Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Play with Cables and Lace in this Wrap Knitting Pattern

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You already know I have cables on the brain from my post the other day about making cables without a cable needle. It’s funny that when you start thinking about a particular genre of knitting you start to see it everywhere, so it makes sense that the little braided cables on the edge of the Twisting Vines wrap caught my eye.

You can tell by the name of the pattern, which was designed by A. Palmatier, that the lace is really the star of the show, but I do love the combination of a sort of intricate lace with a simple cable as a frame. And honestly the lace isn’t difficult, either, but it might take you a couple of repeats to get the logic of it. 

The pattern includes written instructions and a chart if you’d rather (which is a great way to practice reading a chart if you’re new to it because you can always check your work if you aren’t sure what a symbol means or your project isn’t looking quite right).

This wrap uses DK weight yarn and is a big rectangle, so it’s easy to adjust the size if you want yours to be bigger or smaller, or if you’re using yarn from your stash and don’t have the same yardage as the pattern calls for.

The Twisting Vines wrap is available as a free download from Ravelry, or if you don’t do Ravelry you can get it on the designer’s website.

Looking for more shawl patterns? I recently collected a bunch of sock yarn shawl knitting patterns, which are great because they each only use about a skein of yarn, so you can pull that special skein out of your collection and actually use it for a lightweight shawl you can wear throughout the year.

[Photo: A. Palmatier]

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.