Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

In New England This Weekend? Get Ready for a Yarn Crawl

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I-91 Shop Hop mystery tourThe fourth-annual I-91 yarn crawl is happening this weekend, with 12 yarn shops from Vermont to Connecticut participating.

All participating shops will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Some of the shops will also be open later on Thursday for special events.

In addition to the great shopping and supporting local businesses, each shop will have a clue to a mystery yarn project. There will also be a passport for the event, and people who visit and get stamps from all 12 shops will be entered into the grand prize drawing, which includes yarn, books, tools and accessories as well as a $50 gift certificate from each shop participating in the crawl. In all it’s a prize package worth more than $600.

Two runners up will also receive six gift certificates and some other prizes, and daily raffles at each of the shops will provide even more prizes and fun.

Learn more about the event from the WEBS blog (they’re one of the participants) or check them out on Facebook.

If you are planning to go or have been before I’d love to hear about it!

 

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.