FAIRY LIGHTS
Make Basic Elf, using Pumpkin as suit shade and Grass as Collar shade.
LIGHTS
(MAKE 1 PIECE IN EACH COLOUR) Cast on 10 sts using Emerald for top edge of lamp holder and work in st st for 4 rows. K 2 rows for base edge. Change to Signal Red, Sunflower, Royal, bright green or orange and work in st st for 2 rows, beg with a K row. Inc row K1, inc 1 8 times, K1. [18 sts] Work in st st for 5 rows. Dec row 1 (K1, k2tog) to end. [12 sts] P 1 row. Dec row 2 K1, k2tog 5 times, K1. [7 sts] P 1 row. Break yarn, leaving a long end. Thread through sts on needle, draw up tightly and fasten off.
PLUG
(MAKE 1 PIECE) Cast on 7 sts with Chocolate for top edge and K 2 rows. Inc row 1 K1, inc 1 5 times, K1. [12 sts] P 1 row. Inc row 2 (Inc 1, K1) to end. [18 sts] Work in st st for 3 rows. Inc row 3 (K1, inc 1, K1) to end. [24 sts] P 1 row. K 5 rows for collar and base fold line. Dec row 1 (P2tog, P1) to end. [16 sts] K 1 row. Dec row 2 P1, p2tog 7 times, P1. [9 sts] Break yarn, leaving a long end. Thread through sts on needle, draw up tightly and fasten off.
TO MAKE UP
Starting at gathered edge of each Light, join seam, stopping at base of lamp holder. Use tweezers to stuff Light firmly, then join remainder of seam. Use tweezers to stuff holder firmly, then work a gathering thread through every stitch along cast- on edge, draw up tightly and
fasten off.
Starting at gathered edge, join Plug seam, stopping after second garter stitch ridge row. Use compasses to draw a 4cm circle on to card and cut this out. Use a large pointed needle or a hole punch to make two holes in the card circle, large enough for drinking straw to fit through easily, spacing 2cm apart. Glue this circle to wrong side of knitting, matching edge of card with first garter stitch row. Before glue sets completely, use a needle to pull back knitting round the two holes to reveal them. Continue to join seam, stopping 12mm away from cast- on edge.
Use tweezers to stuff Plug firmly, then join remainder of seam. Cut two 4cm lengths of drinking straw for plug pins and use White Gold Metallic yarn to cover 2cm at one end of each by binding closely and holding in place with a little glue. Neaten by using tweezers to push yarn tail into end of straw and seal this with a spot of glue. Using a large knitting needle, insert into one of the holes at base of Plug and turn round to make a space in stuffing. Spread glue over uncovered end of pin, carefully remove knitting needle, and insert into hole. Repeat with remaining pin and hole.
To make electric flex, first cut a 2m length of Emerald yarn and fold in half. Holding cut ends in left hand, insert right index finger into folded end and twist yarn tightly, keeping taut. Bring ends together and allow yarn to twist into a cord, then tie a knot 38cm in from neat end and trim away excess. Use tweezers to push knotted end of flex into top of Plug, work a gathering thread through every knitted stitch along cast- on edge, then draw up tightly and fasten off.
Holding in place with pins, first wrap Plug end of flex over left Foot and Leg then round back of neck, from right to left. Now wrap once round left Arm and take neat end of cord across Body to right hand. Adjust if necessary, then draw out a single strand from a length of Emerald yarn and use this to sew flex in place with a few stitches at right hand, back of neck and left Foot, before removing pins. Arrange Lights along flex and hold in position with pins before sewing securely in place.
Coat entire figure with hairspray, arrange in position and leave to set.
PIXIE PAIR
Make Basic Elf, using Denim as suit shade and Pumpkin as Collar shade, but do not attach hanging loop.
FAIRY
Follow instructions as given for Basic Elf
to make Head and Ears, together with Feet, using Icicle in place of Classic Red. Also make Wand Star as given for Star Sticker in Christmas Cracker instructions.
LEGS AND BODY (MAKE 1 PIECE) RIGHT LEG
* Cast on 7 sts using Flesh Tone for ankle edge and work in st st for 6 rows. Inc row 1 K3, inc 1, K3. [8 sts] Work in st st for 5 rows. Inc row 2 K3, inc 1, K4. [9 sts] Work in st st for 5 rows. Change to Icicle and K 2 rows.** Break yarn and slip sts on to 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 11 rows. K 2 rows for top edge of bodice. Change to Flesh Tone and work in st st for 4 rows, beg with a K row.
SHAPE SIDES
Dec row (K3, sl 1, k2tog, psso, K1) twice, K2. [12 sts] P 1 row. Cast off for shoulder edge.
ARMS
(MAKE 2 PIECES) Cast on 6 sts using Flesh Tone for top edge and work in st st for 14 rows. Inc row K2, inc 1, K3. [7 sts] Work in st st for 6 rows. Break yarn, leaving a long end. Thread through sts on needle, draw up tightly and fasten off.
SKIRT
(MAKE 1 PIECE) Cast on 56 sts using Icicle for base edge. Rib row 1 (K3, P3) to last 2 sts, K2. Rib row 2 P2, (K3, P3) to end. Repeat the last 2 rows once more. Rib row 5 (K1, k2tog, P3) to last 2 sts, K2. [47 sts] Rib row 6 P2, (K3, P2) to end. Rib row 7 K2, (P3, K2) to end. Rib row 8 P2, (K1, k2tog, P2) to end. [38 sts] Rib row 9 K2, (P2, K2) to end. Rib row 10 P2, (K2, P2) to end. Dec row K1, (skpo, k2tog) to last st, K1. [20 sts] Cast off for waist edge.
CHIGNON
(MAKE 1 PIECE) Cast on 12 sts using primrose yellow for base edge and work in st st for 3 rows. Break yarn, leaving a long end. Thread through sts on needle, draw up tightly and fasten off.
CORONET
(MAKE 1 PIECE) Follow instructions as given for Christmas Cracker Star Sticker, but repeat from * to ** 4 more times instead of 3. Next row Cast off 2 sts, sl st on righthand needle on to left- hand needle. [12 sts] Cast off for base edge.
UPPER WINGS
(MAKE 2 PIECES) * Cast on 6 sts using White Gold Metallic yarn for base edge and work in st st for 4 rows. Inc row (Inc 1, inc 1, K1) twice. [10 sts]** Work in st st for 11 rows. *** Dec row (K2tog, K1, skpo) twice. [6 sts] P 1 row. Cast off.****
LOWER WINGS
(MAKE 2 PIECES) Work as given for Upper Wings from * to **. Work in st st for 5 rows. Work as given for Upper Wings from *** to ****.
TO MAKE UP
Assemble Body, Arms, Head and Ears as given for Basic Elf, and embroider features. Also assemble Feet as given for Basic Elf, but place Foot behind Leg so Foot points downward to form a ballet shoe, with cast- on edge of Leg in line with first decrease row at front of Foot, then sew base of Leg to top of Foot where it touches. Using a length of Icicle, fasten to one side of ballet shoe, cross over front of Leg and wind round ankle once, before returning to opposite side of shoe to form a cross, and fasten off. Cross right Leg over left and hold in position with a few stitches. Join Skirt seam, then fit on Body, with seam running down centre back. Positioning 7 knitted rows down from top edge of bodice, sew Skirt in place by working backstitch over every stitch along cast- off waist edge. Using a length of Icicle, embroider 2 straight stitches over shoulders, from top edge of bodice at front to back, for shoulder straps. To make hair, first embroider a line of 26 chain stitches round Head with primrose yellow yarn for hairline, then cut 26 20cm lengths of primrose yellow yarn. Thread a needle with a strand of yarn and sew this through one chain, then remove needle and adjust so cut ends of yarn are even.
Repeat in this manner until all hair strands have been used, then straighten out any kinks in the yarn by holding over a steaming kettle. Gather yarn strands together at top of Head and use matching yarn to bind and tie tightly, then trim ends 6mm away from tying yarn. Seal cut ends of yarn with a little glue to secure. Starting at gathered edge, oversew side edges of Chignon together then fit over sealed bunch of yarn. Work a gathering thread through every stitch along cast- on edge, draw up tightly and fasten off. Coat Coronet with hairspray, then pin out on to card and leave to set. Once stiffened, remove pins and wrap Coronet round Chignon, then join ends together at back.
Fold each Wing piece in half and oversew across cast- off edge, then oversew side edges together. Coat each Wing with hairspray, pat, then leave on a flat surface to set. Once stiffened, position and sew Wings to back of bodice, spacing 2 knitted sts apart.
To make Wand, first pick off the padding from each end of cotton bud, then cover by binding closely with White Gold Metallic yarn, holding in place with a little glue. Assemble and stiffen Star as given for Christmas Cracker, then glue Star to end of Wand. To stiffen Star further you can spread glue over wrong side of knitting and leave to harden. Position and glue Wand to Fairy’s right hand, then wrap hand round handle and hold in place with a few stitches.
Link Fairy and Elf’s Arms and hold securely by sewing together where Arms touch, also sewing Fairy’s hand to bodice and Elf’s hand to waist.
Coat both figures with hairspray, arrange in position and leave to set. Attach hanging loop to top of Fairy’s left Arm in same manner as given for Basic Elf, using a 30cm length of thread and knotting to form a 9cm loop.