Knitting

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Giveaway: Knee-sel for Holding Knitting Patterns

by

knee-sel knitting chart holder

Rose is the winner!

I’ve been doing some spring cleaning in my office (even though it’s not quite spring yet, it certainly feels like it!) and I found this little gadget and thought someone might like it.

The Knee-sel from Nancy’s Knit Knacks is a little fabric easel, for lack of a better word, that is sturdy enough to hold your pattern in place while you’re knitting from a chart. It straps around your leg and also props up against your leg to hold the chart or pattern where you can see it. It also has a little pouch to hold a pen for marking what row you are on or taking notes (it could also hold a cable needle).

I never tried this so it is new in the bag. Mine is size small, which is says is for a 15-25 inch leg. It’s sold black and measures 8 inches wide, 6.5 inches tall and 5/16 inch thick. They retail for $29.99

for full information and more pictures of the Knee-sel in action.

If you’d like a chance to win this, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, March 13. I’d love to know if you have any tricks for keeping up with where you are in a chart, or what you would use this gadget for.

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

[Photo via Nancy’s Knit Knacks.]

Comments

  3. I would use it when knitting in public and a table isn’t available.
    i keep my place on charts by using the highlighter tape so I can move it up to the next row after I finished a row.

  6. I would love to try one of these. This would be so helpful holding my cross stitch patterns. And I highlight on my pattern to keep track of where I am. It helps a lot

  9. Boy, could I use this!! I do a lot of knitting and crocheting as I’m listening to TV shows. This is a great Idea!! Thank you for the giveaway!

  12. This would be awesome when traveling. It’s hard to keep your pattern in easy reach when riding in a car, this would make it so much easier.

  13. I would like this. Our animals like to lay on the pattern I’m using. This could be great.

  15. My husband is a cancer patient so I spend HOURS sitting in waiting rooms during his treatments. This gadget would make it so much easier for me to follow a pattern as there are never enough tables next to chairs on which to layout my instructions. Love the idea of this – convenient, portable & useful – with this I could actually knit things that don’t require me to memorize patterns and then end up doing a lot more frogging than knitting! Think I’ve developed chemo brain by osmosis!

  17. I really need this as I must keep my patterns close as my eyesight gets worst as I get older

  18. I could use this for quilling when I need to make different shapes, while I watch TV. What a great idea!

  19. What a great idea,l knit and crochet a lot and l’m always dropping my patterns and losing my place. This would good to use on a train,coach or airplane

  20. I knit baby hats for the hospital and this would be so handy for holding the pattern

  26. I mark each row when I have completed it. Use stitch markers between each pattern repeat/section. Lifelines are a must! Don’t remove a lifeline until you have done a few rows after putting in a second lifeline. Handy to use a metal tray at back and a magnet glued to a ruler on the front.

  29. I do a lot of my knitting, so space is always at a premium. Can see this being really useful away from home.

  30. I would love a chance to win this item. How handy to use while knitting and riding in the car! Love this.

  32. What a nifty product! I’m a cross stitcher and this would be ideal while I travel. I use a highlighter to mark what I’ve completed and it’s difficult to balance everything on that tiny plane table!

  33. This looks like a brilliant solution for a major frustration! And I appreciate the tips in other comments… definitely learned a couple of good ideas, so thanks!!!

  35. This would be nice to have while traveling in the car on long trips. I would really like to have it. I would for use it at home so I don’t have to pick up the instructions from the table or knitting bag.

  36. It would be great to hold the pattern when I’m sitting on the sofa. As I use reading glasses any other easel is too far away to read easily.

  37. This would be great!! It would be super helpful with my current situation. I wish I had something like this when my baby was small and needed rocking. 🙂
    -Kitty

  39. I use the see-thru colored tape to mark pattern lines and usually stick the pattern on a book holder. This would probably me more convenient tho! Thank you.

  40. I would love to win something like this as I do a lot of knitting (and crocheting) in the car. I use colored pencils to mark where I am in a pattern. Easy to erase when I am done or use a different color next time!

  41. this looks like a “gadget” that is actually very helpful! Wouldn’t be stuck in a corner & forgotten!

  42. My daughter would love this,she has a special needs son,they travel in a camper so her space is limited,she could really use this to hold her patterns! Thank you for the giveaway!

  43. What a great idea!!! Genius. I would love one! Stop to old the paper or to count rows sucks 🙂

  45. Thank you for this awesome give-a-way. I would love a chance at this item. I could use it for all my needle crafts – knitting, crochet, cross stitch, needlepoint. The possibilities are endless.

  46. What a wonderful invention – wish I would have thought of it all those times I needed to closely follow a detailed pattern step. I would use this for knitting or crochet. Oh – this would be good for needlework too. I need one of these.

  48. Why didn’t I think of this? Great idea. I mark the row on the pattern when it is done, and set my pattern on the arm of my chair, this would be so much easier!

  50. This is such an ingenious invention, and one that I could really make use of – especially when knitting in the car!! I’m currently using a book holder, with post its’ to keep track of the row I’m on, and a note book to mark the rows I’ve completed. In the car, I have to keep the pattern flat on the seat, or on my lap. It gets hard to do in the Winter. Thank you for such a great giveaway!! This is the best one yet!!

Have you read?

8 Knitted Crown Patterns for Children and Adults

There is something rather wonderful about a knitted crown. It takes a little yarn, a few pointed peaks and suddenly someone is in charge of the birthday cake. Whether they should be trusted with that responsibility is another matter entirely.

I love small knitting projects that invite a bit of fun, and these knitted crown patterns have plenty of possibilities. Make one for a grandchild’s dress-up basket, start a handmade birthday tradition, or knit matching crowns for a family celebration. And yes, there are adult sizes too, because being the person who organised the food should surely come with some royal privileges.

A soft knitted crown also makes a lovely alternative to a cardboard party crown. You can choose a favourite colour, coordinate it with a costume, or make something special enough to bring out year after year. Mustard yellow has that classic storybook look, but dusty pink, forest green and jewel-toned purple would be beautiful too.

These crown knitting patterns include children’s and adult options, along with designs that can be adjusted to fit. Some are worked flat and seamed, while others use circular knitting techniques, so there is a nice mix depending on what you enjoy making.

Our Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults

Start with our own free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults on CraftBits. It’s a lovely starting point for a handmade birthday crown or an addition to the family dress-up collection, with children and grownups both invited to join the royal household. I would choose a colour the wearer already loves—there is no rule saying every crown has to be gold.

Sheep & Stitch Crown: An Adjustable Design with a Video Tutorial

The knit crown pattern from Sheep & Stitch uses worsted-weight yarn and straight needles, with a video tutorial to help you follow along. You repeat the pointed sections until the crown fits, then join the ends, making this a useful option for children or adults without relying entirely on an age label. I especially like the video support for knitters who prefer seeing the shaping happen before trying it themselves.

Jubilee Crown Headband: Baby Through Adult Sizes

Marianna’s Jubilee Crown Headband is a free DK-weight design with baby, child, teen and adult size options. It’s described as quick and easy, making it an appealing choice when someone announces they need a costume rather closer to the event than you would have preferred. I would keep the smallest versions simple and let the yarn colour provide the decoration.

Hobbii Knitted Crown: A Cosy Ribbed Headband

The free Knitted Crown Headband from Hobbii, designed by Katharina Müller of My Favourite Stitches, combines a ribbed band with crown points. It includes baby, child and adult sizes and is knitted in the round with two yarns held together. This is the one I would look at for a crown that doubles as a playful ear warmer—very useful when your little royal insists on wearing their costume outside.

Elegant Knit Crown: Two Stretchy Size Options

Kathryn Andrews’ Elegant Knit Crown is a free Ravelry download with a small toddler/child size and a large teen/adult size. Worked from the top down in worsted-weight yarn, it uses a small amount of yarn and relies on stretchy edges to accommodate a range of heads. It’s a handy option for using a treasured leftover colour that isn’t quite enough for a hat.

Simple Knitted Crown: A Grownup Birthday Crown

Nicky Barfoot’s Simple Knitted Crown is a free DK-weight pattern with seven points and an adult-sized fit. The listed finished circumference is 50 cm, designed to stretch to a 55 cm head, so check that measurement before choosing it as a gift. I like this option for a grownup birthday celebration, especially in a beautiful cotton yarn that lets the shape take centre stage.

Crowning Glory: A Flat-Knitted Crown for the Family

The free Crowning Glory pattern by MrsMeeseMakes is knitted flat and seamed, with the circumference adjusted through the number of points you make. The designer gives guidance for baby, toddler, child, teenager and adult versions, making it a flexible choice for a family set. This would be my pick if you enjoy straight-needle projects and want to check the length as you go.

Paintbox Yarns Party Crown: Child and Adult Versions

The free Paintbox Yarns Party Crown uses aran-weight yarn and includes separate child and adult instructions. The listed finished circumferences are 44 cm and 50 cm, and the pattern is rated intermediate. I would make a coordinated pair in different colours for a birthday child and their favourite grownup—matching enough for photographs, but easy to tell apart when the party gets busy.

Choosing the Right Size for a Knitted Crown

Measure around the wearer’s head where the crown will sit, then compare that measurement with the pattern’s sizing notes. A finished knitted circumference may be smaller than the intended head measurement because the fabric stretches; that is different from choosing a size that is simply too small.

For an adjustable design, check the fit before sewing the ends together. You want the crown to stay put comfortably, especially if its owner plans to spend the afternoon dancing, running or issuing important instructions to the dog.

Yarn choice matters too. A springy wool blend and a smooth cotton can behave quite differently, even when both carry the same yarn-weight label. Follow the pattern’s tension guidance and think about how the finished crown will be washed.

Make It a Birthday Tradition

My favourite idea is to knit a crown that comes out every birthday. Choose a colour that will grow with its wearer, tuck it away with the birthday candles, and let it become one of those small family things everyone remembers.

For children’s crowns, stitched details are a lovely way to personalise the design without adding loose decorations. A little embroidered initial or a few contrasting stitches can make a simple crown feel very much their own.

And if you happen to knit yourself one while making the children’s versions, I think that is entirely reasonable. Someone has to supervise the kingdom—and keep an eye on the cake.