Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a nutcracker or two standing guard by the tree.
The tale of the brave nutcracker battling the wicked Mouse King to rescue a young girl has enchanted generations.
This year, why not knit your own festive hero? With a little imagination, he might just embark on magical adventures of his own.

Yarn:
Stylecraft Special DK
40g Graphite (Dark grey)
40g Matador (Red)
20g Toy (Peach)
15g Jeans (Blue)
15g Mustard (Yellow)
15g Cream (Beige)

Needles:
3.5mm Straight needles
Other supplies:
Toy stuffing
Tapestry Needle
Two 10 mm safety eyes
Four 15 mm gold-coloured buttons
Stitchmarkers

Size:
40 cm

Abbreviations:
x times: Knit the instructions between the brackets x amount of times.
* ; rep from * to end: Repeat the instructions between the * and ; until the end of the row.
st(s): stitch(es)
K: knit, if followed by a number, knit that amount of stitches
P: purl
St st: stocking stitch: alternate a row of knitting and a row of purling.
G st: garter stitch: knit every row
K2tog: knit two stitches together knitwise.
P2tog: purl two stitches together purlwise.
Kfb: knit in the front and back of the stitch, creating an increase.
Pfb: Purl in the front and back of the stitch, creating an increase.
Sl1: Slip the next stitch from the left hand needle to the right needle without working it.
PSSO: Pass the previously slipped stitch over the worked stitch, creating a decrease.