Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Knit a Wall Hanging that Befits Your Castle

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I will admit from the beginning here that this is the sort of knitting pattern only a few people are probably actually going to want to knit. But we can still admire the coolness of other people’s projects, the work and craftspersonship that went into them, without wanting to make them ourselves, so here we go.

I just happened to be looking for patterns on Ravelry around the same time that this pattern was published, otherwise I never would have see it. And that would have been a shame, because it kind of blew my mind.

Sword of Damocles is a double knit wall hanging that looks like a medieval crest you should find hanging in a castle. I mean, maybe you do live in a castle and you need to remind all visitors that their fate is hanging by a thread and you are holding the sword. No judgement.

In any case, this stunning project uses two colors of worsted weight yarn. The designer, Grace Lindley, used black and white, but any two colors with high contrast could also be used.

The wall hanging measures about 19.5 by 41.3 inches, or 50 by 105 cm, including the fringe. If you wanted a smaller one you could use a lighter weight yarn.

The most amazing part of it all is, this is Grace’s first pattern ever. They’re offering it for free in the hope that knitters will provide constructive feedback that will help them write better patterns in the future.

I for one can’t wait to see what comes next.

You can get the free pattern on Ravelry.

Apparently I have double knitting on the brain (or Ravelry has some kind of magic algorithm I don’t know about) because I just recently shared more double knitting patterns if this is a technique you’d like to explore.

[Photo: Grace Lindley]

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.