Knitted Nativity Scene

By Spotlight

A classic Nativity with a crafty twist

Final Result

Materials

• *1 x 50g ball 8ply pure wool or acrylic in the colours listed below
• 1 pair 4.00mm knitting needles
• 3.00mm crochet hook
• Scissors, yarn needle, tape measure
• Hobby fill
• 2 x 20cm lengths of wire for crooks

*YARN COLOURS USED

WHITE: angel body, baby blanket, Mary’s collar, sheep, king 1 contrast on tie & turban.
FLESH COLOUR: heads, hands & baby Jesus.
PURPLE: king 1 contrast on tie & turban.
BABY BLUE: Mary’s clothing & eyes.
LILAC: king 1 body & arms.
RED: king 2 contrast, Mary’s & angel’s lips, king 3 jewel.
YELLOW: king 2 body, arms & crown, straw in manger.
ROYAL BLUE: king 3 body, waist tie & contrast on arms, crown & jewel.
TAN: Joseph’s body, arms & waist tie, shepherd 1 headband, shepherd 2 headgear, king 2 head & hands, shepherd 1 vest & arms, shepherd 2 crook.
MUSTARD: king 3 arms, crown & waist tie, king 1 bottle.
BEIGE: shepherd 1 body, shepherd 2 vest contrast, angel hair, king 2 chest.
DARK BROWN: Joseph’s beard hair & eyes, shepherd 1 beard & eyes, shepherd 2 crook & eyes.
BLUE GREY: shepherd 1 waist tie & headgear, shepherd 2 body, arms & vest contrast, king 3 beard.
BLACK: shepherd 2 waist tie & headband, king 2 beard, eyes & chest detail, sheep eyes & mouth.
TURQUOISE: king 3 jewel (small amount only).

Step 1

Body 1
SHEPHERDS & JOSEPH

Cast on 33 sts in correct colour and work 18 rows of stocking st.

Waist Shaping:
(K3, K2tog) to last 3 sts, K3 … 27 sts.
Work 7 rows of stocking st.

Neck Shaping:
K1, (K2tog) to end … 14 sts.
Purl 1 row.
Change to flesh colour and work 2 rows.

Head Shaping:
K1, inc in every st to last st, K1 … 26 sts.
Work 9 rows.

Shape Crown:
(K1, K2tog) to last 2 sts, K2 … 18 sts.
Purl 1 row.
(K2tog) to end … 9 sts.

Cut yarn leaving a 20cm tail. Thread tail through rem sts and tighten. Use this yarn to sew back seam of head, after base is completed.
Work body base.

Step 2

Body base
FOR ALL
Purl up 25 sts along cast on edge of body in yarn to match.
Work 3 rows stocking st.

Shaping:
(K2, K2tog) to last st, K1 … 19 sts.
Purl 1 row.
(K1, K2tog) to last st, K1 … 13 sts.
Purl 1 row.
Cut yarn leaving a 20cm tail.
Thread tail through rem sts and tighten.
Sew back seam of head and body to hem line, turn to right side and stuff, and sew closed.

Take thread up through body and tighten until it inverts to make a stable base for toy to stand. Secure at the back of the neck and neaten.

Step 3

Body & head 2
KINGS, MARY & ANGEL
Cast on 33 sts using either contrast or main colour.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: Knit.
Change to main colour where required and work 14 rows stocking st, starting with a K row.

Waist Shaping:
(K3, K2tog) to last 3 sts, K3 … 27 sts.
Work 7 rows stocking st.

Neck Shaping:
Working in contrast colour where required K1, (K2tog) to end … 14 sts.
Purl 1 row.
Change to flesh colour and work 2 rows.

Head Shaping:
K1, inc in every st to last st, K1 … 26 sts.
Work 9 rows.

Shape Crown:
(K1, K2tog) to last 2 sts, K2 … 18 sts.
Purl 1 row.
(K2tog) to end … 9 sts.

Cut yarn leaving a 20cm tail. Thread tail through rem sts and tighten. Use this yarn to sew back seam of head, after base is completed.
Work body base as above.

Step 4

Arms 1
SHEPHERDS & JOSEPH
Cast on 8 sts in clothing colour and work 12 rows stocking st.
Change to flesh colour and work 4 rows stocking st.

Cut yarn leaving a 15cm tail. Thread tail through rem sts and tighten. Use this yarn to sew seam of arm and turn to the right side.
Stuff and sew to body.

Step 5

Arms 2
KINGS, MARY & ANGEL
Cast on 8 sts in clothing colour and work 10 rows stocking st.
Change to contrast colour if required and work 2 rows garter st.
Change to flesh colour and work 4 rows stocking st.

Cut yarn leaving a 15cm tail. Thread tail through rem sts and tighten. Use this yarn to sew seam of arm and turn to the right side.
Stuff and sew to body.

Step 6

Beards
KING 3, SHEPHERD 1 & JOSEPH
Cast on 8 sts in correct colour and knit 1 row.
Next row: K1, inc in every st to last st, K1 ... 14 sts.
Knit 4 rows.

Shaping:
Dec 1 st at each end of every row until 4 sts rem.

Cast off. Sew to face and neaten ends.

Step 7

Headgear
SHEPHERDS
Cast on 14 sts in required colour and work 30 rows stocking st.
Cast off. Neaten ends.

Step 8

Head band
SHEPHERDS
Cast on 28 sts in required colour and knit 1 row.

Cast off knitways and join to form circle. Neaten ends.

Place headgear over head and secure to neck, and then secure headband to keep both in place.

Step 9

Waist ties basic
Make - 1 each for Shepherds & Joseph, 2 & twist together for King 3.

Cast on 50 sts in required colour and knit 1 row.
Cast off knitways. Neaten ends.

Step 10

Vest
SHEPHERDS
Cast on 18 sts in required colour, knit in stripes for shepherd 2.

Back - work 22 rows garter st.

Front division - K7, K2tog, turn.
Work 29 rows garter st on these 8 sts then cast off.

Rejoin yarn to rem 9 sts, K2tog, K to end.
Work 29 rows garter st then cast off.
Neaten ends.

Place around neck as shown and secure with tie.

Step 11

Crooks
SHEPHERDS
Holding wire against needle, cast on 40 sts around needle and wire.
Knit 1 row and cast off knitways.

Neaten ends, fold and thread in wire, cutting off any excess.
Bend to shape crook.

Step 12

Waist tie
KING 1
Cast on 4 sts in purple and knit 2 rows. Do not cut yarn.

Change to white, knit 2 rows. Do not cut yarn.

Change back to purple taking yarn up the edge and work 2 more rows.

Continue knitting 2 rows in each colour for a total of 50 rows. Cast off.

Step 13

Turban
KING 1
Cast on 6 sts in purple and work as for waist tie working 42 rows in total.
Cast off.

Step 14

Crown
KING 2
Cast on 28 sts in red and knit 3 rows.

Change to yellow, K1, (knit into front & back of next st twice, K3) to last 2 sts, K2.
Next Row: Cast off as you go in pattern - P2, (P4tog, P3) to last st, P1.

Join ends together to form a circle.
Secure to head and neaten ends.

Step 15

Crown
KING 3
Cast on 28 sts in royal blue and knit 3 rows.

Change to mustard and work 6 rows stocking st.

Shape Crown:
K2tog to end … 14 sts.
Purl 1 row.
Next row: K2tog to end … 7 sts.

Cut yarn leaving a 15cm tail. Thread tail through rem sts and tighten. Use this yarn to sew back seam and secure to kings head.

Step 16

Hair
JOSEPH & ANGEL
Note: Purl side is right side.

Cast on 20 sts in correct colour and knit 2 rows.
Work 14 rows stocking st.

Shape Crown:
K1, (K2tog) to end, K1 … 11 sts.
Cast off.
Fold in half and sew part line, secure to head along part and down the back of the head.
Neaten ends.

Step 17

Mary's veil
Cast on 20 sts and knit K2 rows.
Work 26 rows stocking st.
Knit 2 rows and cast off.

Secure on each side of Mary’s head, neaten ends.

Step 18

Collar
MARY, ANGEL & KING 2
Cast on 28 sts and knit 4 rows.

Shaping:
K2tog to end … 14 sts.

Cut yarn leaving a 15cm. Thread tail through rem sts and tighten. Use this yarn to sew seam of arm and turn to the right side.
Stuff then sew to body.

Use this yarn to sew back seam and secure around neck.

Step 19

Angel’s wings
Cast on 5 sts and knit 2 rows.
*Inc 1 st at beg of every row until there are 11 sts.
Work a further 10 rows of garter st.
Dec 1 st at beg of every row until 5 sts rem. Knit 1 row.
Repeat from * once more.
Cast off.

Secure along back of angel.

Step 20

Baby jesus
Cast on 16 sts in flesh colour and work 8 rows of stocking st.

Change to white and work 4 rows.

Cut off white yarn and change back to flesh colour.

Shaping:
K3, inc in each of next 2 sts, K6, inc in each of next 2 sts, K3 … 20 sts.
Work 7 rows stocking st.

Neck Shaping:
K2tog to end … 10 sts.
Purl 1 row.

Head Shaping:
(K1, inc in next st) to end … 15 sts.
Work 5 rows.

Shape Crown:
K1, K2tog to end … 8 sts.

Cut yarn leaving a 15cm tail. Thread tail through rem sts and tighten. Use this yarn to sew back seam but turn to the right side before completing the seam.
Stuff then sew to body closed.

Using yarn define legs and arms, by sewing lines through stuffed work.

Step 21

Blanket
Cast on 20 sts and knit 2 rows.
Work 20 rows stocking st.
Knit 2 rows.
Cast off, secure around baby and neaten ends.

Step 22

Sheep
MAKE 2
Cast on 5 sts, and work 2 rows stocking st.
Inc in each st to end knitways … 10 sts.
Purl 1 row.
Inc in each st to end knitways … 20 sts.
Work 15 rows of stocking st.

Shape Neck:
K1, K2tog to last st, K1 … 11 sts.
Purl 1 row.

Shape Head:
K1, inc in each st to last st, K1 … 20 sts.
Work 7 rows stocking st.

Shape Nose:
K2tog to end … 10 sts.
Purl 1 row.
K2tog to end … 5 sts.
Purl 1 row.

Cut yarn leaving a 15cm tail. Thread tail through rem sts and tighten. Use this yarn to sew base seam to 3cm from the end and turn to the right side.
Stuff then sew closed.

Legs - make 4 each:
Cast on 8 sts, and work 6 rows stocking st.

Cut yarn leaving a 15cm tail. Thread tail through rem sts and tighten.
Turn to right side and stuff.
Attach to body and neaten ends.

Ears - make 2 each:
Cast on 4 sts, work 2 rows garter st and cast off.
Attach to head and neaten ends.

Use black yarn to stitch eyes and mouth.

Step 23

Manger
Cast on 10 sts and work 10 rows garter st.

Shaping:
Dec 1 st each end of this row.
Work a further 30 rows garter st.

Shaping:
Inc 1 st each end of this row.
Work a further 10 rows garter st.
Cast off.

Sides:
Pick up 17 sts, along inner shaped edge.
Row 1:
Inc 1 st each end of this row ... 19 sts.
Work 5 rows garter st.
Cast off and repeat on other side.
Sew up sides and neaten ends.

Step 24

Manger straw
Cast on 8 sts, work 30 rows garter st and cast off.
Cut 4cm lengths of yarn and using a crochet hook, insert under st on every 4th row, draw the middle of yarn up a loop and bring ends through the loop.
Place in Manger.

Step 25

Presents
KING 1 BOTTLE:
Cast on 6 sts and work 20 rows garter st.
Cast off leaving last st.
Pick up 8 sts along side edge … 9 sts.
Work 6 rows stocking st starting with a knit row (right side).
Cast off.
Sew side seam and base then stuff and tie off top to create a bottle shape.

KING 2 CHEST:
Cast on 10 sts and work 6 rows of stocking st.
Cast on 4 sts at the beg of the next 2 rows … 18 sts.
Work a further 4 rows stocking st.
Cast off 4 sts at beg of the next 2 rows … 10 sts.
Work a further 11 rows stocking st.
Knit 1 row and cast off.
Over sew sides with black, stuff and create the detail on the front to secure lid.

KING 3 GOLD BAR:
Cast on 10 sts and work 14 rows garter st.
Cast off, fold lengthways and sew in place.
Using royal blue, red and turquoise, sew jewels along gold bar.

Step 26

Finishing:
Using yarn needle, finish all people by adding eyes, mouths and moustache where needed.

Abbreviation

beg = begin/ning
dec = decrease
inc = increase
K = knit
K2tog = knit 2 sts together
P = purl
P4tog = purl next 4 sts together
rem = remain/ing
st/s = stitch/es