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Lots of Charity Knitting News

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mad hatters knittingSomehow I missed doing a knitting in the news roundup last week, and now I’ve got a bunch, so we’re going to do it lightning round style. Knitters are doing awesome things all over the place!

Like the Mad Hatters of Suffolk, New York, who have been knitting hats for cancer patients for 12 years and have donated more than 2,700 to the offices of Eastern Long Island Hematology and Oncology.

Knitters on Cape Cod have been stitching up nests that are used by various animals in wildlife rescues until animals are big enough to be released into the wild, while Florida knitters and crocheters are making teddy bears for kids affected by HIV/AIDS through the Mother Bear Project.

A Scottish knitter who has been selling scarves, pillows and other knit items has raised more than £12,000 for an autism charity founded by her daughter, which helps get early intervention therapies for kids with autism and developmental delays.

A group of British knitters have been making hats and wrist warmers that will be distributed to kids in Nepal, while a group in California has knit more than 30 blankets for babies.

Hooray for knitters!

[Photo by Barbaraellen Koch via the Suffolk Times.]

Looking for more Knitting patterns for Teddy Bears? Check it out here.

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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.