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.