Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Friday Reads: Yarnbombing, Cryptic Knitting Notes and More

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knit sewing machineIf you find yourself in San Francisco any time in the next year, you might want to pay a visit to the area around the Civic Center, where knitted octopuses and colorful garments have taken to the trees. The nonprofit Trust for Public Land teamed up with the knitters at Knits for Life to add sweaters to the trees and help tie together a three-block section of the city. Officials expect the exhibit to be up for 6 to 18 months, depending on how it fares in the weather.

In other wooly art, don’t miss the wool sewing machine made by Jessica Dance for John Lewis. The project is knit and felted, with details on the dials embroidered in, and is complete with spools of thread and tiny woolen scissors. Check out her website to see more of her amazing work.

Knit Like Granny recently made up a list of its top 100 knitting blogs. We’re not on it, but there’s lots of opportunities for great reading and inspiration there anyway. 😉

And finally, you’ll want to read this sweet knitting story from the Boston Globe, from a knitter who tried to decipher a knitting note her mother left behind. It’ll make you feel good about the legacy of crafting.

[Photo: Jessica Dance.]

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.