A first Christmas only comes round once, and a dinosaur in a Santa hat feels like the right way to mark it.

Meet Santa Saurus, a baby and toddler Christmas jumper (sweater) with a petrol intarsia dinosaur on the front, a little knitted arm, and a Santa hat finished with an i-cord tip and bobble. The sleeves are mismatched, one plain petrol with five knitted spikes and one striped in petrol, wine and platinum, which gives the whole thing a cheerfully chaotic energy.

The clever bit is the hat. It is knitted separately and sewn on, or attached with press studs, so it comes off in January and the jumper carries on well into the new year. There is also an optional ROAR motif to embroider on afterwards, for a dinosaur with something to say.

The jumper is a simple drop shoulder shape, knitted flat in stocking stitch with garter stitch edges and seamed. Buttoned shoulders and a buttoned neckband mean it goes over little heads without a fuss. The dinosaur uses just one contrast colour, so it makes a lovely first intarsia project. The arm, spikes, hat and bobble are all knitted separately and sewn on, and the ROAR motif is worked in duplicate stitch once the knitting is done.

The instructions are clear and easy to follow, with every measurement in centimetres and inches and US needle sizes given throughout. The pattern is written in UK terms, so cast off is bind off and tension is gauge.

Designed by Jane Burns, with 18 years of experience creating exclusive knitting and crochet patterns for babies and children.

Yarn
King Cole Big Value DK (100% acrylic, 145 m / 159 yds per 50g ball)
Yarn A, White (4020): 1 ball, all sizes
Yarn B, Platinum (4051): 1 (1: 2: 2: 2) balls
Yarn C, Petrol (4047): 1 ball, all sizes
Yarn D, Wine (4031): 1 ball, all sizes
Any DK weight yarn that knits to the same tension will work. In the US, Berroco Comfort DK (165 m / 178 yds per 50g) is a good, widely available substitute. Check your gauge before you start.

Needles
3.25mm (US 3) and 4mm (US 6) straight needles
3.25mm (US 3) circular needle, for the neckband (straights will also do)
3.25mm (US 3) double pointed needle, for the hat tip

Also needed
Darning needle
Stitch markers
Stitch holder
6 grey buttons
1 light grey and 1 small black button, stacked for the eye
Small amount of toy stuffing

Tension
22 sts x 30 rows = 10cm x 10cm (4in x 4in) using 4mm (US 6) needles and stocking stitch

Sizes
0-6 months (6-12 months: 1-2 years: 2-3 years: 4-5 years)

To fit chest
43 (45.5: 53: 56: 61) cm / 17 (18: 20.75: 22: 24) in

Finished chest
47 (51: 58: 65.5: 69) cm / 18.5 (20: 22.75: 25.75: 27.25) in

Finished length
27 (29: 32: 37: 39) cm / 10.75 (11.5: 12.5: 14.5: 15.25) in

Sleeve length
15 (18: 24: 29: 31) cm / 6 (7: 9.5: 11.5: 12.25) in

Skill level
Confident beginner

A note on small parts
The eye is made from two stacked buttons, and the spikes, arm and bobble are small stuffed pieces. For babies and young toddlers, you may prefer to embroider the eye instead, and please sew every piece on very securely.

The PDF is available to buy here on Ravelry, laid out cleanly for printing or saving to your device. You will find more of my patterns, and plenty of free ones, at janeburns.co.uk.

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