Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

KnitBits: Mum Knits Her Son, Jessica Jones Knits, Charities for Knitters and More

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knit tween sonIt’s hard for parents when their kids get past the cuddling and talking to us stage, so one mom of a tween boy took the matter into her own hands and knit a suit that looks like her son.

She says she and her son worked on it together, and it actually has attributes of both her sons, though it’s sized such that only the younger one can wear it. The suit consists of a knit head with cap, a sweater with hands, knit pants with sneakers and a knit iPod.

She said they decided to take pictures of the project in action, and said it would also be fun to knit one for mothers whose kids don’t want to cuddle anymore.

The world lost several greats this week, and Ravelry celebrated the life of David Bowie with a roundup of Bowie-inspired knit and crochet projects. I love the Labyrinth mitts!

Krysten Ritter, the actress who plays Jessica Jones, recently talked about her knitting obsession with Vulture. She says she’s been “knitting like crazy” because with all the travel she’s been doing she needs something that’s just for her. She says she learned to knit from her grandmother and picked it up again on the set of Mona Lisa Smile, where “everybody” was knitting, including, of course, Julia Roberts.

If you’re into charity knitting or would like to start, Mental Floss recently published a list of 10 places looking for donations of yarn craft. From blankets for babies to bowl-nests for baby birds, knitted knockers to afghans for Afghans, it’s a great list.

And finally, in a move I would have thought happened a long time ago, yarn craft pro Vickie Howell has launched a YouTube channel. As of this writing there are seven videos covering some of the basics of knitting, including a couple of cast ons, knitting, purling, a couple of decrease methods, how to join a new ball of yarn and binding off. It’s a great go-to if you or someone you know is in need of instruction in the basics.

[Photo via Club Geluk.]

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.