Fourteen of Santa’s little helpers, arranged on a wreath to welcome visitors to your home.

You can also knit the elves without the wreath and make them into Christmas tree baubles, hanging ornaments, garlands and other Christmas decorations.

The pieces are knit flat then sewn together and each finished elf is approximately 10cm (4 inches) tall.

You will need:

To make 14 elves:

• Rico Ricorumi Cotton DK: 90m of Ecru (054), 30m of Red (028), 30m of Green (049), 28m of Wine Red (029), 28m of Pistachio (047), 7m of White (001) and 3m of Black (060).
• 3mm (US 2.5) knitting needles.
• A tapestry needle and a sharp sewing needle.
• Toy stuffing.
• 6 and 10mm jingle bells and pompoms.
• A few pins. To make the wreath in addition:
• 25cm diameter polystyrene wreath.
• Rico Creative Cotton Aran: 164m of Brown (58).
• 4mm (US 6) knitting needles.
• Fabric glue.

Techniques you should know:

• Casting on and binding off.
• Knitting and purling.
• Increasing and decreasing.
• Simple colour changes and stripes.
• Sewing seams using mattress stitch.