Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Books to Inspire Your Lace Knitting

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knitting laceI’ve reviewed lots of really fun lace knitting books through the years, and if you’re the sort of person who still likes paper, these are some that you should check out to help you on your lace knitting journey.

Knitting Lace by Susanna E. Lewis is a totally amazing book that details the lace patterns found in a sampler from the 19th century housed in the Brooklyn Museum. Which doesn’t sound as dramatic as it is, because the sampler is 15 feet long, averages about 14 stitches per inch worked on 0000 US needles (1.25 mm) and includes 91 different lace patterns. It was never bound off. Lewis re-creates the patterns and includes a deep exploration of how lace knitting works. There’s also information on designing lace patterns. This one is definitely a must-read if you’re interested in lace.

If you’re looking for patterns that include lace, I like Knitted Lace by Anne Merrow, which has 25 patterns including sweaters, socks, hats, tops and more.

Donna Druchunas’ Successful Lace Knitting is kind of a combination of the two, offering garments and projects based on the work of Dorothy Reade, a prolific and creative lace knitter of the 1950s through 1970s. She was a big proponent of using charts to teach lace knitting because they’re a visual representation of the knit project and are less likely to have mistakes in them for that reason.

Do you have a favorite book about lace knitting? I’d love to hear about it!

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.