Elf:

Materials; Cygnet Superwash pure merino DK in white, red and green, plus an oddment of black *

Polyester toy stuffing

Gold elastic cord (25cm) for tie **

Tension; 26sts x 32rows over 10cm in stocking stitch

Needles; 3.75mm

Finished size; approx. 12cm high x 6.5cm wide, excluding scarf

Body;

Cast on 5 in red.

r1: inc in all sts (10)

r2 and all even rows: p

r3: inc in all sts (20)

r5: k2, inc, *k4, inc* x3, k2 (24)

r7: k2, inc, *k5, inc* x3, k3 (28)

r9: k2, inc, *k6, inc* x3, k4 (32)

r11: k2, inc, *k7, inc* x3, k5 (36)

3 rows st-st

Change to green

k 1 row

Reverse st-st 3 rows

st-st 2 rows 

Head;

r21: k2, k2tog, *k5, k2tog* x4, k4 (31)

r23: k2, k2tog, *k4, k2tog* x4, k3 (26)

r25: k2, k2tog, *k3, k2tog* x4, k2 (21)

r27: k4 green, k13 white, k4 green

r28: p5 green, p11 white, p5 green

r29: k6 green, k9 white, k6 green

r30: p7 green, p7 white, p7 green

r31: k8 green, k5 white, k8 green

3 rows st-st green

r35: k2, k2tog, *k2, k2tog* x4, k1 (16)

r36: p8, turn, k8, turn, p to end

r39: k1, k2tog, *k1, k2tog* x4, k1 (11)

r40: p6, turn, k6, turn, p to end

r41: k2tog x5, k1 (6)

r42: p3, turn, k3, turn, p to end

k2tog x3

Thread yarn through 3 remaining sts to tie off.

Making up:

Add french knots for the eyes in black yarn. Place these 4sts apart, in the upper half of the white face area.

Stitch up at centre back leaving a small gap, stuff, finish stitching.

Stitch a bell to the tip of the hat to complete.

The elf is not quite straight, which is fine, of course we don’t judge him. But to keep his balance right whilst hanging on the tree you might like to follow the diagram below.

Scarf:

Cast on 100sts in white

(Be sure to leave at least 15cm at each end of the scarf each time you cut and change colour to make the tassels.)

r1: k all in green

r2: k all in white

r3: k all in green

r4: cast off in white

Tie knots at each end to secure the tassels and trim to a uniform length.

*available at John Lewis, Oxford Street, London. Please note that any DK yarn would be suitable.

** sample uses cord from Kleins in London’s Soho (www.kleins.co.uk).