Knitted Christmas Doll with Hat

This adorable knitted Christmas doll features a vibrant red coat and a festive red and white striped hat. It stands approximately 6 inches tall and is perfect for adding a touch of handmade charm to your holiday decor.

Materials

• Worsted weight yarn in red, white, and light tan
• Set of double-pointed needles (DPNs) in size US 6 (4 mm)
• Stuffing (polyester fiberfill)
• Scissors
• Tapestry needle
• Wooden bead (about 1 inch for the head)
• Floss for hair (optional)

Gauge

18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch.

Abbreviations

• CO: Cast On
• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• RS: Right Side
• WS: Wrong Side
• St(s): Stitch(es)
• Inc: Increase
• Dec: Decrease

Instructions

Body

1. Using red yarn, measure and CO 36 stitches.
2. Join to work in the round being careful not to twist. Place a stitch marker to indicate the beginning of the round.
3. Work in K2, P2 ribbing for 4 inches.
4. Change to stockinette stitch (knit every round) and continue until the piece measures 6 inches from the cast-on edge.
5. Begin decreasing for the top:
      Round 1: K18, K2tog; repeat from    around. (27 stitches)
      Round 2: K2, P1; repeat around. (27 stitches)
      Round 3: K17, K2tog; repeat from around. (18 stitches)
      Round 4: K1, P1; repeat around. (18 stitches)
      Round 5: K16, K2tog; repeat from around. (12 stitches)
      Round 6: K2, P0; repeat around. (12 stitches)
      Round 7: K6, K2tog; repeat from around. (8 stitches)
   
6. Stuff the doll firmly with fiberfill. To finish, remove the stitches from the needles and pull tight to close the top. Secure the yarn.

Hat

1. Using red yarn, CO 40 stitches. Join in the round.
2. Work in red yarn for 2 inches in stockinette stitch. Then switch to white yarn and work in the following stripe pattern:
   Round 1: K20, change to white.
   Round 2: K20 in white yarn.
   Round 3: K10 in red, K10 in white, and repeat until desired length is achieved. (optional: knit for 3 stripes of red and white)
3. Decrease for the top:
      Round 1: K18, K2tog; repeat around. (30 stitches)
      Round 2: K10, K2tog; repeat around. (20 stitches)
      Round 3: K2, K2tog; repeat around. (15 stitches)
      Round 4: K1, K2tog; repeat around, pulling tight to close the hat.
   
4. Secure the yarn and sew a small decorative knot at the top if desired.

Assembly

1. Using a tapestry needle, stitch the hat to the top of the doll's head.
2. If desired, use light tan yarn or embroidery floss to create hair strands on either side of the doll’s head.
3. Your Christmas doll is now complete! Enjoy your lovely creation!