The Cavalier

The Cavalier: Knitted Nutcracker Doll by Sophia Minakais

What is Being Made

The Cavalier is an intermediate-level knitted doll designed as part of Sophia Minakais' 2019 Holiday Nutcracker Collection. This decorative doll stands approximately 11 inches tall (or 12¼ inches when displayed on a base) and depicts a dashing cavalier character ready for a festive waltz. The finished piece is ideal for holiday mantle displays and brings the whimsical magic of the Land of Sweets into your home décor.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

This knitted doll is constructed using fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for intermediate-level crafters. The pattern employs double-pointed needles (DPNs) to create three-dimensional, seamless sections that form the doll's body, head, limbs, and clothing components. The use of DPNs allows for working in the round, which is essential for creating the cylindrical shapes needed for a stuffed doll's structure. Pieces are knitted individually and then assembled together using a tapestry needle, with wool stuffing added to create dimension and shape before final closure.

Stitches and Yarn Weight

The pattern utilizes 4-ply fingering weight yarn, which provides excellent stitch definition and allows for precise, detailed knitting at a manageable gauge. The specific yarn weight enables the creation of fine details characteristic of the Cavalier's costume and features. While the exact stitch abbreviations are not detailed in the provided materials list, the intermediate skill level indicates the use of standard knitting stitches such as knit, purl, increases, decreases, and color changes to create the doll's intricate design elements including the cavalier's distinctive costume details.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Cavalier pattern calls for a carefully coordinated palette of 4-ply fingering weight yarn totaling approximately 140 yards across multiple colors:

• 18 yards of skin tone fingering yarn for the doll's head and exposed skin
• 6 yards of black fingering yarn for details
• 16 yards of dark brown fingering yarn for hair or additional costume elements
• 48 yards of white fingering yarn for the doll's base costume pieces
• 52 yards of ruby red fingering yarn for the cavalier's signature red costume elements
• Scraps of gold yarn for accent details and embellishments

The pattern is shown worked in Scheepjes Catona, a 100% cotton fingering weight yarn available in 25g skeins (68 yards each). The specific colors used are: #106 Snow White, #110 Jet Black, #162 Black Coffee, #255 Nude, #383 Ginger Gold, and #517 Ruby. This yarn choice provides excellent stitch clarity and durability for a decorative doll.

Tools and Notions

Construction requires US 3 (3.25mm) double-pointed needles to work with the fingering weight yarn at an appropriate gauge for the doll's scale and detail. A tapestry needle is essential for seaming pieces together and weaving in yarn ends. The pattern calls for ½ oz wool stuffing (such as Mountain Meadow Wool Stuffing) to fill and shape the completed knitted pieces, creating a three-dimensional, poseable doll.

Pattern Overview

This downloadable PDF pattern from independent designer Sophia Minakais provides complete instructions for creating The Cavalier doll as part of the 2019 Holiday Nutcracker Collection. The pattern is formatted for intermediate knitters who are comfortable working with double-pointed needles, managing multiple yarn colors, and assembling knitted components. The finished doll makes an elegant holiday decoration that captures the festive spirit of The Nutcracker ballet.