Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Check Out the Interweave Hurt Book Sale

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don't miss interweave's hurt book saleI don’t usually promote sales on the site because there are so many and they are over so quickly it’s not usually worth it, but one sale I always check out each year is the Interweave Hurt Book Sale. It used to be that this sale was strictly items that had been damaged in the warehouse (things with bent covers, stuff like that), but it’s expanded over the years to offer “hurt” prices on other books, magazines and DVDs.

That link above is to the knitting section of the sale, but of course they offer publications in a range of crafts including crochet, quilting, jewelry making and mixed media as well.

I’m seeing lots of great books that retail for $24.95 going for $6.24, which is a great deal.

When I was looking around there were things in the sale section without sale prices on them, and it seemed to change me from sale prices to not sale prices depending on where I was looking, but your patience is likely to be rewarded with some great deals. And the sale is consistently updated over the course of a few weeks, so keep checking back for more goodies.

Did you score a great deal? 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.