Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Project Notebook: Swirly Sqaure

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Knit a swirly sqaure from the center out.The last week has been a lot about a lot of different works in progress, and one of them’s a bit of a secret so I don’ have that much to show but I can show you the beginning, as well as a cool technique for making blankets or afghan squares — or squares for anything, really — from the center out.

There are several different ways to do this (and you should check out the book Knitting Block by Block by Nicky Epstein if you’re a fan of funky blocks of all sorts of construction methods) but the one I’m using involves yarn overs at four points in every round (or should that be square?).

To begin, cast on 8 stitches and divide onto 4 double-pointed knitting needles. Join in the round and knit in the front and back of every stitch on the first round. This will be incredibly fiddly and may take you a few tries to get it done without twisting or having the stitches fall off your needles. (You could also cheat and do the cast on and the increase and then divide onto 4 needles and join in the round, because you’re going to have to sew the center closed anyway.)

At the beginning of each needle on each round, perform a yarn over. When you get too many stitches for your DPNs, change to a circular and place markers at the points where you make your yarn overs, using a different color to mark the beginning/end of the round.

You can keep going like this indefinitely, so long as you have a long enough needle. Mine is actually quite a bit bigger than this right now, but as I said, it’s surprise knitting, but I’ll share the pattern when it’s done.

What’s on or recently off your needles? I’d love to hear about it.

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.