advent calendar. day twenty four.

For day twenty four there is no ornament....Christmas overtook me and I still had a lot of christmas-related crafting/baking/shopping/socialising etc...! to do so for day twenty four each kid got a large chocolate santa. They were totally happy with this!! Maybe next year I'll try and get on top of making the final ornament (or maybe they will get chocolate santas every year!!). Anyway, here is the final calendar.

Happy Christmas!

advent calendar. day twenty three. snowman.

I was so happy with the way this little snowman turned out. Like Santa he was quite a bit bigger than he was supposed to be so I may be working on another snowman next year but this one will look cute as a real tree ornament or something!!! I used a whole bunch of pinterest pictures for my inspiration but made the actual pattern up myself.

Materials:

Size 3 double pointed needles. 
I was using this project as a way of using up yarns from my stash so while these are the yarns that I used, it is OK to use different yarns (for example all fingering or all lightweight), be aware that the size of the finished snowman may change however.
Fingering (weight 2) yarn for the body and hat (I used this in bark for the belt and in cream for the body) .
Lightweight (weight 3) yarn for the scarf (I used this yarn and this yarn).
Polyfil stuffing.
Black embroidery thread.

Abbreviations:
k = knit.
m1 = make 1 stitch, from the front, lift the loop between stitches with left needles, knit into the back of the loop.
kfb = knit front and back.
k2tog = knit two stitches together
ssk = slip slip knit (Slip the next 2 stitches knitwise to the right needle. Insert the left needle into the fronts of these two stitches and knit them together). 

Head/Body:

Use size 3 needles. Starting at the top of the head cast on 9 stitches in cream and divide between 3 needles. Join to work in the round.

Round 1 knit.
Round 2 k1 (m1, k1) repeat to end (17 stitches).
Round 3 knit.
Round 4 k1 (m1, k2) repeat to end (25 stitches).
Round 5 knit.
Round 6 k1 (m1, k3) repeat to end (33 stitches).
Rounds 7-18 knit.
Round 19 k1 (k2tog, k2) repeat to end (25 stitches).
Round 20 knit.
Round 21 k1 (k2tog, k1) repeat to end (17 stitches).
Round 22 knit.
Round 23 k1 (m1, k2) repeat to end (25 stitches).
Rounds 24-31 knit.
At this point darn in the cast on thread and stuff firmly .
Round 32 k1 (k2tog, k1) repeat to end (17 stitches).
Round 33 knit.
Round 34 k1(k2tog) repeat to end (9 stitches).
Finish any stuffing, cut the yarn, thread it on a yarn needle and draw it through the remaining stitches, pulling tight to close the hole. Darn in end. 




Hat:

Use size 3 needles. Cast on 6 stitches in brown and divide between 3 needles. Join to work in the round.

Round 1 knit.
Round 2 kfb in every stitch (12 stitches).
Round 3 knit.
Round 4 (k1, m1) repeat to end (18 stitches).
Round 5 knit.
Round 6 purl.
Rounds 7-12 knit.
Round 13 (k1, m1) repeat to end (36 stitches).
Round 14 knit.

Cast off and darn in ends


Scarf:

Use size 3 needles. Cast on 4 stitches using turquiose yarn, keep them on one needle and work back and forth between two needles.
Row 1 knit.
Row 2 purl. 
Switch to orange.
Row 3 knit.
Row 4 purl.
Switch to turquoise.
Repeat these 4 rows until you have about 3 inches and cast off.

Repeat the above pattern to make a scarf piece which is 2 inches long.   


Nose:

Using orange yarn make three knots around a small needle which is pushed into a pincushion. Remove from the needle and sew onto the snowman's head using the long tails.


Finishing:

Using a yarn needle sew the hat to the top of the head. To make the scarf put the longer piece around the neck of the snowman in a loop and sew the two ends together. Then take the shorter piece pass it under the loop so one end hangs down on one side and one on the other as shown in the picture (this makes it look like the scarf is tied but is less bulky). Secure the two ends to the snowmans body.   

Embroider eyes using french knots and a mouth according to the picture. 

advent calendar. day twenty two. santa.

I looked and looked for a santa pattern that I liked but I had no luck so ended up making my own. The final product was quite a bit larger than I had really intended it to be but by that point there was no way I was going back and starting again so this year Santa (and the snowman, see tomorrow's post!) is going to be GIANT!!. Maybe next year I will make something smaller!!

He did turn out very jolly though and Santa is supposed to be round and fat right!!!

Materials:
Size 3 double pointed needles.
Size 6 needles. 
Lightweight (weight 3) yarn (I used this in linen for the face, this red for the body/hat, this white for the hat rim and this in bark for the belt (the last yarn is actually fingering yarn but it was just what I happened to have in my stash - these small projects are good for using up leftover yarn!)).
Worsted (weight 4) yarn for the beard (I can't find the information on the yarn I used but it was very fluffy).
Polyfil stuffing.
Black embroidery thread.

Abbreviations:
k = knit.
kfb = knit front and back.
k2tog = knit two stitches together
ssk = slip slip knit (Slip the next 2 stitches knitwise to the right needle. Insert the left needle into the fronts of these two stitches and knit them together). 

Head/Body:

Use size 3 needles. Starting at the top of the head cast on 6 stitches in linen and divide between 3 needles. Join to work in the round.

Round 1 kfb in each stitch (12 stitches).
Round 2 knit.
Round 3 (k, kfb) repeat to end (18 stitches).
Round 4 knit.
Round 5 (k2, kfb) repeat to end (24 stitches).
Round 6 knit.
Round 7 (k3, kfb) repeat to end (30 stitches).
Rounds 8-12 knit.
Switch to red yarn.
Rounds 13-21 knit.
Switch to brown yarn.
Rounds 22-23 knit.
Switch to red yarn.
Rounds 24-25 knit.
Round 26 (k3, k2tog) repeat to end (24 stitches).
Round 27 knit.
Round 28 (k2, k2tog) repeat to end (18 stitches).
At this point darn in the cast on thread and stuff firmly .
Round 29 knit.
Round 30 (k, k2tog) repeat to end (12 stitches).
Round 31 (k2tog) repeat to end (6 stitches).
Finish any stuffing, cut the yarn, thread it on a yarn needle and draw it through the remaining stitches, pulling tight to close the hole. Darn in end. 

Arms:

Use size 3 needles. Starting at the hands cast on 6 stitches in linen and divide between 3 needles. Join to work in the round.

Round 1 knit.
Round 2 (k2, kfb) repeat to end (9 stitches).
Switch to white.
Round 3 knit.
Switch to red.
Rounds 4-10 knit.
Cast off, darn in the cast on thread and stuff firmly.

Hat:
Use size 3 needles. Cast on 30 stitches in white and divide between 3 needles. Join to work in the round.

Round 1 knit.
Round 2 purl.
Switch to red.
Rounds 3-6 knit.
Round 7 (k3, k2tog) repeat to end (24 stitches).
Rounds 8-12 knit.
Round 13 (k2, k2tog) repeat to end (18 stitches).
Rounds 14-20 knit.
Round 21 (k2, k2tog) repeat to end (12 stitches).
Rounds 22-26 knit.
Round 27 (k2tog) repeat to end (6 stitches).
Rounds 28-32 knit. 

Cut the yarn, thread it on a yarn needle and draw through the remaining stitches pulling tight to close the hole. Darn in end. 

Beard:
Use size 6 needles. Cast on 9 stitches, keep them on one needle and work back and forth between two needles.

Row 1 k3, cast off 3, k3.
Row 2 k3, cast on 3, k3.
Row 3 k, ssk, k3, k2tog, k (7 stitches).
Row 4 knit.
Row 5 k, ssk, k2, k2tog, k (5 stitches).
Row 6 knit.
Row 7 k, ssk, k2tog (3 stitches).
Row 8 knit.
Cast off, darn in ends. 

Finishing:

Sew the arms to the side of the body, the hat to the top of the head and the beard to the front of the face according to the picture. 

Embroider eyes on the face using french knots. 

advent calendar. day twenty one. bell.

For this bell I used this pattern and this yarn. To make it ring like a bell I used a small bell from some gift tags that I bought at the dollar store and tied it inside the large bell. Fast and easy!

advent calendar. day twenty. wrapped present.

To make this I essentially knitted a flat box template (the same as if you were making it out of card) and then made it up with some foam inside. I wanted stripes so mine was in a 2 row red, 2 row green pattern but you could make it any color/pattern you wanted.

Materials 

Size 3 needles.
Lightweight (weight 3) yarn. I used this yarn in red and green.
1" thick normal density foam (I used a pad like this).


Pattern

Pattern is worked in stockingette stitch: knit on the right side and purl on the wrong side.

Cast on 10 stitches.
Rows 1-10 knit stockinette stitch in striped pattern (2 rows red, 2 rows green).
Switch to red and cast on 10 stitches using the backwards loop method.
Row 11 knit.
Cast on 10 stitches using the backwards loop method.
Row 12 purl.
Switch to green.
Row 13-22 knit stockinette stitch in striped pattern (2 rows green, 2 rows red).
Switch to green.
Cast off 10 stitches.
Row 23 knit.
Cast off 10 stitches.
Row 24 purl.
Switch to red.
Rows 25-49 knit stockinette stitch in striped pattern (2 rows red, 2 rows green). 
Cast off.


Finishing

I cut a 1" cube of foam, wrapped the knitted box template around it and sewed it up. Then I cut a made a long chain (using a crochet hook and a simple chain stitch) of silver yarn and wrapped it around it and tied a bow on the front.

advent calendar. day nineteen. elmo.

Continuing (and ending!) the non-christmassy-christmas ornaments theme, I made an Elmo for my littlest guy. He isn't particularly into any characters yet but based on what the others liked around his age I imagine he will be an Elmo fan in the near future!

Elmo was super easy to make, basically a ball with some eyes and a nose!





Materials
Size 3 double pointed needles.
Lightweight (size 3) yarn, I used this for the head, and this for the eyes and nose.
Black embroidery thread.


Abbreviations

k knit
p purl
m1 make 1 increase (Insert the left needle from front to back into the horizontal strand between the two stitches: Knit the stitch through the back loop).
k2tog knit two stitches together.
p2tog purl two stitches together.
YO yarn over

Elmo's head

Cast on 9 stitches, move onto three double pointed needles (3 per needle). Join to work in the round.
Round 1 knit.
Round 2 k1, (m1, k1) repeat to end (17 stitches).
Round 3 knit.
Round 4 k1, (m1, k2) repeat to end (25 stitches).
Rounds 5 -13 knit
At this point, darn in the cast on end and stuff firmly.
Round 14 k1, (k2tog, k1) repeat to end (17 stitches). 
Round 15 knit.
Round 16 k1, (k2 tog) repeat to end (9 stitches).

Finish stuffing firmly, cut the yarn and thread it onto a yarn needle. Draw through the remaining stitches pulling tight to close the hole. Darn in the end.


Eyes (make 2)

Cast on 3 stitches. Work back and forth on two needles.
Row 1 p3.
Row 2 k1, YO, k1, YO, k1 (5 stitches).
Row 3 p5.
Row 4 k5.
Row 5 p5.
Row 6 k2tog through the back, k1, k2tog (3 stitches)
Row 7 Slip 1, p2 tog through the back pass slip stitch over, thread end through to cast off.

Tie both cast on and cast off ends together and use one end to sew base together and make a small ball.


Nose

Cast on 3 stitches. Work back and forth on two needles.
Row 1 p3
Row 2 k1, YO, k1, YO, k1 (5 stitches).
Row 3 p1, YO, p3, YO, p1 (7 stitches).
Row 4 knit
Row 5 purl
Row 6 knit
Row 7 purl
Row 8 k2tog through the back, k3, k2tog (5 stitches)
Row 9 p2tog, k1, p2tog through the back (3 stitches).
Row 10 slip 1, k2tog through the back, pass slip stitch over, thread end through to cast off.

Tie both cast on and cast off ends together and use one end to sew base together and make a small ball.

Finishing

Sew eyes and nose onto head according to the picture. Use black embroidery thread to embroider pupils onto the eyes.

advent calendar. day eighteen. yoda.

Continuing in the non-christmassy-christmas-ornament theme, my eldest is all about star wars right now so I knew he would love a star wars themed ornament. Looking at the options available to me in terms of what yarn I had already bought I decided to go with Yoda. He is probably slightly the wrong shade of green but no one complained (although it did take my son a few minutes to work out who it was supposed to be...).

Materials

Size 3 double pointed needles
Lightweight (weight 3) yarn (I used this green for his head, this brown for his body and this taupe for his robe)
Polyfill stuffing
2 small black buttons for his eyes.

Abbreviations

k knit
kfb knit front and back
k2tog knit two stitches together
pfb purl front and back  
st st stockingette stitch (knit one side, purl the other)


Head and Body

Starting at the head cast on 11 stitches in green and transfer onto 3 double pointed needles. Join and work the round.

Round 1 knit
Round 2 kfb in every stitch (22 stitches)
Rounds 3-11 knit
Round 12 k2,(k2tog, k2) repeat to end (17 stitches)
Round 13 (k2, k2tog) repeat to end (13 stitches)
Round 14 knit.
Change to dark brown yarn.
Rounds 15-25 knit.
Stuff firmly, cut the yarn and thread it onto a yarn needle. Draw through the remaining stitches pulling tight to close the hole. Darn in the end.


Arms (make 2)

Cast on 4 stitches.
knit in icord for 9 rows, cast off.
Sew to the side of the body at the junction between the brown and green yarn. 



Robe

Starting at the back of the robe cast on 10 stitches, work back and forth on two needles.
Rows 1-4 st st.
Increase for the arms: using the backwards loop method cast on 4 stitches (14 stitches). 
Row 5 knit.
Using  the backwards loop method cast on 4 stitches (18 stitches).
Rows 6-10 st st..
Row 11 k7, cast off 4, k7
Continue working only on the first 7 stitches on the needle (move the other 7 to a spare needle or waste yarn) to make one side of the front of the robe.
Row 12 purl.
Row 13 knit.
Rows 14-19 repeat rows 12 and 13.
Row 20 cast off 4, purl 2, pfb (4 stitches).
Row 21 kfb all stitches (8 stitches).
Row 22 purl.
Row 23 kfb all stitches (16 stitches.
Row 24 purl.
Cast off

Return to the 7 stitches at the shoulder on the other side of the front of the robe, join in new yarn:
Row 1 purl.
Row 2 knit.
Rows 3-8 repeat rows 1 and 2.
Row 9 cast off 4, knit 2, kfb (4 stitches).
Row 10 pfb all stitches (8 stitches).
Row 11 knit.
Row 12 pfb all stitches (16 stitches).
Row 13 knit.
Cast off purlwise .

To make the belt, crochet a chain about three inches long using brown yarn and a size E (3.5mm) crochet hook.


Ears (make 2)

With green cast on 10sts.
Row 1 knit.
Row 2 purl.
Rows 3-6 working in st st, decrease both ends of every row until 2 sts remain.
Row 7 k2tog.
Cast off.

Fold ear in half at the cast on edge and sew across, sew this edge to side of head.


Finishing  

Put robe onto body and fasten with a stitch at the bottom front. Tie the robe around and fasten with a stitch every 1/2inch or so around the body.

Sew buttons for eyes according to the picture.