Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Awesome Knit Animals from Around the World

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knitted toy travelsI’m always a little jealous of crochet because there are so many great patterns for animals, food and other fun objects that we don’t seem to match in knitting.

While knit amigurumi isn’t as big a thing as the crocheted version, there are still a lot of really cute projects we can make, for kids and others in our lives who like a little sweetness.

Case in point: Knitted Toy Travels by Laura Long. The book has 15 adorable patterns for wild animals (most of them are on Ravelry) including a kangaroo and joey, hippo, parrot, monkey, tiger, panda, meerkats, giraffe, lion, zebra, polar bear and reindeer.

There’s also a pattern for Ed the Explorer (add yarn hair to make a girl if desired) and his clothes and gear for cold and warm weather.

This book is charming and includes a pull-out maps so you can see where each of your knit creatures comes from.

If you’d like this book to travel to your home, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, November 12. I’d love to know what your favorite wild animal is (mine is a leopard, but of those in the book, it would have to be meerkats).

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck.

Comments

  3. I agree, there are more crochet patterns for animals than knit. I’ve been knitting for over 50 years, and can’t seem to master crochet no matter how many times my mother has tried to teach me! I think my favourite wild animal would be a monkey.

  6. I love so many animals, I’d never even try to name a favorite. Would I pick something cute, or powerful, or colorful? I’ll spare you the whole list and go with the Frill Necked Lizard, Which I now totally TOTALLY want to knit!

  7. My favourite is the tapir. I’ve just knitted a Malaysian tapir for my son and am really pleased with how it’s turned out!

  8. favorite wild animal – so hard to choose – a spotted leopard might be fun to try to knit… thanks for the giveaway

  10. Just got a new great grandson and want to knit some animals as I did for our first grandson all of which he will not part with

  11. I love most of the wild cats – the lynx is a particular favorite. Something about their ears that I can’t resist.

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.