This pattern was first part if the Icelandic Yarn Club 2 and is now available as a single pattern PDF.

In Iceland, we don’t have one but 13 Christmas lads, called the Yule Lads, who descend from the mountains one at a time, every night, to wreak mischief in the nights leading up to Jólin (Christmas). Kertasníkir (Candle Beggar) is the last to arrive to town on December 24th and as its name suggests, you’d better watch out for your candles! The Yule lads will then leave in the same order they came, one by one. That is why Xmas lasts 26 days in Iceland with Kertasníkir leaving the last on January 6th.
The lad is knitted in the round in one piece with no sewing. It is dressed with a warm fuzzy vest and wears a traditional Icelandic tasseled cap. The shoes imitate traditional fish skin shoes.

Size: one size, approx. 40 cm / 16” tall

Gauge: gauge is important for the doll to be tight enough and for the clothes to fit. If you knit too loose it will also affect the yardage needed and you may run out of yarn.
10 cm / 4” = 19 sts x 26 rows in St st on 3.5 mm / US 4 needle with Léttlopi. Change needle size accordingly to obtain the correct gauge and change larger needle accordingly.

Wool
Yarn specs:
• Léttlopi from Ístex: 100% new wool, unspun with light twist, Aran weight, 50 g ball = 100 m / 109 yds
• Plötulopi from Ístex: 100% new wool, unspun, approx. 110 g plate = 330 m / 360 yds
• Einband from Ístex, new wool (70% Icelandic), lace/light fingering, 50 g ball = 250 m / 272 yds
• Love Story Einband from Hélène Magnússon: pure new wool, 100% Icelandic lambswool, fine lace weight, 1 ply, 25 g skein = 225 m / 246 yds
• Einrúm E by Kristin Brynja 80% new wool (70% Icelandic) and 20% Mulberry Thai Silk, 50 g skein = 208 m / 227 yds
• MarEik 25A by Hilma: 75% new wool (pure Icelandic wool undyed), 25% SeaCell TM, 50 g skein = 145 m / 158 yds

The doll shown was knitted with:
• MC (body): Léttlopi mustard #9469: 45-50 g (28 g used)
• CC1 (face and hands): Léttlopi straw #1418: approx. 15 g (9 g used)
• CC2 (socks): Plötulopi 1 strand light grey #1026 + 1 strand dark grey #9102, held together: approx. 20 g (12 g used)
• CC3 (vest): Plötulopi 1 strand dark brown #1033 + 1 strand Love Story Natural brown, held together: approx. 20g (13 g used).
• CC4 (hat): Einrúm E red #1016: 5 g (3 g used)
• CC5 (shoes): MarEik 25A (lopi +seaweed) in different undyed colors: approx. 10 g (6 g used)
• Lenghts of Einband Ístex: pink #9171, black #0059 and white #0851 to embroider the face.
• Carded Icelandic wool, white: approx. 50 g
• Icelandic lambswool fleece: a lock.
• Wooden pin

Needles: 3.5 and 6 mm / US 4 and 10 circular needles, or size to obtain the gauge. The Magic loop technique is used but you can also use double-pointed needles.
3 mm/US D-3 crochet hook

Notions: darning needle, markers, safety pins or little st holders, contrasting yarn or spare needle.