Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

A Great Scarf You Can Knit in a Day (Really)

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an easy scarf you can knit in a dayI’m not saying I recommend this course of action, but I did recently learn that it is possible to knit a scarf — not even with bulky yarn! — in a day.

These are the things you do when a friend suddenly announces they are moving to Iowa.

I had this pattern I had printed out a long time ago, the Malabrigo Waffles Scarf from Yarn Dreams, which looked squishy and fun and fast to knit.

I used some wool and camel blend from my stash and I knit all. day. long. As much as I could. I cast off right before we headed out to goodbye dinner. I actually made mine a little narrower to speed along the knitting, and I think it came out just fine.

I’m not sure how long mine ended up, but it was at least five feet, and it was squishy and warm and pretty and the perfect way to send love 500-some miles away.

While the moral of the story should be that you shouldn’t try to knit a scarf in a day (at least a worsted weight one), I hope this lets you know you still have plenty of time to do some serious knitting for gifts or otherwise.

I’d love to know what’s on your needles!

[Photo: Yarn Dreams]

Have you read?

Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults: A Sweet Handmade Dress-Up Idea

There’s something wonderfully charming about a knitted crown. It’s playful, useful for the dress-up basket, and just the sort of small project that gives a leftover ball of yarn a proper purpose. Much better than letting it roll around the cupboard for another three years.

This free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults combines a simple garter-stitch band with shaped triangular points. The mustard-gold colour gives it that storybook crown look, although pink, purple or woodland green would be equally lovely.

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

The construction is the appealing part of this design. Everything is knitted flat, so you won’t need double-pointed needles or experience joining stitches in the round.

You knit the band first, then work each crown point separately over a group of 12 stitches. Paired decreases gradually narrow each triangle, giving you a small, repeatable section to concentrate on.

I’d describe this as a confident beginner knitting project. You’ll need to know how to knit, work two types of decreases, hold unused stitches and sew a simple seam. There are several yarn tails to weave in, so a little patience with finishing will help.

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

The pattern includes three sizes, with seven, eight or nine crown points. Choose by the wearer’s head measurement rather than age, and check your gauge carefully. Yarn stretch will make a noticeable difference to the fit.

For birthdays, an embroidered initial would be a sweet finishing touch. Contrasting yarn diamonds could suggest little jewels without adding hard embellishments.

What to Know Before Casting On

This is a soft knitted crown, so expect gentle points rather than a rigid costume accessory. A springy wool or wool-blend yarn should give the shaping more support than a very drapey yarn.

The stitch calculations have been checked, but the design has not yet been sample-knitted. The accompanying image is an illustrative mockup, so the finished texture and proportions may vary with your yarn and tension.

For a small handmade birthday accessory or a cheerful addition to the dress-up box, this is an appealing idea. And if an adult needs a matching crown for supervising the royal household, the larger size has that covered too.