The 12 Ornaments of Christmas
Christmastime is here!
It’s time for a little (knit) cheer!
Cast on one of these, and soon you will see:
a festive cute tree before thee.
I wrote that off the top of my head just now, clearly in a spout of yuletide Seussian inspiration. :) Yes, Christmastime is here, and so is 12 ornaments of Christmas volume two! Last year I found myself really inspired out of nowhere to design some holiday ornaments using a pack of Lion Brand Yarn’s Bonbons yarn in Beach. Not only is the Beach color palette summery, the yarns in this pack are cotton. Warm oranges and purples aren’t what we usually associate with winter or holiday crafting, but the sweet ornaments that resulted couldn’t have been more perfect to brighten up last year’s tree. This year, I wanted to take it another step further, again using cotton and nontraditional colors. This go around, we’ll have four rounds of three delightful patterns knit or crochet around a specific theme for you to make and enjoy. Today, let’s tackle winter gear-inspired knit ornaments!
PS: Next week will be all about the sweets, so keep your eyes peeled for some more adorableness. ;) And if you’ve had some of last year’s ornaments in your queue or work on any of the new patterns, don’t forget to play along with #handsoccupiedhohoho on Instagram.
Mini Mitten Pattern
Supplies
1 pack Lion Brand’s bonbons in Beach, which come with 8 mini skeins. – You need less than a skein of 1 color to complete the mitten.
size 3 double pointed knitting needles
1-2 safety pins or a stitch holder
scissors
tapestry needle
Abbreviations & terms
CO – cast on
sts – stitches
rnd – round
arnd – around
DPNs – double pointed needles
k2tog – knit 2 sts together
ssk – slip one as if to k, slip one as if to p, k both sts together
BO – bind off
(X sts) or (Y rnds) – indicates the number of sts that should remain after decreasing or the number of rnds that should be worked.
kitchener stitch bind off – Here is a tutorial for how to work this bind off.
m2 – make 2 sts
Gauge & dimensions: 5.25 sts & 8 rows per inch, knit in stockinette stitch and wet blocked. Laid flat, the mitten measures approximately: 4 inches in circumference & 3.25 inches from cast on to bind off.
Pattern
Knit the body of the mitten
CO 30 sts and join into rnd.
1-4. k1, p1.
5-7. k arnd.
Place 6 sts from beginning of rnd on holder. (24 sts will be worked as the mitten body)9-18. k arnd, skipping over sts on holder. (10 rnds)
19. k 1o, k2tog, k 10, ssk. (22 sts)
19. k9, k2tog, k9, ssk. (20 sts)
19. k8, k2tog, k8, ssk. (18 sts)
19. k7, k2tog, k7, ssk. (16 sts)
19. k6, k2tog, k6, ssk. (14 sts)
19. k5, k2tog, k5, ssk. (12 sts)
19. k4, k2tog, k4, ssk. (10 sts)
19. k3, k2tog, k3, ssk. (8 sts)
BO using the kitchener stitch.Knit the thumb
Worked on sts from holder. Rnd begins on outside of thumb, centered. For reference, the sts you’ll be making (m2) should be on the hand side of the mitten.1. k3, m2, k3. (8 sts)
2. k4, m2, k4. (10 sts)
3-5. k arnd.
6. (k3, k2tog) arnd. (8 sts)
7. (k2, k2tog) arnd. (6 sts)
8. (k1, k2tog) arnd. (4 sts)
BO using the kitchener stitch. Weave in all ends. Sew the gap between the thumb sts and body of the mitten closed, and secure the base of the thumb to the body of the mitten with sewing as well. For a crisp, finished look, wet block.If you’re making an ornament, sew a bit of scrap ribbon to the back of the ornament to prepare it for hanging.
Get the free mini knit stocking hat pattern here.
Mini Sweater Pattern
Supplies
2 packs Lion Brand’s bonbons in Beach, which come with 8 mini skeins. – You need 2 skeins of 1 color to complete the sweater.
size 3 double pointed knitting needles
second set of double pointed needles or a stitch holder
two safety pins
scissors
yarn needle
Abbreviations
CO – cast on
sts – stitches
rnd – round
DPNs – double pointed needles
k2tog – knit 2 sts together
ssk – slip one as if to k, slip one as if to p, k both sts together
BO – bind off
Gauge & dimensions: 5.25 sts & 8 rows per inch, knit in stockinette stitch and wet blocked. Laid flat, the sweater measures approximately: 2.75 inches across the body, 4.25 inches from neck to hem of sweater, & each sleeve is 4 inches in length from neck to sleeve hem.
Pattern
Knit the body
CO 32 sts
rnds 1-4. k1, p1.
5 – 24. k around. (20 rnds)
Transfer sweater body to a holder or another set of DPNs.Knit the sleeves
CO 10 sts
1-4. k1, p1.
5-20. k around. (16 rnds)
After each sleeve is knitted, place next to sweater body on holder or DPNs.Join the sleeves & shape the top
Place 2 sts from each sleeve and 2 sts per side on safety pins or scrap yarn (4 sts per armpit, 8 sts total will be on holders). You will now be working with 44 sts. Distribute 11 sts on 4 DPNs before beginning. For the following, each rnd begins at outside edge of the right sleeve.1. k around. (44 sts)
2. k3, k2tog, k12, ssk, k6, k2tog, k12, ssk, k3. (40 sts)
3. k3, k2tog, k10, ssk, k6, k2tog, k10, ssk, k3. (36 sts)
4. k3, k2tog, k8, ssk, k6, k2tog, k8, ssk, k3. (32 sts)
5. k3, k2tog, k6, ssk, k6, k2tog, k6, ssk, k3. (28 sts)
6. k3, k2tog, k4, ssk, k6, k2tog, k4, ssk, k3. (24 sts)
7. k3, k2tog, k2, ssk, k6, k2tog, k2, ssk, k3. (20 sts)
8-9. k1, p1 around.
10. BO in pattern.Use the kitchener stitch or a three needle bindoff to close the underarm holes. Weave in all ends and wet block to finish.
If you’re making an ornament, sew a bit of scrap ribbon to the back of the ornament to prepare it for hanging.
Support for the 12 Ornaments of Christmas series on Hands Occupied was provided by Lion Brand Yarn. All patterns in this series were designed and knit with Lion Brand Yarn Bonbons in Beach.
Thanks heaps for these great patterns that I could do through the year as gifts for Christmas. Merry Christmas to you from Cheryl Ashton in Wellington New Zealand.