Super Sweet Christmas Ornaments to Knit

I know it always feels like the clock is ticking by the time we hit December, and most of us have that moment where we think, “Right, no more new projects, I’m done, the needles are going away.” But trust me, this adorable ornament pattern set from Amy Gaines is exactly the sort of quick, heart-warming knit that sneaks into your holiday lineup without adding stress. In fact, it might even bring back a bit of the joy we tend to lose somewhere between wrapping the umpteenth present and hunting for the good scissors.

These sweet little characters — a cheerful snowman, a nostalgic snow globe, the cutest wide-eyed mouse, a cosy forest owl, and a classic Christmas pudding — are all worked in worsted weight yarn, which means two things: they knit up fast, and you probably already have everything you need in your stash. At just 3 to 4 inches tall, each one is the perfect “one cuppa tea and a sitcom episode” project. They’re the kind of small, satisfying makes that remind you why you love knitting in the first place.

What I really love about Amy Gaines’ style is the personality she packs into such tiny stitches. A few little shaping details, a clever colour change, and suddenly you’ve got an ornament with real character — the sort of thing your kids or grandkids pluck off the tree and claim as theirs. They also make brilliant last-minute gifts. Tie one onto a bottle of wine, tuck one into a teacher’s gift, or hang a handful on a festive branch display. Instant charm, handmade warmth, and no frantic late-night crafting required.

If your holiday decor needs a little extra handmade magic, or you’re simply craving a bite-sized knitting project between bigger commitments, these ornaments are a lovely way to keep your needles busy without overcommitting. Sometimes the smallest projects end up being the most memorable.

That’s a good thing, because you’ll probably want to stitch all of them once you get your hands on these patterns from Ravelry.

[Photo: Amy Gaines]

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Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time.

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring.

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn.

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row.

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves.

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body.

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy.

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

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