These festive Nutcracker Soldiers are fun and quick to make.

Non-fiddly Construction
They are knit in the round from the bottom to the top, with arms that are knit in one-piece and slide into position through arm holes, a wooden bead head that stays in place with a pipe cleaner, and yarn hair added with a tapestry needle. The shoulder pads are knit separately and knotted into place with the ends.
To save fiddly colorwork on something so small, the decorations on the clothes are made with embroidery; Chain Stitch for the hat, French Knots for the buttons and Duplicate Stitch for the belt.

Supplies Needed
12 mm wooden beads for head
Pipe cleaner