THE BASIC ELF

LEGS AND BODY

(MAKE 1 PIECE)

RIGHT LEG

* Cast on 9 sts using Classic Red for ankle edge and work in st st for 2 rows. K 2 rows for top edge of boot. Change to suit shade and work in st st for 16 rows, beg with a K row.** Break yarn and slip sts onto stitch holder.

LEFT LEG

Work as given for right leg from * to **.

JOIN LEGS FOR BODY

Next row Inserting marker threads at beg and end of row, K7, skpo from left leg sts, then k2tog, K7 from held right leg sts. [16 sts] Work in st st for 5 rows. Change to Chocolate and work in st st for 2 rows for belt. Continue to suit shade and work in st st for 10 rows.

SHAPE SIDES

Dec row (K3, sl1, k2tog, psso, K1) twice, K2. [12 sts] P 1 row. Cast off for shoulder edge.

FEET

(MAKE 2 PIECES) Cast on 6 sts using Classic Red for back edge. Inc row (Inc 1, inc 1, K1) twice. [10 sts] Work in st st for 7 rows. Dec row 1 K3, skpo, k2tog, K3. [8 sts] P 1 row. Dec row 2 K2, skpo, k2tog, K2. [6 sts] Break yarn, leaving a long end. Thread through sts on needle, draw up tightly and fasten off.

HEAD

(MAKE 1 PIECE) Cast on 16 sts using Flesh Tone for top edge and work in st st for 12 rows.

SHAPE NECK

Dec row K2tog to end. [8 sts] Work in st st for 2 rows. Cast off for Neck edge.

EARS

(MAKE 2 PIECES) Cast on 3 sts using Flesh Tone. Cast off.

HAT

(MAKE 1 PIECE) Cast on 21 sts using Classic Red for base edge and work in st st for 4 rows. Dec row 1 (K3, k2tog, K2) to end. [18 sts] Work in st st for 3 rows. Dec row 2 (K2, k2tog, K2) to end. [15 sts] Work in st st for 3 rows. Dec row 3 (K2, k2tog, K1) to end. [12 sts] Work in st st for 3 rows. Dec row 4 (K1, k2tog, K1) to end. [9 sts] Work in st st for 3 rows. Dec row 5 (K1, k2tog) to end. [6 sts] Work in st st for 2 rows. Break yarn, leaving a long end. Thread through sts on needle, draw up tightly and fasten off.

ARMS

(MAKE 2 PIECES) Cast on 7 sts using suit shade for top edge and work in st st for 14 rows. K 2 rows for sleeve cuff. Change to Flesh Tone for hand and work in st st for 5 rows, beg with a K row. Break yarn, leaving a long end. Thread through sts on needle, draw up tightly and fasten off.

COLLAR

(MAKE 1 PIECE) Cast on 27 sts using Collar shade for

base edge and K 1 row. Dec row 1 (P2tog, P1) to end. [18 sts] K 1 row. Dec row 2 (P2tog) to end. [9 sts] Cast off for Neck edge.

TO MAKE UP

Unless otherwise stated, sew seams and join pieces using mattress stitch, working with right side of knitting uppermost. A one-stitch knitted seam turning has been allowed on all pieces to accommodate this method. Join each Leg seam, from ankle edge up to marker thread, then join Body back seam, from marker threads up to shoulder edge. Remove markers, then use tweezers to stuff Body firmly, leaving Legs unstuffed. With Body seam running down centre back, fold shoulder edge flat and sew across. Starting at gathered edge, join each Foot seam, leaving back edge open. Use tweezers to stuff Feet lightly, then fold cast- on edge in half and sew across. With seam running along underside, position and sew Feet to base of Legs. Starting at Neck edge, join Head seam, then use tweezers to stuff Head firmly. Work a gathering thread through every stitch along cast- on edge, draw up tightly and fasten off. With seam running down centre back, position and sew Neck edge of Head to top of Body. Starting at gathered edge of hand, join each Arm seam. Leaving Arm unstuffed, work a gathering thread through every stitch along cast- on edge, draw up tightly and fasten off, then position and sew Arms to sides of Body. Fastening off ends of yarn at back of Neck, where they will eventually be hidden by Collar, take a length of White Gold Metallic yarn and embroider a square of 4 straight stitches over centre front of belt, working over 2 knitted stitches, to form buckle. Wrap Collar round neck and oversew side edges together. Placing join at centre back, sew Collar to top of Body, working backstitch over every stitch along cast- off edge.

When embroidering features, fasten off ends of yarn at top of Head, where they will eventually be hidden by Hat. Use a length of Flesh Tone yarn to embroider nose with 3 horizontal straight stitches, worked over one knitted stitch and placing 5 knitted rows up from Neck decrease row. Draw out a single strand from a length of black yarn and use this to embroider eyes with tiny horizontal lazy daisy stitches, placing 2 knitted rows above nose and spacing 2 knitted stitches apart. Draw out a single strand from a length of dusky pink yarn and use the remaining 2 strands to embroider mouth with a single horizontal straight stitch, placing one knitted row below nose and working over 2 knitted stitches.

Use needle to sew the two ends of yarn remaining on each Ear into Head, in line with top of nose and 3 knitted stitches away from side of nose. Draw out needle at top of Head and draw up, leaving 12mm of yarn visible at base of Ear. Dab a spot of glue on these sections of yarn then pull up to draw Ear into place and trim away excess yarn. Use pencil to blush cheeks lightly, working in a circular motion to gradually build up colour.

Starting at gathered edge, join Hat seam, then fit on Head, with seam running down centre back. Sew in place by working backstitch over every stitch along cast- on edge.

To make hanging loop, cut a 20cm length of cotton perlé and sew through tip of Hat. Knot ends together to form a 6cm loop and trim away excess, then draw knot into knitting to hide it.