Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

More Fun Christmas Crafting from Red Heart

by

Red Heart's Make it Merry ebookRed Heart has a 12 weeks of Christmas e-mail series that’s full of ideas for knitters and crocheters looking to make their homes a little more festive this holiday season, but they also recently released the Make it Merry ebook, which includes all those patterns — 34 projects in all for knitting and crochet.

The ebook has the patterns arranged by theme:

  • Red and White Christmas
  • Heart-Warming Decor
  • Cozy Holiday Home
  • Snowflake Wonders
  • For Babies and Kids
  • To Wear and Give

Some of my favorites include the Cheerful Holiday Penguin, which is super cute with its striped belly and little red scarf; the Santa Baby Sweater, a little red hooded sweater with white trim, of course (they also have a full Santa Baby Suit, though I didn’t see it in the ebook); and the lovely, warm Cozy Shrug, worked in super bulky yarn, making it a quick gift to knit or a wonderful warmer for yourself.

(By the way, another cute one from the 12 Weeks of Christmas e-mails that I didn’t see in the book is the Holiday Pillow with Stockings. If it were me I would absolutely find a tiny gift to stick in those little socks!)

This guide is sure to get you inspired and excited about the holiday knitting season if you aren’t already.

See anything that catches your eye? I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo via Red Heart.]

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.