Knitting

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Giveaway: 150 Scandinavian Motifs

by

150 scandinavian motifs

Congratulations to Karey and Kim!

I feel like fall and winter are great times for color knitting. Maybe because stranded knitting makes double-thick projects that are extra warm, or maybe just because we all need a little more color in our lives when it’s cold and grey outside.

Whatever the reason, it seems like the right time to give away this awesomely inspirational book. 150 Scandinavian Motifs by Mary Jane Mucklestone is in fact exactly what it sounds like: a collection of charts for color knitting inspired by Scandinavian knitting patterns.

There are four actual projects in the book as well, but it’s really adding the charts to other projects that makes this book so much for.

It’s great because it includes large photos of colorwork swatches as well as the chart for each motif in black and white and two different color combinations so you can see how different patterns can look using different colors.

I actually have two extra copies of this book, and they will go to two randomly selected people who comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, Oct. 18. My husband’s birthday is this week, so I’d love to hear about the best present you ever received. (Or something great you gave someone else.)

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

Comments

  1. Happy Birthday to your Husband, my birthday is the 17th. All of my favorite gifts are handmade. I have several beautiful knitted hats from my sister.

  3. I am not a knitter but love all things Scandinavian! My dad was born in Sweden, making me a first gen American, but love my Swedish roots!

    The best present I ever received? Well after nothing from husband and son for birthday or mother’s day for nearly 15 years, I was presented with a 2+ karat solitaire diamond set on a platinum band! It is absolutely gorgeous and kinda does make up for all the ‘forgottens’! It was something that I always wanted and I call it my ‘mother’s ring’ (since a diamond can be considered June’s birthstone too).

  4. I just finished crocheting an Avengers baby set for our soon-to-be Godson since the parents are doing an Avengers themed baby room. The mom said it was the best baby gift ever!

  5. Happy Birthday to your husband. Not for my Birthday , but the best present I have ever received was my daughter, an only child. This sounds like an amazing book! Thank you for the chance to win.

  7. One of my best presents was a big screen tv from my son to connect up to my laptop so I can read emails better.

  9. If you had asked me this when I was 3, I might have said a bottle of bubble soap. Now I’m almost mumble mumble mumble, and there have been so many wonderful presents over the years, many greatly loved but sadly forgotten, I couldn’t possibly pick one, so I’m going to stick to my bubble soap answer.

  10. Happy Birthday to your husband! My best gift was a jewelry box from my daughter with an insert in the lid of a poem she hand wrote for me.

  11. I’ve had this book on my wishlist for forever! One of the best gifts I’ve received in recent history is a power detail sander from my on laws for my woodworking 🙂

  12. The best gift question is a toughie. My most loved gift would probably be the (stuffed animal) bunny I had when I was little. “Bun” went everywhere. One of the best gifts I think I’ve ever given was tickets to an Aretha Franklin concert for my mom & I to go together. She doesn’t need or want stuff, she’d much rather spend time together and spending time together with Aretha was fabulous! Thanks for the giveaway chance, I’ve been coveting this book for a while and just haven’t caved yet.

  13. One of the best gifts I ever received was from my daughter when she was a little girl. A small box with a letter. a gumball ring, stickers, and a $1 bill. I cried. It was so sweet. Ives kept it intact for years…

  15. Ahhh…the last time I knitted was a pair of Norweigien gloves – – OMG…THAT WAS 35 YEARS AGO. No that I’m retired I’d love to design another pair based on designs in this book. Thanks!

  17. I hope your husbands birthday is great! I am an Oct bday person too! My best gift was a surprise trip – to San Juan! it was awesome! thank you!

  21. My most useful, recent gift is a full spectrum task light. I am now able to focus light on my work without lighting up the whole room.

    The most memorable gift was a Boye Needlemaster set from my father who considered me, at age 18, an expert knitter. This was over 30 years ago when this was the best gift ever.

  22. My favorite gift I gave was a quilt for my sister since she was the last in my family I hadn’t made one for. She dropped hints about it for months ahead of time but I played dumb and she was completely surprised.

    My favorite gift that I’ve received is my great-great-grandmother’s singer treadle machine from my grandmother.

  23. The best present I ever got was a puppy when I was six years old. Even handmade can’t beat that.

  24. Happy birthday to your husband! The best gift I’ve received was a ticket to the swimming-pool for the whole day: swimming, eating and swimming again – that was great.

  25. My best present has been a Daylight lamp so i can keep knitting and crafting through the long dark winter nights!

  26. Happy birthday! 😀
    The best present I received was 2 years ago for my birthday. My mom offered me a ball winder and a swift as well as loooooots of super beautiful and colorful yarns and a set of strait needles and double pointed ones! And that’s how I started falling in love with knitting! 😀 (I was crocheting for a year or so before that, but since I started knitting i feel like doing it everyday and my crochets feel a little left out I think :p)
    have a super nice day!

  27. so amazed at this technique of knitting, they have such detailed patterns. my nanny knit me two sets of mitts in this style and i cherish them.

  28. from Mary

    I’m really interested in your give-away book. Recently I learned fair isle knitting and knitted a beautiful snowflake sweater. . .my first experience with steeking. Your book would give me ideas to design my own projects. Can’t wait to begin my journey through the Shetland Isles. I think you should take your husband there for his birthday celebration!

  29. My sewing machine–a gift from my MIL when it wasn’t even Christmas or my birthday or any kind of special occasion! This looks like a wonderful book just brimming with inspiration of all sorts.

  30. My d.i.l has become quite the 0erson with the needles- self taught and not shying away from tough pattern selections.
    A lovely gift, would be this book!

  31. Oh, it’s my husband’s birthday week too. How funny! My best birthday present was a Barbie mobile home (received many years ago). I loved that thing 🙂

    I love the patterns and inspiration in this book. Thanks for this great giveaway!!

  32. My birthday was yesterday! I’ve had many wonderful gifts throughout the years, but I got a fabulous one yesterday. My nephew who’s staying with us for a few months gave me a letter in which he tells me what a wonderful person and auntie I am. Since I haven’t been feeling good about myself lately, it was just what I needed.

  33. Best present: at age 13, a complete record set of the Beethoven Symphonies (against my Mom’s better wishes….).
    Thanks for the giveaway!

  34. For years my husband would ask what I wanted for a present. And for years my response was, somewhat jokingly, to write me a love letter. For our 25th Wedding Anniversary, he and my daughter wrote me a song. She performed it for us the night of our Anniversary. It was an amazing gift!!

  35. My best gift was a Navajo Yebechai blanket from my husband. It was one we’d admired but decided we couldn’t afford. He went back and got it, and hung it on the wall with a year’s worth of greeting cards pinned to it: Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, Happy Halloween, Congratulations on Getting Your Driver’s License, Easter, Valentine’s, and so on!

  36. my best gift ever was seeing and touching snow on my birthday! might not sound special for someone having birthday in winter, but my birthday is in mid june, which makes it impossible to have a snowy birthday in the northern hemisphere! so this year I packed my things and traveled up north to Northern Norway, up a mountain…and I had snow for my birthday 🙂

  37. For my 60th birthday we tried to get 60 people to help pack meals at Feed My Starving Children. I got the gift of friends and family joining me there……… followed by a big box of birthday cards from all over that my daughter had solicited from family and friends who couldn’t make it.

  38. Awesome giveaway!

    The best present I received was a letter from my Dad on my 16th birthday, telling me how proud he was of the woman I was becoming and how special I was to him.

    Twenty-five years later, I still carry it in my wallet.

  42. Happy Birthday to your Husband!! My Sister’s Birthday was this past week as well. Some of the sweetest people were born around this time, and Libras, as we know, are some of the most outgoing, and even-keeled people I know. The best thing I ever received was an afghan that my Aunt knitted for me, and another one that my late Mother crocheted for me. I will cherish them forever. I love to knit shawls for friends and family members who are going through a rough time in their lives or have suffered a loss. It’s my way of giving them a hug, and to let them know I’m there with them. For other friends or family members, I have made baby layettes, complete with the afghan, if they’re expecting. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of this book, since I’ve always wanted to try this type of colorwork. Thank you for making this possible. I apologize for the lengthy answer, but had a lot to get out in response to your question!!

  45. Hi, the best birthday gift I’ve ever received would have to be my sewing embroidery machine that my gracious husband bought for me. I treasure it because of my passion for sewing, but mainly because it came from him! :))

    [email protected]

  46. One of my best gifts was an antique cross-stitched framed sampler stitched in 1920, I love historical needlework!

Have you read?

10 Knitted Christmas Bauble Patterns for a Tree Full of Handmade Charm

There’s always room for one more Christmas decoration, especially when it uses yarn you already own. That’s my reasoning, anyway. Those little leftover balls that aren’t quite enough for a hat suddenly look much more promising when you start thinking about knitted baubles.

I love the idea of adding a few handmade ornaments to the tree each year. They don’t all have to match, either. A traditional colourwork ball beside a slightly cheeky Christmas pudding feels far more interesting than a tree where everything arrived in the same box.

These knitted Christmas bauble patterns include flat-knit designs, festive characters and detailed colourwork ornaments. Most are free, with a paid collection included for anyone who wants plenty of designs to work through. Some suit newer knitters; others are small projects for practising skills you already know.

Christmas Baubles Knitted Flat

The free Christmas Baubles—Knit Flat pattern from Tat’sgrans Treasures is worth a look if knitting tiny rounds doesn’t appeal. It includes three sizes and charted words such as Peace, Hope, Love and Joy, worked using intarsia. The flat construction is approachable, although the lettering adds a challenge beyond basic stocking stitch. I’d choose this for meaningful gift ornaments, particularly when one of those words suits the person receiving it.

Christmas Pudding Bauble

The free Christmas Pudding Bauble by Amanda Berry has all the appeal of a festive pudding without anyone debating whether they actually like eating it. Knitted flat in DK yarn, it combines shaping, colourwork and seaming, with a little holly topper to finish. It’s best for confident beginners with some experience rather than someone learning their first knit stitch. At approximately 6 cm tall, it would make a lovely tree decoration or an extra treat tied onto a wrapped present.

Rudolf & Friends Character Baubles

The free Rudolf & Friends Ornaments by Claire Fairall bring a playful touch to a handmade Christmas tree. These character baubles are knitted flat, and the instructions include illustrations for assembly and embroidery. Hobbii lists the pattern as suitable for beginners, making it a useful option for knitters who would rather practise finishing details than stranded colourwork. The finished ornaments measure approximately 8 × 6 cm and would also look cheerful tucked into a handmade wreath.

Cute Christmas Baubles With Little Faces

The free Cute Christmas Baubles from Marianna’s Lazy Daisy Days turn small amounts of DK yarn into cheerful character decorations. Worked flat and seamed, they use simple shaping, stuffing and added facial details to create their personality. They suit knitters comfortable with knit, purl, increases and decreases who enjoy a little assembly afterwards. I rather like Marianna’s idea of using them on the Christmas dinner table before adding hanging loops for the tree.

Rudolph’s Nose Christmas Bauble

The free Rudolph’s Nose Bauble from DROPS Design is a useful choice when you want a traditional ball-shaped ornament. Designed in DROPS Flora, it uses knitting in the round with increases and decreases to create the shape. Choose this if you’re comfortable handling a small circumference and want a project focused on construction. I’d make a few in coordinating colours to bring a little consistency to an otherwise wonderfully mismatched handmade tree.

Merry Mints Bauble

The free Merry Mints Bauble from DROPS Design offers another festive option, this time designed in DROPS Cotton Merino. The instructions include working back-and-forth rows and shaping, so it’s worth considering if you prefer that approach to tiny rounds. Read through the construction before starting and pay attention to the instructions for working yarn overs to avoid unwanted holes. This would be a nice project for a knitter who enjoys seeing a shaped decoration emerge from a small piece of knitting.

Caorann Fair Isle Christmas Bauble

The free Caorann Christmas Bauble by Sarah Berry brings delicate Fair Isle detail to a small ornament. It uses fingering-weight yarn and 2.5 mm needles, with instructions sized for an approximately 60 mm bauble insert. Worked in the round, the design includes both written and charted directions for its repeated segments. I’d save this one for knitters with some colourwork experience who want to make a particularly special keepsake.

A Dated 2026 Christmas Bauble

The free 2026 Christmas Bauble by Smaatterier combines the year with two traditional Selbu rose motifs. It’s knitted in the round using stranded colourwork across the middle, with either fibre filling or a suitably sized plastic bauble inside. The charted design is listed as intermediate and finishes at approximately 6.5 cm tall. This is a lovely choice for marking a first Christmas in a new home, a family milestone or simply another year of making things by hand.

Colourful Christmas Balls From Two Strands

The free Christmas Balls by Mary Ann Stephens are full of colourwork detail, with optional touches such as duplicate stitch and nupps. The designer also discusses I-cord hanging loops, which give the ornaments a pleasingly substantial finish. These are better suited to knitters comfortable following charts and managing several colours than complete beginners. Follow the updated download directions in the post to find the patterns on the designer’s current website.

ARNE & CARLOS Christmas Ball Collection

The paid Twenty-four Christmas Balls 2024 collection by ARNE & CARLOS includes a basic ball pattern and 24 different motif charts. The ornaments are worked in the round using stranded colourwork, with a linked tutorial to help you follow the process. Although the designer lists the collection as beginner level, I’d be comfortable knitting in the round and making increases and decreases before starting. This is the pick for someone who wants a whole collection of coordinated ornaments rather than just one small project.

Choosing Yarn for Knitted Baubles

Small decorations are tempting stash projects, but check the yarn weight before diving into that leftover basket. A thicker yarn can make a much larger bauble, while changing the yarn in a fitted cover may stop it fitting the recommended insert.

For colourwork, choose shades with enough contrast for the motif to show. Two lovely colours can look surprisingly similar once they’re knitted together, especially on something this small.

Smooth yarn also makes it easier to see your stitches. Save the fluffy, sparkly and slightly mysterious leftovers for a pattern where you’re confident they’ll work.

Getting a Nicely Rounded Finish

If your pattern uses stuffing, add it gradually and spread it evenly. You’re aiming for a rounded ornament without stretching the stitches so far apart that the filling shows through. For designs worked over an insert, check the diameter and follow the instructions for when to put it inside.

Give the finishing a little time, too. A neat seam, securely woven ends and a tidy hanging loop help a small decoration feel properly finished.

I’d start with a pair for the tree and one to give away. Of course, once you’ve laid out all those yarn colours, “just three” may become a rather flexible arrangement.