Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Get a Jump on Christmas Knitting with this Wee Bear Tree Ornament Pattern

by

knit this sweet bear for your tree and beyondI don’t even want to think about this sort of thing, but Kat over at Just Crafty Enough reminds us that there are 24 weeks until Christmas. With that in mind she’s starting her advent calendar project, which will include one little project a week for the next 24 weeks that can be used on the tree, to decorate gifts or otherwise to make things merry around your home.

First up is a little knit bear that’s perfect for hanging on the tree.

You just need a little bit of yarn to make its peanut shaped body, so work it in brown, black or white for an authentic bear look, or use little bits of your stash on this project. Or knit a bunch in a bunch of different colors and give them as part of the gift this year.

Are you thinking about Christmas yet? If you are, I’m not sure I want to hear it! (I can’t get past Sept. 1, when my book is due!)

[Photo via Just Crafty Enough.]

Looking for more Christmas themed Knitting patterns? Check out some of our favorite Knitting patterns on Etsy and

These Christmas Knitting Pattern Books on Amazon

Comments

  1. Thanks Sarah for showing off my little bear! By the way, it’s only 24 weeks until December 1st if that makes you feel any better….

  3. somebody finally gets what how far in advance holiday knitting projects need to be for me!

Have you read?

Knit a Classic Aran Cardigan with this Free Knitting Pattern

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time. 

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring. 

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn. 

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row. 

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves. 

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body. 

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy. 

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn. 

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]