“In 2 gauges for 2 sizes.” Plus new bulky gauge Jolly Great Elf now available 2019.

These little handmade pals, created by Jennifer Evans, are perfect on the holiday mantelpiece, tree, or packages. But they’ll celebrate any season cheerfully! Originally designed for fingering-weight yarn (like Rowan Fine Tweed, we love them just as much a bit bigger in DK-weight yarn like Rowan Tweed. Once we started knitting them, we just couldn’t stop!

With elves, its 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!

New Jolly Great Elf version added 12/2019. Our Jolly Wee Elves have gained a Jolly Great friend! We’ve created a free adaptation to our original pattern so you can knit this big buddy. Just the right size for a hug, this scaled-up version of our little hand-knit pals is so fun to make—and quite quick with big yarns and big needles!

We’ve knit the Jolly Great Elf in super-chunky-weight Crazy Sexy Wool from Wool and the Gang. A single ply of plump Peruvian wool, Crazy Sexy Wool is soft, squishy, stretchy—and so fun on your needles. Plus, Wool and the Gang sources this cozy yarn from happy South American sheep, with consideration to reduce the impact on the environment. And with a great palette of richy saturated hues, you can go crazy with your colorwork!

For more details and the free adaptation, click here.

FINISHED SIZES
Tiny wee elf: Approx. 3½“/9cm tall, or desired height.
Larger wee elf: Approx. 4½”/11.5cm tall, or desired height.
Great elf: Approx. 18”/46cm tall, or desired height.

YARN
Tiny wee elf: 2 skeins Rowan Fine Tweed (98 yds/ 90m each): 1 each of main color (MC) and scarf color (SC); plus approx. 10 yds/9m of face color (FC). Makes approx. 10 elves: 5 each in reverse color combinations of suits and scarves. Or equivalent fingering-weight yarn per elf: 18 yds/17m MC; 4 yds/4m SC; 1 yd/1m FC.
Larger wee elf: 2 skeins Rowan Tweed DK (129 yds/ 118m each): 1 each of main color (MC) and scarf color (SC); plus approx. 12 yds/11m 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/22m MC; 5½ yds/5m SC; 1½ yds/1.5m FC.
Great elf: 4 skeins Wool and the Gang Crazy Sexy Wool (87 yds/80m each):
1 skein each in main color (MC), face color (FC), hat color (HC) and scarf (SC).
Or approx. 142 yds/130m total chunky-weight yarn: 87 yds/80m in MC, 10 yds/9m in FC, 15 yds/14m in HC and 30 yds/28m in SC.
Shown in colors True Blood Red (MC), Brown Sugar (FC), Duck Egg Blue (HC) and Ivory White (SC).

NEEDLES & 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.
Tapestry needle.
Great elf US 17 (12-12.75mm) set of 5 double-point needles, or size to obtain gauge.
Alternatively, you can use two 24”/60cm circular needles.

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.
Great Elf: 6 sts = 4”/10cm in stockinette stitch in the round.