TWIST & MARVEL YARN SANTA SOFTIE

Instructions

Note: This item has been worked on smaller needles and at a tighter tension than stated on product.

Body (make 2 pieces)

Using 4mm needles and C1, cast on 11sts.

Shape Leg Openings -

1st Row (RS) - Knit.

Working in stocking st (beg with a purl row), inc one st at each end of every row until there are 49sts. Tie a coloured thread at each end of last row to mark beg of side seams.

Work 2 rows stocking st.

Change to 3.25mm needles.

Using C3, knit 6 rows garter st.

Using C4, knit 6 rows garter st.

Change to 4mm needles.

Using C2, work 16 rows stocking st (beg with a knit row).

Tie a coloured thread at each end of last row to mark end of side seams.

Shape Armhole Openings -

Dec one st at each end of every row until 17sts rem.

Leave sts on a stitch-holder for Head.

Legs (make 2)

Using 3.25mm needles and C3, cast on 3sts.

1st Row (WS) - Knit.

2nd Row - Inc in each st to end ... 6sts.

Rep last 2 rows 3 times ... 48sts.

Knit 5 rows garter st.

14th Row - K21, (sl1, K2tog, psso) twice, K21 ... 44sts.

15th Row - Knit.

16th Row - K19, (sl1, K2tog, psso) twice, K19 ... 40sts.

17th Row - Knit.

18th Row - K18, (K2tog) twice, K18 ... 38sts.

19th Row - Knit.

Change to 4mm needles.

Using C1, work in stocking st (beg with a knit row), until C1 section measures 10cm, ending with a knit row on RS.

Shape Top -

Dec one st at each end of every row until 2sts rem.

Next Row (WS) - P2tog. Fasten off.

Arms (make 2)

Using 3.25mm needles and C5, cast on 3sts.

1st Row (WS) - Knit.

2nd Row - Inc in each st to end ... 6sts.

Rep 1st and 2nd Row twice ... 24sts.

7th Row - Knit.

8th Row - K1, inc in next st, rep from to end ... 36sts.

Knit 11 rows garter st.

Change to 4mm needles.

Using C2, cont in stocking st (beg with a knit row), until work measures 9cm from beg, ending with a purl row.

Shape Top -

Dec one st at each end of every row until 4sts rem.

Leave sts on a stitch-holder for Head.

Head

Using mattress st, sew in Right Arm and front of Left Arm, noting that tops of Arms for part of Head.

Slip sts of Back, Right Sleeve, Front and Left Sleeve onto a 3.25mm needles so that RS is facing for 1st Row ... 42sts.

Using C5, work 2 rows stocking st.

3rd Row (RS) - K2, inc in next st, rep from to end ... 56sts.

4th Row - Purl.

5th Row - K3, inc in next st, rep from to end ... 70sts.

Work 3 rows stocking st, beg with a purl row.

9th Row - K4, inc in next st, rep from to end ... 84sts.

Work 15 rows stocking st, beg with a purl row.

Shape Crown -

1st Row (RS) - K4, K2tog, rep from to end ... 70sts.

Work 3 rows stocking st, beg with a purl row.

5th Row - K3, K2tog, rep from to end ... 56sts.

Work 3 rows stocking st, beg with a purl row.

9th Row - K2, K2tog, rep from to end ... 42sts.

10th Row - Purl.

11th Row - K1, K2tog, rep from to end ... 28sts.

12th Row - Purl.

13th Row - K2tog, rep from to end ... 14sts.

Break off yarn, thread through rem sts, draw up tightly and fasten off securely.

Using mattress stitch, join back of Left Arm. Join Arm and side seams. Join Leg and Crotch seams. Using Hobby Fill, stuff Arms and Legs, molding to shape. Stuff Body molding to shape. Using C5, sew a running thread through first row of Head and draw up firmly. Fasten off securely. Using mattress st, join 3/4 of Head seam. Stuff firmly molding to shape. Join rem head seam filling as you go and molding to shape.

Hat

Using 3.25mm needles and C4, cast on 70sts.

Knit 7 rows garter st (1st row is WS).

Change to 4mm needles.

Using C2, work 4 rows stocking st.

Dec one st at each end of next row, then in every foll alt row until 2sts rem.

Next Row (WS) - P2tog. Fasten off leaving a long end.

Using mattress st and long end, join side edges of Hat tog to form centre back seam.

Beard

Using 4mm needles and C4, cast on 5sts.

1st Row (WS) - Knit.

2nd Row - Inc in first st, knit to last st, inc in last st ... 7sts.

Rep last 2 rows until there are 41sts, ending with an inc row.

Cast off loosely on WS.

Nose

Using 4mm needles and C5, cast on 1st, leaving a long end.

1st Row (RS) - (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) all in st, turn ... 5sts.

Knit 5 rows garter st.

7th Row - K5, turn, pass 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th sts over first st ... 1st, break off yarn leaving a long end, thread end through rem st and pull tight.

Using yarn needle, work a running st into selvage sts and cast-on st and pull tight, creating a small bobble.

Front Jacket Band

Using 3.25mm needles and C4, cast on 5sts.

Work in garter st (1st row is RS), until work fits (slightly stretched), from C4 strip on belly to beg of Head, working last row on WS.

Cast off.

Buckle

Using 4mm needles and C2, cast on 30sts.

Knit 5rows.

Next Row - Cast-off 5sts, k2tog and cast-off, cast-off next 2sts, k2tog and cast-off, K9, k2tog and cast-off, cast-off next 2sts, k2tog and cast-off, cast-off rem sts, fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew side seam creating a loop.

Cuffs (make 2)

Using 3.25mm needles and C4, cast on 5sts.

Work in garter st until work measures 12cm (slightly stretched), working last row on WS.

Cast off.

Join cast-on and cast-off edges tog to form a ring.

Buttons (make 3)

Using 4mm needles and C1, cast on 1st, leaving a long end.

1st Row (RS) - (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) all in st, turn ... 5sts.

Knit 4 rows garter st.

6th Row - K5, turn, pass 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th sts over first st ... 1st, break yarn leaving a long end, thread yarn through rem st and pull tight.

Using yarn needle, work a running st into selvage sts and cast-on st and pull tight, creating a small bobble.

Finishing

DO NOT PRESS. Using running st and C4, sew top edge of Beard in position as pictured, curving slightly. Place Hat on Head, placing seam to centre back and overlapping side edges of Beard. Using running st and C4, sew Hat in position to Head. Sew Nose in position as pictured. Cut 15 strands of C4, 10cm long for fringe. Using 3 strands each, attach 5 bunches of fringe close to Hat as pictured, trim and fray. Sew Front Jacket Band in position. Sew Cuffs on above hands. Using C3, embroider eyes as pictured. Using appropriate colours sew a running thread above boots and hands. Draw up slightly and fasten off tightly. Using yarn attached on Buckle place with joint over black belt on pants, with cast-off edge on inside and 'corners' placed over belt as pictured. Slip stitch in place around inside and outside of Buckle. Secure Buttons on Front Jacket Band tightly as pictured. Using C4, make a small pompom and attach to top of Hat. Sew in all ends.