Using Novelty Yarns At Christmas

Hi there Kerry here

How many of us knitters have some novelty yarn in our stash that we will probably never use?

I know I certainly have.

I turned mine into some reasonably easy Christmas tree decorations.

It doesn't matter what size yarn you use. You might want to go down a size needle from the one recommended for the yarn so the knitted piece is denser and you are less likely to see the stuffing. So you will need a little bit of stuffing or tights or old bits of fabric to stuff your decoration.

The pattern is as follows working from the tip downwards:

You have a choice of leaving a long enough loop to hang it with or crocheting a chain. If you are crocheting a chain then chain 30 and slip stitich back into the first chain to make the loop. Transfer the loop onto your knitting needle and then knit as follows:

Row 1 - knit into the front and back of the stitch (abbreviated to kfb)

R2 and all even rows up to and including row 26 - purl

R3 - kfb on each stitch

R5 - knit

R7 - kfb each stitch

R9 - knit

R11 - (kfb k1) to end

R13 - knit

R15 - as row 11 (18sts)

R17 - knit

R19 - as row 11 (27sts)

R21 - knit

R23 - (kfb k1) to last stitch k1 (40 sts)

R25 - knit

R27, 28 and 29 - knit - this provides a garter ridge for the base of the tree

R30 - (p2tog p3) x 8 (32sts)

R31, 33 and 35 - knit

R32 - (p2tog p2) x8 (24 sts)

R34 - (p2tog p1) x 8 (16sts)

R36 - p2tog x 8

Cast off

You have the option of sewing on beads or buttons at this point or leaving it plain.  On the yellow ones I added buttons to the top to make a star.  I just added a few beads on the pastel eyelash ones and on the dark green ones I added lots of gold seed beads.

Turn it inside out making sure your loop is on the inside and start sewing the seam until you reach the garter ridge you made at row 28. At this point turn it the right way round and stuff it. Then stitch the bottom seam adding more stuffing, if it needs it, as you go.

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Meredith]

Great idea, thanks so much for the pattern.
Meredith

[Eleanor]

Lovely idea, especially the eyelash yarn for a frosty white colour scheme.
Elx

[Debbie]

Beautiful tree decorations, love how you have added the beads too. x

[Laura]

These are so cute! Love the fluffy ones!

[Katherine]

Great decorations and a super use for all those odds and ends of wool you have left over.

[Gabrielle]

These are soooo cute! What a brilliant idea!

[ifa]

Such cute, gorgeous decorations.

[Lynne V.]

Beautiful, I love the eyelash wool ones.

[jayne]

How cute are these ? Great to see them in different wools for different effects.

[Mandy]

Cute decorations and thanks for the pattern.
Mandy