Santa:

Materials; Cygnet Superwash pure merino DK in white (208), red (298) and black (217) *

Polyester toy stuffing

Gold elastic cord (25cm) for tie **

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

Needles; 3.75mm

Finished size; approx. 10cm 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 black

k 1 row

Reverse st-st 3 rows.

Change back to red, 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: change to white, work 5 rows st-st

3 rows rev st-st

Change to red

r31: k2, k2tog, *k2, k2tog* x4, k1 (16)

r32: p8, turn, k8, turn, p to end

r33: k1, k2tog, *k1, k2tog* x4, k1 (11)

r34: p6, turn, k6, turn, p to end

r35: k2tog x5, k1 (6)

r36: p3, turn, k3, turn, p to end

r37: k2tog x3

Change to white

r38 and all following even rows: p

r39: inc in all sts (6)

r41: *k1, inc* x3 (9)

r43: *k1, k2tog* x3 (6)

r45: k2tog x3

Cut yarn and thread though remaining 3sts.

 

Beard:

Cast on 6

r1: (k1, p1) x3

r2: (p1, k1) x3

These 2 rows form the moss stitch pattern, repeat to a total of 16 rows.

Cast on 20sts.

r15: (k1, p1) to end

r16: work 23sts, turn

r17: work to end

r18: work 20sts, turn

r19: work to end

r20: work 17sts, turn

r21: work to end

r22: work 15sts, turn

r24: work 13sts, turn

r26: work 11sts, turn

r28: work all sts

r29: cast off 20sts, continue in moss to end of row

Complete 16 rows more

Cast off

Sew up seam at back of beard.

Making up:

Add french knots for the eyes in black yarn. Place these 4sts apart, just under the reverse knit band at the bottom of the hat.

Stitch up the white bobble first and stuff, then stitch the rest of the centre back leaving a small gap, stuff, finish stitching.

Santa tends to lean and look a bit wonky, who doesn’t after a sherry? So to keep his balance right whilst hanging on the tree you might like to follow the diagram below.

Slide the beard on over his head to cover the colour change between body and face.

*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).