Knit Olaf the Snowman

Let's face it, "Frozen" is where it is at this Christmas (and with the discussions of sequels, many many many more to come).

Here you can knit your own Olaf the Snowman.... or knit a snowman army to give to all the children you know. You need to be able to knit.... and in the round. This instructable uses double pointed needles.

You will need:
- 5 x 4mm double pointed needles

- white, orange and black DK (8ply) yarn. Half a ball of white… Scraps of the others.

- 2 goggle eyes – approx 4mm diameter

- 3 black buttons

- stuffing

- black and white thread

- wool needle and a sewing needle

- small piece of white felt

The legs are knit flat, and then the whole thing turns into the round....

Cast on 10 in white on 4mm dpn
Stocking Stitch 6 rows flat. (Or alternate knit and purl rows)

Slide to the end of the needle. And begin a second leg.

Cast on 10 in white on 4mm dpn
Stocking Stitch 6 rows flat.

Evenly spread the 2 legs over 4 needles (5 stitches on each needle). This bit requires the patience and a skill of a ninja, but once they are over the needles, it gets a bit easier.

You are now onto his body. Keep a stitch marker in the start of this rotation as it will show the middle of his front.

Olaf looks like 3 giant snowballs.... so the difficult part here is to create the stitch increases and decreases to shape his body. Each line is a separate rotation now that we are knitting in the round.

Lower Bulge
Knit each stitch front and back… Over whole rotation. This will leave 10 stitches on each needle.

Knit one rotation

Knit 1, Knit 1 stitch front and back, repeat over the whole rotation, which will put 15 stitches on each needle.

Knit 20 rotations.

K2 tog, knit 1, repeat over whole rotation leaving 10 stitches on each needle.

Knit one rotation

K2 tog over whole rotation leaving 5 stitches on each needle

Knit 2 rotations

You are now starting his middle section.

Middle Bulge

Knit each stitch front and back… Over whole rotation. This will leave 10 stitches on each needle.

Knit 2, knit 1 front and back, knit 4, knit 1 front and back, knit 2. Repeat over the other needles to complete the rotation.

Knit 8 rotations

Knit 2, knit 2tog, knit 4, knit 2 tog, knit 2. Repeat over the other needles to complete the rotation.

Knit 1 rotation

K2 tog over whole rotation leaving 5 stitches on each needle

Knit 2 rotations – this is the neck

His head increases and decreases like the body... only, sometimes this only happens on the front of his face to form his nose.

Sometimes the K2 together instructions leave a single stitch at the end of a rotation. Just knit this last stitch.

Head

Knit 1, Knit 1 stitch front and back, repeat over the whole rotation. This will increase to 7, 8, 7 and 8 stitches on each needle.

Knit 2 rotations.

Knit 1 front and back, knit 1, repeat over whole rotation. This will lead to 10, 11 or 12 stitches on each needle

Knit 1 front and back, knit 1, repeat over first needle, knit needle 2 and 3, Knit 1 front and back, knit 1, repeat over 4th needle. You now have more stitches on the front side of Olaf.

Knit 4 rotations

Knit to the last 2 stitches of the first needle, knit 2 together, knit the second and third needles, knit the first 2 stitches of needle 4 together, knit to end of needle.

K2 tog over the whole rotation.

K2 tog, k2 tog, knit to the last 4 stitches on the rotation, k2 tog, k2 tog.

Knit 10 rotations.

K2 tog over whole rotation

Cut yarn, thread remaining stitches onto yarn, pull to tighten. Stitch the top of his head closed.

Insert 2 twisted yarn hairs on top of his head, and 2 twisted yarn arms on his sides. This can be done by either twisting yarn around and around until it twists onto itself... or create a braid and sew on as an arm. You could also use chunky black yarn strands or black felt.

Stuff him from the bottom up carefully shaping his face bulges.

Stitch up his legs. Squeeze his feet up to his body to create his foot. Secure with yarn.

Tie 2 white lengths of yarn around his bulges to help him keep his shape.

Using the white thread, shape his mouth with a few stitches, and shape his eyebrow ridge. Stitch on a small rectangle of white felt for his tooth.

Carrot

Cast on 9 stitches in orange.

Stst 8 rows

Knit 3, slip one, k2 tog, psso, knit 3

Purl

Knit 2, slip one, k2 tog, psso, knit 2

Purl

Knit 1, slip one, k2 tog, psso, knit 1

Purl

Slip 1, k2 tog, psso. Cut yarn, pull to tighten. Fold the carrot in half, stitching down the side. Insert a little stuffing and stitch to Olaf’s face.

Sew 3 buttons onto his belly. And 2 black stitches for eyes.... and you are done! You have built a snowman!