Scented Gingerbread Men
Ingredients
DK or worsted yarn (8-10ply). Approx 20g Double pointed needles. 3mm (Us 2 or 3) Tapestry needle For the filling; Toy stuffing or shredded rags Scented sachet/potpourri/dried herbs To decorate; Scraps of coloured yarn, buttons, beads etc. Finished size 13cm/ 5 inches. The head, arms and legs are filled with stuffing. The belly is full of festivescent.
How to use
★ Give as a festive handmade gift ★ Hang around the house as scented decorations ★ Put in drawers to keep things smelling nice ★ Put inside smelly shoes ★ Hang/fold with your winter clothes over summer; moths don't like scents such as cloves, cedar, mint and lavender
How to make scent sachets
Key
I used shop bought potpourri wrapped with material into bundles to go inside the stomach cavity. You could make your own scent with cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, dried herbs, pine needles... K: knit pm: place marker sm: slip marker from left to right needle m1: Make 1; pick up loop of yarn between two stitches and knit to form a new stitch k2tog: knit 2 stitches together (decrease) ssk: slip 2 stitches individually knitwise from left to right needle. Slide both back to left needle and k2tog in back of stitches (decrease) st st: stocking stitch
Cast on 16sts. Join into a round and arrange so there are 5 stitches, 5 stitches, and 6 stitches on the last needle. You are starting with the neck and working down towards the shoulders and chest first. R1: K2, pm, k3, pm (or use needle change as a marker), k5, pm (oras before), k3, pm, k3 (16sts) R2: Needle 1: k1, m1, k1, sm, k1, m1, k1, m1, k1 (3sts, marker, 5sts) Needle 2: k1, m1, k3, m1, k1 (7sts) Needle 3: k1, m1, k1, m1, k1, sm, k1, m1, k2 (5sts, 4sts) (24sts in total) R3: Knit R4: Needle 1: k2, m1, k1, sm, k1, m1, k3, m1, k1 (4sts, 7sts) Needle 2: k1, m1, k5, m1, k1 (9sts) Needle 3: k1, m1, k3, m1, k1, sm, k1, m1, k3 (7sts, 5sts) (32sts) R5: Knit Continue increasing in this way until 48sts (6sts, 11sts, 13sts, 11sts, 7sts) ending with a knit round.
Separate the arms
K6, thread 11sts onto a scrap of spare yarn or stitch holder, k13, thread 11sts onto another piece of yarn, k7(26sts)
Body
Arrange the 26sts evenly on the dpns R1: Knit (26sts) R2: k5, m1, k2, m1, k11, m1, k2, m1, k6 (30sts) R3-7: Knit (30sts) R8: k4, k2tog, k2, ssk, k9, k2tog, k2, ssk, k5 (26sts) Legs K12. Work these stitches in rows to form leg 1. Starting and ending with purl rows work 9 rows st st on these 12sts. K2tog 6 times (6sts)
@Anna Lewis December 2013
Cut the yarn leaving a long tail and use a tapestry needle to slip the 6 stitches onto this. Pull tight and sew up leg seam. If you're planning on using an extra-large scent bag you may prefer to leave the seam open for easier access when stuffing later. Thread this tail through each of the end stitches remaining for the other leg, slip them off the needles and sew up the crotch (or put on a stitch holder to sew up later if you're leaving the seam open RE: above). 12sts remain for leg 2. With right side facing, rejoin yarn to the leg stitches. Work 10 rows st st on these 12sts starting with a knit row. K2tog 6 times (6sts) 1 and slip stitches as before but leave leg seam open for now to allow access for stuffing.
Arms
Make both the same. Work in rows. 11sts With right side facing, slip arm stitches back onto needles, rejoin yarn, and work 4 rows st st starting with knit. K2tog twice, k3, k2tog twice (7sts). Cut yarn leaving a tail. Thread stitches onto tail, pull tight and sew up arm seam.
Head
Rejoin yarn by the very first stitch you cast on and pick up 16sts (one in each original cast on stitch) around neck. Arrange stitches over dpns and work in rounds. R1: Knit (16sts) R2: K3, m1, k2, m1, k6, m1, k2, m1, k3 (20sts) R3: Knit R4: K4, m1, k2, m1, k8, m1, k2, m1, k4 (24sts) R5-9: Knit R10: K3, k2tog, k2, ssk, k6, k2tog, k2, ssk, k3 (20sts) R11: Knit R12: K2, k2tog, k2, ssk, k4, k2tog, k2, ssk, k2 (16sts) R13: k2tog 8 times (8sts) Cut yarn leaving a tail. Thread stitches onto the tail. Stuff the head, then pull tight and sew closed. You may prefer to embroider the face/ sew on eyes before stuffing and closing. @Anna Lewis December 2013
The fun part
Stuff the arms and legs with toy stuffing or shredded rags. Stuff the belly with potpourri/scent bags/whatever then close leg seam.
Decorate
Great for smelly shoes!!!
