Christmas Caroler : Lady Beatrice
Lady Beatrice is the first of a series of three to four figures that I am planning. A weighted Christmas Caroler, she is ready to bring joy into the holidays. She is approximately 46cm (18") tall and 15.25cm (6") wide. You will need to be able to knit in the round, do short rows (for the hat) and knit pleats.
Materials:
Dress: 1 Ball of Cascade Heathers 220 (Colour 9459: light brown) Jacket/arms: 1 Ball of Cascade 220 (Colour 2401: Burgundy) Head: remnant of Cascade 220 (Colour 8412: Pear) Hat/muff: small amount of Cascade Heathers 220 (Colour 9448: Olive Heather) Trim: 1 Ball of Lion Brand Fun Fur (Colour: White) - small amount of embroidery thread - 6 small buttons or beads - Toy Stuffing -remnant of material and something for weight (I used rice): Optional - Needle: 4.0mm (US size 6) needle (either DPNs or circulars for magic loop or 2 circular method, whichever method you prefer) and two additional DPNS for making pleats - Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Abbreviations:
k: knit p: purl c/o: cast on b/o: bind off ss: stockinette stitch st(s): stitch(es) pm: place marker sm: slip marker sl: slip stitch rs: Right Side of garment ws: Wrong Side of garment k2tog: knit two stitches together (decrease one stitch, right slant) ssk: slip 2 stitches knit wise one at a time, then slip both of these stitches back to the left needle and knit them together through the back loops (decrease one stitch, left slant) PSSO: Pass slip stitch(s) over KFB: knit into the front and back of the same stitch (one stitch increased) m1L: make one stitch, left slant. m1R: make one stitch, right slant w&t: wrap and turn (short row shaping)
Notes:
Making Pleats:
Make Pleat 1: sl first two stitches on one DPN, slip next two stitches on second DPN. Stack DPNs as follows Left hand needle on bottom, second DPN with WS facing up in middle and first DPN on top with RS facing up. Knit three stitches together, one from each needle, two times. Make Pleat 2: sl stitches as for Pleat 1, but stack needles as follows. Left hand needle on top with RS facing up, second needle in middle with WS facing up and first needle on bottom with RS facing up. Knit three stitches together, one from each needle, two times.
Making the weight:
Cut two pieces of fabric (Il like to use felt or fleece, but it doesn't matter.. it's going in the body) into a 15.25cm (6") circle and sew them together leaving a small gap to fill. Using the material of your choice (l used rice) fill the bag as much as you can and sew up the final section. Place in the bottom of the body before adding the stuffing.
Instructions:
Dress/Body:
Cast on 8 stitches and join to knit in the round being careful not to twist the stitches Round 1: Kfb in each stitch (16 stitches) Round 2: Knit Round 3: \*Kfb, K1, pm,\* repeat \*\* to end. Round 4: Knit Round 5: \*Kfb, K to marker, sm,\* repeat\*\* to end. Round 6: Knit Continue rounds 5 & 6 until there are 11 stitches between markers (Diameter of circle should be approx. 15.25cm (6")). Round 7: Purl removing alternate markers so that there are four evenly placed markers around the body. Round 8: Knit, slipping markers as you come to them. Continue Knitting in SS Until the body is approx. 23cm (9") tall. At this point you need to make the weight for the bottom (if desired), place it in the base and stuff thebody. Decrease for waist Decrease Round 1: \*K2tog, knit to two stitches before marker. SSK, sm,\* repeat \*\* 3 times more. Decrease Round 2: Knit Repeat the above decrease rounds until there are 6 sts between markers (24 sts). Continue adding stuffing as you knit. Torso Section: Knit in SS for 10cm (4") Repeat Decrease Rounds 1 & 2 until there are a total of 6 stitches. Cut yarn and thread through the loops and draw to a close, ensuring that the dress/body is completely Sstuffed. Dress/Body complete.
Jacket:
Note: Use Jacket colour for arms and body of jacket.
Make arm (two times):
You will be making an I-cord for the arms: Cast on 6 stitches onto a DPN and knit them, Slide the stitches to the other end of the needle (do NOT turn needle) and knit them again, bringing the yarn across the back (tightly). Continue in this manner until the Icord is approx. 18cm (7") long (sew up the end and stuff very lightly as you go). Attach arms to sides of body just under the shoulder decreases.
Jacket Body:
C/O 100 sts. Row 1: Knit Row 2: Knit to end, cast on 2 stitches Row 3: Purl to end, cast on 2 stiches (104 sts) Row 4 (RS): KFB, Knit to last Stitch, KFB (2 sts increased) Row 5 (WS): Purl Repeat Rows 4&5 one more time (108 sts) Row 8 (RS): Knit Row 9: Purl Row 10: Repeat Row 4 Row 11: Purl Repeat Rows 8-11 two times more (114 sts) Continue knitting in SS for 5" Next Row, Make Pleats: Row 1: K3, Make Pleat 1, K1, Make Pleat 2, K8, \*Make Pleat 1, K1, Make Pleat 2\*, repeat \*\* once, Make Pleat 1, K2, Make Pleat 2, Repeat \*\* twice more, K8, repeat \*\* once,K3. Row 2: Purl Row 3: \*Knit to second stitch of pleat, ensuring that the decrease will be centered over the K1 stitch between Pleat 1 & 2, slip 2 (one of the pleat sts and the centre K stitch), K1, PSSO\*, Knit to next set of Pleats and repeat \*\* twice. Knit to next set of pleats (should be the one with 2 knit sts between Pleat 1 & 2) and ssk (Last pleat stitch and first K stitch in centre), K2tog (second centre stitch with first pleat 2 stitch). K the next two sts (last of the centre Pleat 2 and first of the next set of Pleats) and repeat \*\* 3 times more, knit to end. Row 4 and all remaining WS rows: Purl Row 5: K2, sl2, K1, PSSO (another double decrease row), knit to next set of pleats,\* sl2 (should be the remaining pleat 1 stitch and the decrease stitch from the last row), k1, PSSO\*, repeat \*\* once, ssk, k2tog, repeat \*\* twice more, knit to last pleat, repeat \*, knit 2 Row 7: K1, sl2, K1, PSSO, knit to last 4 stitches, sl2, k1, psso, K1 Row 9: Knit to end, pm, cast on 4 stitches and join to knit in the roune Round 1: Knit to marker, sm, K1P1 twice Round 2: Knit to marker, sm, P1K1 twice. Continue knitting Round 1 & 2 seven times more (16 rounds) Arm holes: Knit 5 stitches, wrap yarn around the needle twice (double YO) and knit to last 5 before marker, wrap yarn around needle twice (double YO), K5, sm, K1P1 twice. Next Round: Knit to YO, Knit one of the wraps and drop the second wrap, knit to second YO, knit one of the wraps and drop the second wrap, knit to marker, sm, P1, K1 twice Repeat Round 1 & 2 three times more (6 more rounds). Bind off all stitches.
Adding Fur trim:
Neckline: Pick up stitches around neckline using the Fun Fur trim, K 1 round and Bind off purl-wise. Bottom Trim of Jacket: using the Fun Fur and starting at the left side skirt (do not include moss stitch band). pick up and knit along the left side (2 stitches for every 3 rows), each stitch across the bottom and up the right side (2 stitches for every 3 rows). Knit 3 rows and bind off knit-wise.
Head:
Using the head colour, cast on 6 sts and join to knit in the round. Round 1: KFB around (12 sts). Round 2 & 3: Knit all stitches Round 4: \*KFB, K1, pm,\* repeat \*\* to end of round Round 5: Knit Round 6: \*KFB, Knit to marker, sm,\* repeat \*\* to end of round Repeat Round 5&6 until there are 5 stitches between markers. Knit 5 rounds even adding stuffing as you go. Decrease Round 1: \*K2tog, Knit to marker, sm,\* repeat \*\* to end of round Decrease Round 2: Knit Repeat Decrease Round 1&2 until there are 6 stitches left, cut yarn and thread through loops ensuring that there is enough stuffing before closing the hole completely. Note: I used some blush to make the slight yellow of the Pear colourway to a more flesh tone before I added the embroidery Using small amount of embroidery thread, stitch mouth and eyes. Muff: Using Fun Fur, cast on 12 sts and knit 2 rows, change to muff/hat colour and continue knitting in garter stitch for 5 cm (2"), switch back to Fun Fur, knit 2 rows and bind off.
Hat:
Using Hat/muff colour cast on 6 sts and join to knit in round. Round 1: KFB in each stitch (12) Round 2: \*KFB, K1, pm\* repeat \*\* to end Round 3: \*KFB, K to m, sm,\* repeat \*\* to end of round Repeat Round 3 until there are 9 sts between markers (54sts) Knit 3 rounds even Decrease Round 1: \*K to 2 sts before first marker, K2tog, sm\* repeat \*\* to end of round Repeat Decrease Round 1 one more time. (42sts) Next round: K1 P1 to end of round Repeat 1x1 ribbing for 2 more rounds. Brim: Bind off 22 stitches and knit to end of round. Row 1: Knit Row 2: K2tog, K11, w&t Row 3: K4, w&t Row 4: K to wrapped stitch, pick up wrap and knit together with stich, w&t Repeat Row 4 until there are 3 stitches left on one side (the K2tog side) and 4 on the other ending with the w&t on the K2tog side. Next Row: Knit to last 2 stitches, picking up and knitting wrap as you come to it, K2tog. Next Row: K2tog, knit to last 2 stitches, picking up and knitting wrap as you come to it, K2tog. Next Row: K2tog, k to last 2 stitches, K2tog Bind off moderately tightly (this gives brim a curve)
Assembly:
Block all unstuffed items if desired and weave in all ends (except one of the muff ends and the ends of the arms and bottom of the head). Sew buttons/beads onto jacket along the SS stitches adjacent to the moss stitch panel (3 per side). Slide Jacket onto dress body, pulling arms through the YO holes (gently). Adjust as required. Sew both arms to each other so that they are centered over the waist (you can overlap them a bit if they are too long). Wrap Muff piece around arms so that the fun fur is around the "wrists" and sew into a tube. Attach Head to body. Place hat on head so that the hat is sitting from the back of the neck to the top of the “forehead". Attach hat with matching yarn. Weave in remaining ends.
