Penguin and reindeer Christmas mini cups-free crochet pattern
The crochet penguin and reindeer basket are part of the Christmas crochet cups collection. Easy and quick project for a last-moment Christmas gift! You can fill them with some small gifts and candies or just use them to decorate your home.

The Christmas cup set is made of 6 different mini baskets.
- Santa Claus crochet mini basket.
- Reindeer crochet mini basket
- The Grinch crochet mini basket
- The Gingerman crochet mini basket
- The penguin mini basket.
These crochet cups are quick and easy last-minute gift projects that you can make in just an hour or less! With the coming of School’s holiday break, you can crochet a few for your child’s class and fill them with some candy and small gifts. The kids will love them! Last year, I made some easter baskets and fill them with chocolate bunnies for my mom’s kindergarten class. It was a blast among the little ones.
Don’t have time to make this pattern right now?
1. Purchase add-free/printable PDF on Etsy or Ravelry.
2. Pin it on your Pinterest boards for later.
3. Scroll down to see the free crochet pattern below.
A few notes before we start:
As I said the snowman is part of the Christmas mini basket collection. Before you start with this pattern please read all the information on the main post- Crochet Santa Claus cup.
The baskets can be worked in waistcoat stitch or regular single crochet stitch. If you use a single crochet stitch you need to reduce the rounds and work them till round 14 and then make the last round of crab stitch. I have a full video tutorial for this cup so if you have any troubles throughout the pattern check it out.

The pattern
MATERIALS:
- worsted weight yarn/aran weight yarn in brown for the reindeer and black for the penguin, a small amount of red for the reindeer’s nose, and orange or yellow for the penguin’s nose, a small amount of white for the penguin’s eyes.
- crochet hook size – 6mm/ J- hook size
- safety eyes – 12mm(not necessary)- you can always crochet them
ABBREVIATION:
SC- single crochet
**- repeat the stitches in ** indicated times
FO- fasten off
MR- magic ring
Crochet penguin and reindeer basket pattern:
We are working the cups in two strands, so the cups will be more thick and sturdy
-with brown if you are making the reindeer basket, with black if you are making the penguin
Rnd 1: Startt with a MR, and make SC into the ring, SS to join (6)
Rnd 2: CH 1, 2 SC in each around, SS to join (12)
Rnd 3: CH 1, *SC in first, 2 SC in next* rep from * to * 5 more times, SS to join (18)
Rnd 4: CH 1, *SC in first 2, 2 SC in next* rep from * to * 5 more times, SS to join (24)
Rnd 5: CH 1, *SC in first 3, 2 SC in next* rep from * to * 5 more times, SS to join (30)
The next round is worked in the Back loop only
Rnd 6: CH 1, SC in each stitch around, SS to join (30)
Rnd 7-16: CH 1, SC in each stitch around, SS to join (30)
The last round is the edging. i used reversed single crochet known as crab stitch also.
Rnd 18: CH 1, * reverse single crochet, CH 1, skip 1 stitch* repeat around, SS to join.
Penguin:
Eyes
-with white
CH 8, DC in 4th from your hook, DC in next 3, 5 DC in last, continue on the opposite side, DC in next 3, 2 DC in last. FO.
Beak:
-with orange
Row 1: CH 2, 3 SC in 2nd from your hook, CH 1, turn (3)
Row 2: SC in each across, CH 1, turn (3)
Row 3: 2 SC in first, SC in next 3, 2 SC in last, CH 1, turn (5)
Row 4: SC in each across. FO. (5)
Reindeer
Ears (make 2)
-with brown
CH 7, SS in 2nd, SC in next, HDC in next, 2 DC in next, HDC in next, 3 SC in last, continue working on the opposite side, HDC in next, 2 DC in next, HDC in next, 2 SC in last, SS to join
ANTLERS
-with dark brown color
CH 12, SC in 2nd from your hook, SC in next 4, (SC 1, HDC 1, SC 1 all in next), SC in next 4, SS in last. FO.
Nose:
-with red color
Rnd 1: Start with a MR, make 5 SC into the ring (5)
Rnd 2: 2 SC in each around (10)
Rnd 3: SC in each around (10). FO.
How to attach the pieces.
Penguin basket:
If you are using safety eyes insert them in the middle of the crocheted white pieces. Then place the white piece onto the upper part of your basket, leaving a few stitches between them. Sew the beak in the middle of the eyes but at the bottom.
Reindeer basket:
Insert the safety eyes in the middle of your cup. Then place the nose and sew it 2 rounds below the eyes. After that sew the ears and antlers from inside on the upper part of your cup.

I love all of these . So so cute , the Grinch is my top pick, then the snowman, the gingerbread man the penguin Santa, deer .Thank you so much for the written pattern I hope to get them all made.