Stitch up Some Medals for Olympics Pretend Play

If you have little kids you know how much they love to pretend, and if they’re watching the Olympics they probably want to pretend they’re winning medals, too.

You can stitch up some easy medals for them to play with and wear in no time flat while you’re watching the Games, and they are sure to keep playing with them long after the flame has been extinguished for another couple of years.

I found two patterns for knit medals, including the Olympic Gold Medal Ribbon designed by Studio Knits SF (check her blog for a video tutorial of the pattern). Hers uses red, white and blue for the ribbon bit, which you could change to your nation’s colors if you like or knit in lime green, which seems to be the color they are using in Rio.

Another option is the pattern from the Homemade Mama, which uses an interesting but simple technique to knit a circular shape flat. She shows medals of different colors, and hung hers on ribbon to make the knitting portion a little faster so you can get on to playing.

Would you make these for your kids? I’m rooting around for gold yarn as soon as I finish typing this.

Whether you love the cottagecore vibe, are heading to a Renaissance faire, stitching something fun for your Halloween costume, or just want to keep cozy on your fall rambles in the woods, the Wandering Woods Knit Hood from Yarnspirations should be your next knit.

The skill rating is easy, and it calls for worsted weight yarn to knit the hood with an integrated seed stitch border worked in a contrasting color. The hood is worked flat and seamed, then you pick up stitches along the bottom to knit the cape portion.

The cape part is shaped just like a raglan sweater, with increases on each side of four points across the cape. If you’ve ever worked a raglan project before this will be simple for you. And if you haven’t you’ll be ready for your first raglan sweater after this project! The front edgings are worked at the same time as the body, and you’ll finish off with the contrasting bottom edge, as well as I-cord ties for the hood.

This cape is pretty short, just covering the shoulders, but you can knit it as long as you like and even make a full length cape if you’re going for high drama (and warmth!).

There are four size options for the cape, to fit a chest measurement ranging from 28 to 60 inches (71 to 117 cm). As shown the cape edges don’t meet in the front, so if that’s something you want you can work more increases, which will also make the project longer. I’d love a version that’s longer and with a fun clasp to make it even cozier, but you can make it your own way.

The pattern calls for Red Heart Super Saver, but this would be a great project to knit in wool or a wool blend for extra warmth.

You can grab a free copy of the pattern from Yarnspirations, and if you want to make it as shown you can also get a kit that includes the two colors of yarn you need and other supplies if you want them.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]

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