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Knit Candy Cane Ornament Pattern
A note about this ornament: It’s hard to believe that we haven’t yet done a candy cane in our ornament series, isn’t it? I had actually started playing with candy cane designs for this series from practically day one, but getting the stripes just right kept proving elusive. The crochet version kept ending up too chunky looking. An early knit version ended up with weird tension issues from the various color change techniques I was hoping for. But then this year I realized I was overthinking everything – the old KISS (keep it simple, stupid!) adage came to mind. When I went with a version knit with basic stranded colorwork and grafting, and poof! A candy cane ornament I could get behind sharing with you all. :)
Updated 12/8/18.
Skill level: easy
Supplies
1 pack Lion Brand Yarn Bonbons in Beach, which comes with 8 mini skeins. – You need less than a skein of red and white to complete the ornament.
size US 3 (3.25 mm) knitting needles
scissors
tapestry needle
scrap ribbon
sewing needle & thread
1 red or white pipe cleaner
Abbreviations & Terms
CO – cast on
sts – stitches
Clr A – color A (white)
provisional cast on – a cast on that gives you access to your stitches later in your project. Here’s a tutorial.
RS – right side
sl 1 wyif – slip 1 st purlwise with yarn in front
k – knit
Clr B – color B (red)
rep from * – repeat the instructions following the asterisk as directed
WS – wrong side
kitchener stitch – a seaming technique used to graft live sts together. Here is a tutorial.
Gauge & dimensions: 22 sts & 28 rows over 4 inches, knit in stockinette stitch. Finished ornament measures 5.5 inches from tip to tip before bending into candy cane shape.
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The Pattern
CO 36 sts in Clr A using a provisional cast on.
row 1. (RS) sl 1 wyif A, *k1B, k1A; rep from * 17 times, k1B.
row 2. (WS) sl 1 wyif B, *p1A, p1B; rep from * 17 times, k1B.
row 3. sl 1 wyif B, *k1B, k1A; rep from * 17 times, k1A.
row 4. sl 1 wyif A, *p1A, p1B; rep from * 17 times, k1A.
row 5. sl 1 wyif A, *k1B, k1A; rep from * 17 times, k1B.
row 6. Rep row 2.
Using Clr B, join ends using kitchener stitch.Finishing
Weave in all ends. Cut a 6-inch length of red or white pipe cleaner. Fold each end of the pipe cleaner down 1/4 of an inch to protect sharp points. Feed your pipe cleaner into the tube you knit and bend into a candy cane shape.Using a needle & thread, sew a scrap of ribbon to the back of your finished ornament to hang.
Remember to share your ornaments in progress and finished ornaments using #handsoccupiedhohoho on Instagram & Twitter – I can’t wait to see how you make these your own!
Yarn was provided by Lion Brand Yarn.
I don’t understand how to start off the first row after casting on 36 sts using the provisional cast on. Do you slip the first stitch onto the knitting needle and then proceed with the instructions? How do you begin with the knitting part of the pattern? I am new to using the provisional cast on. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.
I have knitted all six rows and at the end of the pattern, it says to join ends using the kitchener stitch. Do I have to cast off all 36 stitches first in order to do that? What do I do with the provisional cast on stitches? This is my first time trying this technique and I can’t find a video tutorial for this on youtube. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you.
Hi Evelyn,
Check out my blog post with video tutorial on how to work a provisional cast on. You don’t bind off at all in this pattern, which is accomplished thanks to the provisional cast on and finishing with the kitchener stitch. Another useful tutorial with video will be this one on how to work the kitchener stitch.
Take a look, give it a try, and you should be all set. If you run into major issues, let me know!
Yours in yarn,
Heidi
Thank you so much for sending me the video tutorial! It was very easy to follow! I am so excited to see the finished product!!! :)