Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

NYC Knitters: Check Out Vogue Knitting Live!

by

vogue knitting liveIf you’re a knitter in the New York area you might want to consider paying a visit to Vogue Knitting Live when it opens its doors at the New York Marriott Marquis from Jan. 17 to 19. This star-studded event is sure to be a lot of fun.

Celebrity names like New York Times bestselling author Barbara Kingsolver; face of Reebok’s yoga lifestyle line and best-selling author named “Yoga Rebel” by the New York Times, Tara Stiles; Project Runway designer Suede; and renowned M.D.s and authors of The Creativity Cure: How to Build Happiness With Your Own Two Hands, Dr. Carrie Barron and Dr. Alton Barron will give classes, keynote speeches and demos for all to enjoy. The event also includes:

• A marketplace featuring thousands of products with interesting hard-to-find fibers like possum, yak, qiviut and buffalo, accessories, patterns and more
• Couture fashion shows spotlighting today’s latest fashions and colors
• An inspirational knit art gallery with fun items like Mochimochi Land’s knitted toys
• Hundreds of classes, workshops and demos for all skill levels taught by industry celebrities
• Raffles ans giveaways
• Free knit and crochet lessons and technique-driven demos
• Celebrity book signings
• Exclusive gala dinner and cocktail party events

Tickets are available online or at the door, with one-day marketplace tickets going for $15 online and $20 at the door; two-day marketplace tickets are $20 online and $25 at the door. Kids under 12 are free, students save $5 on admission and $15 on classes.

One of these days I’m actually going to make it to one of these events, but in the meantime I’d love a report if any of you attend or have gone to one in the past!

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.