Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Gift Knits from the New Knitty

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kate's kitty from knittyThe latest issue of Knitty just dropped the other day, so I thought it might be fun to highlight some patterns you still have time to knit for gifts, if you’re still in the market for some.

The Skew Too fingerless mitts from Eva Landeo use a gorgeous, colorful yarn, a fun technique to make the knitting and the finished mitt more interesting, and they’re mostly worked in a flat piece of bias knitting, with cuffs and thumb added after, so they should be pretty quick to knit.

There’s also a mitten pattern, Instant Mash from Kate Atherley’s newest book (which is all about mittens). They’re worked in bulky yarn for quick progress, and mittens don’t have nearly the fiddly bits that gloves do, and actually keep your hands warmer.

Laura Chau’s Fallingbrook is a hat and mitten set with fun cable patterns that will make it feel like these knit fast because you’ll want to keep going to see how it all turns out. And the Tiina hat pattern from Katrin Kolnes is another one that will be fun to knit because of the great cable pattern, but it’s easy because it’s worked flat with no shaping. Just seam it up the side and cinch the top when you’re done!

Amy Palmer’s Ceibo is a kind of bolero/cropped sweater that’s a cardigan styled so it opens in the back, keeping more of your core warm. It would be great for all sorts of layering occasions this winter, and it comes in a variety of sizes.

Maybe my favorite is the tiny Kate’s Kitten pattern from Anna Hrachovec. It’s an itsy version of Kate by Jess Hutchinson, a sweet, pants-wearing kitty published by Knitty back in 2005. You’ve probably still got time to knit both of them for gifting. So cute!

[Photo: Anna Hrachovec via Knitty.]

Looking for more knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Looking for Yarn online? Check out Lionbrand our preferred source for purchasing yarn online.

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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.