Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

An Approach to Seaming a Seamless Sweater

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adding "seams" to a top down seamless sweaterI’m kind of conflicted when it comes to seams and sweaters. I understand logically that seams are important. They bring stability to a piece, can help it hold its shape through washing and wearing, and can be used to add a decorative element to a piece of knitting.

But I also understand that seaming is not a lot of fun. So I tend to limit the number of seams in my projects, for instance by knitting the body from the bottom up, seaming the shoulders and then working the sleeve from the top down.

Audrey Knight is working through an idea to make a seamless project more stable, and I’m really interested to see how it turns out. So far she’s talked about casting on for a top-down sweater in the middle of the neckline so that, like a bottom up or pieced sweater, there’s a bound off (well, cast on, here) edge where stitches are picked up and knit from to finish the neckline.

It’s a really interesting concept and it certainly should add more stability to the neckline.

I look forward to seeing how it all turns out!

What do you think about seams in sweaters? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

[Photo via AudKnits.]

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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.