Hi Knitters!
I thought I would give you the story behind the Merry Knitmas Advent Wreath I designed.
As some of you will know, Christmas is one of my favourite times of year and after writing three Christmas related books I really didn’t think I could come up with another 24 ideas but…
Turns out they were there, just waiting to be knitted up!
I had an idea of how I was going to make the wreath and knew I wanted to use Ricorumi yarn. Around this time I was exhibiting at Fibre East and the stand opposite us was selling the yarn so I bought a ball and cast on at the show.
Often when I start a new design it takes quite a while, some frustration and determination to get the knitting to look like the picture I have in my head, however this went right first time and by the end of the weekend and three balls later it was finished. Once stuffed with toy filling it became solid and just the shape I wanted.
The next job was to draw all the ideas I had for the decorations. I wanted to make the majority of them tiny animals. I had a wonderful box of every shade of Ricorumi - 60 colours at that time and then began working on the patterns - trying to limit the colour pallette and repeat shades, partly to reduce the cost of knitting the wreath and decorations and also to give it a theme and colour range that worked together.
Each decoration was designed to be knitted and sewn together in a day, although I also think the wreath looks lovely with just a few decorations on.
As you can see from the drawings, some of the first ideas were replaced with different designs, such as a smiley star.
After I had finished the wreath I had an idea of making a tiny Brussel sprout so I grabbed my needles and knitted it up, here is the pattern and I think I makes a lovely addition to your wreath or just to hang on your Christmas tree!
Sprout:
Using bright green yarn and 3mm knitting needles, cast on 8 sts.
Next row: (K1, M1) 7 times, K1. (15 sts)
Starting with a purl row, work 3 rows in SS.
Next row: (K2tog) 7 times, K1. (8 sts)
Purl 1 row.
Thread yarn through remaining stitches and fasten, leaving a length of yarn for sewing up.
Sprout leaves: (make three per sprout)
Using bright green yarn and 3mm knitting needles, cast on 5 sts.
Next row: (K1tbl, P1) twice, K1tbl.
Next row: (P1, Kfb, twice), P1. (7 sts)
Next row: (K1tbl, P1, M1, P1) twice, K1tbl. (9 sts)
Next row: (P1, K1) 4 times, P1.
Next row: K1tbl, P1, ssK, K1tbl, K2tog, P1, K1tbl. (7 sts)
Next row: P1, P2tog, P1, P2togtbl, P1. (5 sts)
Next row: K1tbl, CDD, K1tbl. (3 sts)
Thread yarn through remaining stitches and fasten, leaving a length of yarn for sewing up.
Taking a sprout, gather the cast off edge and sew the side seam, stuffing with toy filling as you go. Gather the cast on edge and sew closed.
Taking the three leaves, sew the cast off edge to the base of the sprout, overlapping each leaf slightly as you go.
I'd love to see your teeny tiny sprouts so don't forget to tag me in any pictures you post, @knittingandgin