Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Cooperative Press to Close Warehouse (and Book Sales)

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cooperative press to close warehouseCooperative Press, the independent publisher of knitting books, crafty business books and a bit of fiction, is closing down its warehouse and stopping direct sales to customers.

In an email to fans recently, founder Shannon Okey said fulfillment costs have been rising to the point where they have less to create new books and pay authors, so once the warehouse is substantially cleared out they will be sold through third-party sites such as Amazon and Barnes & Nobel, as well as independent book sites (yarn shops will still be able to wholesale direct from CP, and they will still sell at events like Rhinebeck).

Through Tuesday, Sept. 15, some of the remaining inventory is available at 40 percent off with the code 40PERCENT. I’m sure they’d appreciate it if you take a look.

In other book sale news, Vogue Knitting is having a sale of 30 percent off books, including knitting, crochet, quilting and sewing books. No code, just visit the site for pricing.

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.