Say hello to Albert the Robin! He’s a very cute boy who loves to sit in your hand for a cuddle (or to hop into someone else’s hand to make the perfect Christmas gift).

Albert is 11cm / just over 4 inches tall – just the right size to cuddle in your hand. You’ll need oddments of DK yarn to knit him, full details are given in the pattern. I used Stylecraft Special DK.

Albert is knitted flat on a pair of 4mm (UK 8/ US 6) knitting needles, making him a great project for a beginner: no need to knit in the round. Basic skills that you need to know: stocking stitch, increasing by knitting into the front and back of a stitch (inc 1) and decreasing by knitting 2 stitches together (k2tog). The knitting pattern includes detailed making up instructions and colour photos to help you on your way.

His beak and feet are knitted using 2.75mm (UK 12/US 2) knitting needles.