Universal Yarn Uptown DK yarn is a soft, anti-pilling acrylic yarn that will hold up well for many craft projects.
Earlier this week, I gave the pattern for the Double Braid Cable Wreath, and in my last post, we talked about various options for adding embellishments to it.
A plain green wreath can be decorated in many, many ways.
In this post, I developed a pattern for a knitted poinsettia, and in my next post, I’ve been practicing knitting snow-people!
Bittersweet was used to make this poinsettia. Yellow E beads and gold and yellow seed beads were used for the centers, but you could also use yellow embroidery floss and French knots.
K2tog, Knitted Poinsettia
materials
yarn
- 1 ball of Uptown DK (sample is shown in Bittersweet)
- oddments of yellow yarn or embroidery floss
needles
- US 3 [3.25mm] knitting needles
other
- seed and E beads (optional)
- tapestry needle
gauge is not important – sample piece measures 5¾” [cm] across
abbreviations
Kpk – knit into stitch, but do not slip off needle. Bring yarn to front (as if to rib), purl into the same st, take yarn to back and knit into the same st (3 sts made from one)
WS – wrong side
(K, yo, k) – in next stitch, work k1, yo and k1
Sl1 – slip one purlwise. On K rows, slip first st with yarn in back, on P rows, slip first st with yarn in front.
Ssk – slip slip knit
K2tog – knit 2 sts together
S2kp – slip 2, knit, pass – slip 2 sts as if to knit them together, knit 1, pass slipped sts over
Notes
Each petal begins with a 2 st i-cord. Use the tail and the ball yarn alternately to secure the yarn into the base as it will be easier to weave the end into the petal sts once the work is complete.
Slip all sts purlwise.
instructions
Cast on 12 sts. K 2 rows.
Petal
Work 3 rows of i-cord over 2 sts:
Row 1: With ball yarn, k2 from 12 st base. Place these 2 sts back on left needle.
Row 2: With tail yarn, k2, place sts back onto left needle.
Row 3: With ball yarn k2, place sts back onto left needle. Continue with ball yarn only.
Row 4: *(Kpk) in next st; rep from * once, turn work (6 sts).
Row 5 (WS): sl1, p to end.
Row 6: (K, yo, k), *yo, k1; rep from * to last st, yo, (k, yo, k) in last st (15 sts).
Row 7: Sl1, p to end.
Row 8: Sl1, k to end.
Row 9: Sl1, p to end.
Rep rows 8 and 9 5 times.
Row 20: Sl1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 (13 sts).
Row 21: Sl1, p to end.
Row 22: Sl1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, K2tog, k1 (11 sts).
Row 23: Sl1, p2tog, p to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1 (9 sts).
Row 24: Rep row 22 (7 sts).
Row 25: Sl1, p2tog, p1, p2tog, p1 (5 sts).
Row 26: Sk1, s2kp, k1 (3 sts).
Row 27: Sl1, p2.
Row 28: S2kp, break yarn and draw through loop.
Join yarn to next 2 base sts and make next petal. When all i-cord sts have been incorporated into a petal, weave in the ends from the tips of the petals. Use the weaving in to give the petal tips a bit of structure.
The 8 sts on the left are for petals, the 6 sts on the right end of the needle are for the second petal, ready to start row 6. Below the needle is the completed first petal.
finishing
Take the tail of the cast on and gather up the cast on edge. Use the yarn tails from the i-cords to link the petals together and weave in the ends.
Use embroidery floss threaded in a #24 tapestry needle to make French knots in the center of the flower OR use sewing thread to attach an “E” bead, placing a seed bead in the hole of the “E” bead.
A single poinsettia can be used to adorn your wreath, or you can knit several and place a cluster of them in an arc. If you want to add some greenery, knit a poinsettia in green, or knit a portion of the poinsettia, by casting on 6 or 8 stitches and making 3 or 4 petals. Attach them in behind the petals of the flower.
A pair of poinsettias cleverly camouflage the point where the cable ends are joined.
