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Tiny Elf December Knitalong Part One

December 1, 2009

Hi Spud & Chloë Friends,

Well, there is no mystery this time for the Tiny December Knitalong. We are making a Tiny Elf! I will have the pattern in its entirety available for you after the knitalong so don’t worry about piecing it together. I will do that work for you! I hope you’ll join me. You are working right along with me and so we’ll see how it turns out.

Here is the Ravelry link for the Tiny Elf.

Today we are making the body, head and hat. The body, head and hat are knit all in one piece, starting at the bottom and working all the way up to the long twisty top on the hat. Here is some information and materials you’ll need to get started:

Size: 2 1/2 inches wide at the body and 4 1/2 inches tall (not including the twisty top of the hat)

Yarn: One skein each of Spud & Chloë Sweater in Firecracker #7509, Grass #7502 and Ice Cream #7500

Needles: US size 6 double-pointed needles, set of 4

Gauge: 5 1/2 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch

Materials:

Fiberfill (small amount)

Poly-pellets (optional and do not use is the toy is for a baby or young child as they are a choking hazard)

Yarn Needle

Ruler

Scissors

Stitch Marker

1 or 2 green pipe cleaners

 

Body:

With Firecracker and the double-pointed needles and starting at the bottom of the body, cast on 9 stitches placing 3 stitches on each of three needles. Join to work in the round being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.

Rnd 1: knit

Rnd 2: kfb in each stitch (6 sts per needle, 18 sts total)

Rnds 3 and 4: knit

Rnd 5: kfb in each stitch (12 sts per needle, 36 sts total)

Rnd 6: knit

Switch to Grass.

Rnds 7 and 8: knit

Switch to Firecracker

Rnds 9 and 10: knit

Repeat rounds 7-10 three times total. Repeat rounds 7 and 8 one more time in Grass. You will have 4 green stripes at this time.

Decrease for the body:

Continue in Firecracker only. Cut the Grass strand and weave in the end to the inside.

Rnd 1: (k2, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round (9 sts per needle, 27 sts total remain)

Rnds 2 and 3: knit

Rnd 4: (k1, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round (6 sts per needle, 18 sts total remain)

Rnd 5: knit

At this point, place the end from the cast on stitches on a yarn needle. Take some stitches to close the hole and pull up tight. Pull the end to the inside and trim. Fill the bottom with poly-pellets and the rest with fiberfill. Continue to stuff the body and the head with fiberfill as you work along.

Rnd 6: (k2tog) repeat to the end of the round (3 sts per needle, 9 sts total remain)

Head:

Switch to Ice Cream.

Rnd 7: knit

Rnd 8: kfb in each stitch (6 sts per needle, 18 sts total)

Rnds 9-13: knit

Hat:

Switch to Grass.

Rnd 14: knit

Rnds 15 and 16: purl

Rnds 17 and 18: knit

Rnd 19: (k1, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round (4 sts per needle, 12 sts total remain)

Rnds 20 and 21: knit

Continue stuffing with fiberfill as you work.

Rnd 22: (k2tog) repeat to the end of the round (2 sts per needle, 6 sts total remain)

Rnd 23: knit

Rnd 24: k2tog, k2, k2tog (4 sts total remain)

Finish any final stuffing.

Place the 4 stitches on one needle.

Using 2 double-pointed needles work in I-cord for 3 inches.

Cut a green pipe cleaner to 3 ½ inches. Bend the end so the wire isn’t exposed and insert the pipe cleaner inside the I-cord and push all the way down to the start of the I-cord. Bend the top of the pipe cleaner over so the wire is not exposed.Tuck the end inside of the cord.

Next row of I-cord: k2tog twice (2 sts remain)

Next row of I-cord: k2tog (1 st remains)

Cut the yarn and pull through the remaining stitch. Weave the end to the inside of the cord and trim to stay inside.

Make a 1 inch pom-pom with 15 wraps. Use the ends and a yarn needle to attach the pom to the end of the I-cord. Wind the I-cord around a double-pointed needle to create a twist.

 

The shot above is the pipe cleaner being gently pushed into the I-cord at the top of the hat. Make sure you bend the end over before you start stuffing as this helps to make it easier to get the pipe cleaner in! The long top on the hat can also be used as a hook to hang the elf on your tree or elsewhere. If you are hanging the elf you may not want to put the poly-pellets inside. It might become too heavy. You decide.

Next we will conquer some elf arms!

Now, remember that I am traveling leaving tomorrow through Saturday. I am in Little Rock, Arkansas at the Children Hospital’s Knitting for Noggins Knit-In Event on Thursday, December 3rd, and in Tulsa, Oklahoma at Loops on Saturday, December 5th.  I think I will have some time mixed in to get some work done on our knitalong but if not, please be patient. I will have the Tiny Elf wrapped up by early next week at the latest which will give you plenty of time to get a few done for the season.

If you do not want a Christmas toy this little guy could be knitted up in any colorway of sweater to make it less seasonal. He could be a gnome of some sort. Also, the body and head knitted in Ice Cream only would make a pretty cute start of a snowman! I don’t want to leave anyone out of the fun! Get creative and make this character your own to suit your own needs and traditions.

I’ll be back quicker than a dropped stitch runs (which is actually kind of slow)!

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