november's free pattern...
a little wool play crown
this is one of my favorite patterns...a little crown that I designed years ago when my sons attended a waldorf school...easy to make...a perfect way to use scraps...and a delightful little prop for your wee one's imaginitive play...
not for children only, however...I have made these for many an adult (including myself)...in fact I was once honored with a commission to make one for a 90-year-old woman's birthday celebration!
so, dear readers, I offer this to you as my holiday gift...enjoy it, play with it, have fun creating your own version (which I hope you will share with me)...
happy knitting!
waldorf play crown
by pamela w allen
materials:
▪ three colors (A,B &C), approximately 15 yards each, of bulky wool yarn (such as Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky, available here)
▪ size 10/6mm circular (16”) or straight needles▪ tapestry needle
▪ felting needle and pad, buttons, or bells (optional)
gauge:
▪ 14 stitches over 4 inches in k2p2 rib
sizes:
▪ small (14” ), large (16” )
abbreviations:
k—knit
p—purl
k2tog—knit two stitches together
sl—slip purlwise
psso—pass slipped stitch over stitch just worked
directions:
note: You may work on circular needles, joining the work after the fourth row and working in the round or you may work the whole thing back and forth.
With color A, cast on 120 [135] stitches.
Row 1: (ws) K6, sl1, k2tog, psso (k12, sl1, k2tog, psso) seven[eight] times, k6.
Row 2: If adding bobbles, see below. With color B, k5, sl1, k2tog, psso, (k10, sl1, k2tog, psso) seven[eight] times, k5.
Row 3: K4, sl1, k2tog, psso, (k8, sl1, k2tog, psso) seven [eight] times, k4.
Row 4: With color C, k3, sl1, k2tog, psso, (k6, sl1, k2tog, psso) seven [eight] times, k3—56 (63) stitches remain.
If working on a circular needle, join work. If making the larger size, make one stitch (however you like) for a total of 64 stitches. Work in k2, p2 rib for three rounds or rows. On the fourth rib round or row, cast off very loosely in pattern. If you have worked the rib in the round, sew the small gap remaining. If you haveworked back and forth, sew the back seam. Lightly steam the points, using a press cloth, while being careful not to flatten the rib.
Add felted “jewel” (below), buttons, bells, or other embellishment...
felted jewel:
Using a felting needle, felt a small circle with scraps of the three colors. When done, felt it directly on to the front point of the crown, as shown. Press lightly, using well-dampened press cloth.
bobble option:
On Row 2, add bobble as follows:
After passing your slipped stitch over at each point, slip that last worked stitch back to the left hand needle. Knit, purl, knit into the stitch. Turn work and purl these three stitches. Turn and knit them. Then, with the left needle,
pull the second, then the third stitch over the first stitch—bobble made. (Learn how to make bobbles without turning your work here)
When you block the crown, be sure to pull the bobbles out well.
et voilà !!!