers removable so you can close the box by gluing the snap buttons below the antlers.

Can be crocheted in under 45 minutes as a playable Christmas present. Now, continue reading to learn more about this oh-so cute plush dumpling for Christmas!

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Tester Patterns

Here is the crochet pattern to make this adorable Plush Reindeer Dumpling (Bao) nestled inside its matching Bright Red Steamer Basket, featuring textured antlers, a sweet white muzzle, and festive holiday details.

Pattern Details

Skill Level: Intermediate (due to joining small pieces like antlers and the muzzle)
Finished Size: Dumpling is approximately 7 cm (2.8 in) tall/wide; basket is custom-fitted to hold it.
Terminology: US Crochet Terms

Materials & Tools

Plush / Chenille Yarn (Super Bulky / Category 6, ~100 g / 120 m):
- Color A: Light Brown / Tan (for the reindeer dumpling body)
- Color B: Bright Red (for the steamer basket container and lid)
Worsted Weight Yarn:
- Color D: Dark Brown (for the antlers)
Fine Cotton / DK Weight Yarn:
- White: (for the muzzle)
Crochet Hooks:
- 4.0 mm hook (for the plush dumpling body and steamer basket)
- 2.5 mm hook (for the worsted weight antlers)
- 1.7 mm hook (for the DK weight white muzzle)
Safety Eyes: 12 mm (black or glitter safety eyes)
Extras: Fiberfill stuffing, Tapestry / yarn needle, Stitch markers, Scissors, Sewing pins, Pink felt or blush for cheeks.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

MR: Magic Ring (Magic Circle)
ch: Chain
sc: Single crochet
inc: Increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
dec: Decrease (single crochet 2 stitches together / invisible decrease)
sc2tog: Single crochet 2 stitches together
sl st: Slip stitch
BLO: Back loop only
FLO: Front loop only
st(s): Stitch(es)
[ ]: Stitch count at the end of the round
( … ) * X: Repeat the instructions in brackets X times

Part 1: The Reindeer Dumpling Body

Work in continuous spirals using Color A (Light Brown / Tan) and a 4.0 mm hook. Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round.

Round 1: In a MR, work 8 sc. [8]
Round 2: 8 inc. [16]
Round 3: (1 sc, inc) * 8. [24]
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) * 8. [32]
Rounds 5–8 (4 rounds): 32 sc around. [32]
Round 9: (2 sc, dec) * 8. [24]

Safety Eye Placement: Insert 12 mm safety eyes between Rounds 7 and 8, leaving 6 stitches visible between them. Secure the safety backings firmly inside.

Round 10: (1 sc, dec) * 8. [16]
Stuffing: Add fiberfill stuffing now. Stuff softly and evenly so the dumpling stays squishy and rounded, not overly rigid.
Round 11: 8 dec. [8]

Dumpling Top Pleat / Ruffle (Round 12)

Do not close the hole yet! You will first create the fluted top opening of the dumpling.

Round 12: Work into the Front Loops Only (FLO):
- (inc, 1 sc) * 4 [12]
Cut the plush yarn leaving a small tail (~10 cm), make a slip stitch into the next stitch to finish the edge neatly, and tuck the tail inside the body.

Cinching the Top Hole

Take a length of strong, thinner neutral thread and thread it onto a needle.
Pass the needle through the remaining unworked Back Loops of Round 11 (located on the inside base of the top ruffle) all the way around.
Pull both ends of the thread firmly to cinch the hole completely shut beneath the ruffle.
Tie 2–3 tight knots and hide the thread ends inside the plush body.

Part 2: The Antlers (Make 2)

Using Color D (Dark Brown) worsted weight yarn and a 2.5 mm hook.

Part 1

Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6 sts) (Alternatively: ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook).
Rnds 2–4: Sc in each st around. (6 sts for 3 rounds)
Fasten off leaving a long tail for stitching later. Leave the stitch marker in the last stitch for reference when joining.
Lightly stuff.

Part 2

Repeat Part 1, but do not fasten off. Leave the stitch marker in place.

Joining Antlers Part 1 and Part 2

Design Note: Keep the tail of Part 1 on the outside so it remains accessible for closing the gap later.

Rnd 5 (Joining): With the working loop still on your hook, insert the hook into the first st of Part 1 (marked with a stitch marker) from right to wrong side, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops (mark this new stitch as your starting stitch). Sc in the next 5 sts around Part 1. Next, join back onto Part 2: insert hook into the first st of Part 2 (marked with a stitch marker) from right to wrong side, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops (remove this marker). Sc in the next 5 sts around Part 2. [12]
Use the yarn tail from Part 1 and a tapestry needle to neatly stitch up the small gap where Part 1 and Part 2 join.
Lightly stuff and shape the antler as you work.
Rnd 6: [Sc in the next st, sc2tog] 4 times. [8]
Rnd 7: Sc in the next st, sc2tog, sc in the next 2 sts, sc2tog, sc in the next st. [6]
Rnds 8–9: Sc in each st around. (6 sts for 2 rounds)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing the antlers to the head. Set aside.

Part 3: The White Muzzle

Foundation: Ch 3.

Round 1 (Foundation Oval):
- Working down the chain: 2 sc in the 2nd ch from hook, sc in the next ch, 2 sc in the last ch.
- Rotate work to crochet down the opposite side (back bumps):
- 2 sc in the back bump of the same end stitch, sc in the back bump of the next ch, 2 sc in the last back bump.
- Join with a sl st to the first sc. (10 sts)
Round 2:
- Ch 1. [Inc in next 2 sts, sc in next st, inc in next 2 sts] twice.
- Join with a sl st to the first sc. (18 sts)
Round 3:
- Ch 1. [(Sc in next st, inc) twice, sc in next st, (sc in next st, inc) twice] twice.
- Join with a sl st to the first sc, fasten off, and weave in ends. (26 sts)

Part 4: The Red Steamer Basket Container

The basket consists of two identical halves (base and lid) crocheted in Color B (Bright Red) using a 4.0 mm hook.

Halves (Make 2)

Round 1: In a MR, work 8 sc. [8]
Round 2: 8 inc. [16]
Round 3: (1 sc, inc) * 8. [24]
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) * 8. [32]
Round 5: (7 sc, inc) * 4. [36]
Round 6: In Back Loops Only (BLO): 36 sc around. [36] (This creates the sharp bottom crease of the basket).
Rounds 7–8 (2 rounds): Through both loops: 36 sc around. [36]
For the 1st Half (Base): Fasten off and weave in the yarn.
For the 2nd Half (Lid): Do NOT cut the working yarn.

Joining the Two Halves (The Hinge)

Align the two open halves edge-to-edge with right sides facing out.
Using the working loop from the 2nd half, join them across 4 to 5 stitches along the back rim:
- Insert your hook through the BLO of the top half and the corresponding FLO of the bottom half.
- Work 1 sc across each of the 4–5 pairs of loops to create a flexible hinge.
Test-fit your reindeer dumpling inside to ensure the basket opens and closes cleanly.
Sl st, fasten off the hinge yarn, and weave in the end.

Adding the Lid Handle Strap

Attach Color B yarn to the top center of the lid right above the hinge seam.
Chain a strip across the top of the dome (approx. 16–18 chains, long enough to reach from the back hinge to the front center edge without pulling too tight).
Secure the end of the chain to the front edge with a sc / sl st.
Ch 1, turn, and work 1 sc in each chain stitch heading back toward the starting point to create a sturdy, flat handle strap.
Join with a sl st to the starting edge, fasten off, and weave in all tails.

Part 5: Assembly & Finishing

Attach the Muzzle: Pin the white oval muzzle centrally below the safety eyes (spanning across Rounds 6–10 of the dumpling body). Stuff lightly with a tiny pinch of fiberfill before closing the seam completely.
Add the Reindeer Nose & Face Details:
- Glue or sew a small red pom-pom (or red felt circle) onto the upper center of the white muzzle.
- Embroider a small vertical mouth line running downward from the red nose using black thread.
- Add pink felt circles or pink blush under the safety eyes for rosy cheeks.
Attach the Antlers: Position the two dark brown antlers firmly on top of the head (on either side of the top ruffle/pleat). Sew them securely in place.
Final Presentation: Place your finished plush reindeer dumpling inside its bright red steamer basket, flip the lid shut over its antlers, and your holiday amigurumi set is complete!