Right now it’s 53 days until Christmas. On one hand, 53 days seems so far away. On the other hand it’s ‘OMG it’s only 53 days until Christmas!! I have so much to do. How will I get it all done, freak out!’
Every year since the kids have moved out into their own places, I have been giving them a Christmas ornament. The past several years I have been knitting the ornaments, a snowman, a mouse fairy, penguins with scarves.
If you promise not to tell my kids, I will tell you what the ornament is this year. I usually send it with their cookie and fudge box after Thanksgiving. That way they can put it on their tree and they don’t have to wait for Christmas. But it is a secret until they open the cookie box. Ok, here it is, remember you promised not to tell….it’s a Santa Claus. There are great patterns out there, but I just couldn’t find the one that said, ‘Knit Me, Knit Me!’ (Don’t patterns talk to you?) So I created my own pattern.
I haven’t really done this before, but thought I should give it shot. I carefully wrote down what I did each step of the way and typed it up. Then I used it to knit up the second Santa. Is it ok to say it turned out pretty cute? I hope you like it too. I have included the pattern below. Please let me know if you find any mistakes.
Happy Knitting and Weaving – Until next time…Caroline

Knitted Santa Front
Knitted Santa Ornament
Materials:
Yarn: All yarn dk or worsted weight
- Red for Santa body and hat
- Black for belt and eyes
- Cream or flesh colored for Santa head
- White for Santa hat
- White eyelash for Santa beard
Needles : dpn size 4 US
Darning Needle
Fiber stuffing
Gauge: Gauge is not important in this pattern.
Notes: Worked in the round, starting at bottom of Santa. Finished size approximately 5 ½ inches tall to top of head.
Finished Size: Approximately 5 inches to top of head.
Santa Body
With red, cast on 6 stitches. Distribute evenly on 3 needles, join and place marker to mark beginning of round. Each round equal 1 row.
Row 1. Knit
Row 2. KFB in each stitch, (12 stitches) Increase row.
Row 3. Knit
Row 4. KFB in each stitch, (24 stitches) Increase row.
Row 5. Knit
Row 6. Knit
Row 7. KFB in ever other stitch, (36 stitches) Increase row.
Row 8. Knit
Row 9. Knit
Row 10. Knit
Row 11. KFB in every 3rd stitch, (48 stitches) Increase row.
Row 12 – 17. Knit
Row 18. Knit 2, ssk, knit to last 4 stitches, k2tog, k2 on each needle. Decrease row. (42 stitches)
Row 19. Change to black yarn knit. Do not cut red yarn.
Row 20. With black yarn knit.
Row 21. Change back to red yarn and knit this row. Cut black yarn and weave in ends.
Row 22. Knit
Row 23. Knit 2, ssk, knit to last 4 stitches, k2tog, k2 on each needle. Decrease row. (36 stitches)
Row 24. Knit
Row 25. Knit
Row 26. Knit
Row 27. Knit
Row 28. Knit 2, ssk, knit to last 4 stitches, k2tog, k2 on each needle. Decrease row. (30 stitches)
Row 29. Knit
Row 30. Knit
Row 31. [K3, ssk, k2tog, k3] three times. Decrease row. (24 stitches)
Row 32. Knit
Row 33. Knit
Stuff the body.
Row 34. k2tog all the way around. (12 stitches)
Row 35. Knit. Add the head color on the last 2 stitches.
Santa Head
Row 1. Knit. First 2 stitches head color and red. Drop red yarn and weave in ends.
Row 2. KFB in each stitch. (24 stitches)
Row 3 – 10. Knit
Stuff the head.
Row 11. k2tog all the way around. (12 stitches)
Row 12. Knit
Add more stuffing if needed.
Row 13. k2tog all the way around. (6 stitches) Cut yarn and pull through to tie off.
Santa hat
Using white yarn, cast on 32 stitches and distribute on 3 needles.
Row 1. Purl
Row 2. Knit
Change to red yarn.
Rows 3 – 12. Knit
Row 13. k2, ssk, knit to last 4 stitches k2tog, k2 on each needle (26 stitches)
Row 14. knit
Row 15. k2, ssk, knit to last 4 stitches k2tog, k2 on each needle (20 stitches)
Row 16. knit
Row 17. [k1, k2tog, k1] to end. (14 stitches)
Row 18. [k1, k2tog to end] to end. (10 stitches)
Row 19. knit
Row 20. knit
Row 21. k2tog all the way around. (5 stitches)
Cut thread and pull through to inside of hat. Weave in all ends.
Make a tiny white pom pom for top of Santa hat and attach.
If using as an ornament, make a red crochet chain approximately 8 inches long an attach to top of hat.
Beard
Using white eyelash yarn, cast of 24 stitches.
Row 1. purl
Row 2. k2tog, knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog (22 stitches)
Row 3. purl
Row 4. k2tog, knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog (20 stitches)
Row 5. purl
Row 6. k2tog, knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog (22 stitches)
Odd rows – purl
Even rows – k2tog, knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog until there are 4 stitches.
Row 21. purl
Row 22. k2tog twice. Cut yarn and pull through.
Eyes
Place hat and beard to determine eye placement. With darning needle, add eyes and secure.
Assemble
Place beard on head and secure with eyelash yarn.
Place hat on head and secure with red yarn.
Done!

Knitted Santa-side

Knitted Santa-back
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