Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Knit Up Some Quick Handwarmers from Blue Sky Alpacas

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an easy handwarmer pattern from Blue Sky AlpacasSpeaking of easy cable knitting patterns (as I was yesterday), here’s another great, free, quick, exceptionally useful project that’s great for holiday knitting or just for you if you happen to work in a cold office and want to keep your hands warm in a stylish way.

LoveKnitting has a free pattern for cabled handwarmers from Blue Sky Alpacas. They feature a single large cable down the center back of the glove, and the rest of the pattern is ribbed, so they should fit a range of sizes and be pretty darn quick and easy to knit.

And Blue Sky Alpacas’ yarn is just lovely, so this is a great excuse to try it out if you haven’t already (or use some heavy worsted from your stash; I won’t tell).

LoveKnitting requires free registration to download patterns, but it’s a small price to pay for all the cuteness they share.

[Photo via LoveKnitting.]

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.