Mr. Sleepy Socks Elf

Meet Mr. Sleepy Socks. One of Santa's littlest elves, he never has trouble falling asleep on Christmas Eve. His snooziness is completely contagious, even for extraordinarily excited children daydreaming of sugarplums. That makes him the perfect present for any young child to open the night before Christmas and snuggle with under the covers.

What you need for Mr. Sleepy Socks
 (finished elf is approx 33 cm – 13 in – tall)
• 1 white sport sock, boys' size 8 to 10, for head and body
• 1 red thermal sock with loopy terry lining, adults' size medium and approx 25 cm (9 7/8 in) long, for pyjamas and nightcap
• Scraps of green synthetic fleece or sweatsuit fabric, for hands and feet
• Scraps of red synthetic fleece or sweatsuit fabric, for nose
• Scraps of coordinating striped and polka-dotted calico, for scrunchies
• 2 gold and 1 sliver star appliqués, each approx 2.5 cm (1 in) wide
• Elastic, 6mm (1/4 in) wide
• Matching thread
• White, red and green buttonhole twist or other sturdy thread
• Embroidery floss: black, red and white
• Fibrefill
• Bodkin or large safety pin
• Dressmaker's chalk pencil, compass and ruler

To make
Note:
• Use matching buttonhole twist to sew running stitches for gathering and to whipstitch.
• Leave arms and legs unstuffed.

1. Head and body: Straight across white sock, approx 4 cm (1 5/8 in) above angled centre seam that crosses heel, cut off and discard cuff. Sew line of running stitches around foot, approx 4 cm from toe tip; push firm tennis ball-size handful of stuffing up into toe. Pull thread to gather toe around stuffing and form head; tightly knot. Lightly stuff remainder of foot, for body. Turn under 6 mm (1/4 in) around bottom edge; hold folded edges together and whipstitch closed.

2. Pyjama body: Straight across red sock, approx 8 cm (3 1/8 in) above angled centre seam that crosses heel, cut off and set aside cuff. Straight across red sock, approx 8 cm from toe tip, cut off and set aside tip. Around just-cut toe edge on remaining foot section, turn 1 cm (3/8 in) to outside; hand- or machine-hem for neck edge.

3. Pyjama legs: With hemmed edge at top, lay foot section flat. Beginning at cut edge, cut straight up each folded side edge for 8 cm to create 2 strips for legs; fold each strip in half so terry sides are together and long edges are even, then pin. Beginning at short (bottom) edge of 1 strip, stitch up long edge, around crotch and down long edge of other strip to form legs. Turn terry side out.

4. Pyjama body: Slip body inside pyjama body; sew line of running stitches around pyjama neck, approx 1 cm from edge. Pull thread to gather and form ruffled collar; tightly knot.

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