Jolly Wee Elf Pattern

These little handmade pals are perfect on the holiday mantelpiece, tree, or packages. But they’ll celebrate any season cheerfully! Originally designed for fingering weight yarn, we love them just as much a bit bigger in DK weight yarn. They are a perfect scrap-busting project!

With these elves, it's certainly true that the more you make, the merrier! They’ll naturally all turn out a little different, but you can make them even more various: Taller. Shorter. Plumper. Thinner. All green for St. Paddy’s day. All pink for your Valentine. All white for a snowman with a smart black hat and coal buttons. Once you’ve got the hang of it, the only limit is your imagination. Knit up a whole neighborhood of wee elves!

Finished Measurements:

Tiny wee elf: About 3½"/9 cm tall, or desired height. 
Larger wee elf: About 4½"/11.5 cm tall, or desired height.

Yarn:

Tiny wee elf: Approximately 98 yds of fingering weight yarn for both main color (MC) and scarf color (SC); plus about 10 yds of face color. Makes approx. 10 elves: 5 each in reverse color combinations of suits and scarves. Or equivalent fingering-weight yarn per elf: 18 yds MC; 4 yds SC; 1 yd FC.

Larger wee elf: Approximately 129 yds of DK weight yarn for both main color (MC) and scarf color (SC); plus about 12 yds of face color (FC). Makes approx. 8 elves: 4 each in reverse color combinations of suits and scarves. Or equivalent DK-weight yarn per elf: 24 yds MC; 5½ yds SC; 1½ yds FC.

Needles and Notions:

Tiny wee elf: US 1½ (2.5mm) double-points (set of five), or size to obtain gauge.
One or more flat metal washers per elf: approx. 1"/2.5cm outside diameter.
Larger wee elf: US 3 (3.25mm) double-points (set of five), or size to obtain gauge.
Two or more flat metal washers per elf: approx. 1"/2.5cm outside diameter.
Both sizes: Wool or polyester stuffing, one locking marker, and a tapestry needle.

Gauge:

Tiny wee elf: 28–32 sts = 4"/10cm in stockinette stitch in the round; a dense fabric keeps stuffing from showing through.
Larger wee elf: 24–26 sts = 4"/10cm in stockinette stitch in the round; a dense fabric keeps stuffing from showing through.

This is a printed knitting pattern.