An anti-pilling acrylic DK yarn is soft, bright, and hard-wearing, making it ideal for holiday decor. This post covers a cabled cover for a foam wreath form, decorating ideas, and two knitted embellishments. Those are a poinsettia and a family of little snowmen.
materials
yarn
- 100% acrylic DK weight yarn, anti-pilling, 22 stitches to 4″ [10cm]
- 1 ball each in green for the wreath, red for the poinsettia, and white for the snowmen
- oddments in yellow and other colors, for centers and accessories
needles
- US 6 [4mm] needles, for the wreath
- US 3 [3.25mm] needles, for the poinsettia and snowmen
notions
- 12″ [30.5cm] foam wreath form
- cable needle and stitch markers
- tapestry needles, sizes 18 and 24
- black embroidery floss, polyester fiberfill, and beads (optional)
Knit the cable wreath cover
Gauge isn’t important here. The cover is one long strip that wraps the form, with a garter stitch side that sits at the back. Cast on 36 stitches. Work a gently curved braid cable, with a few stitches of garter on each side. Short rows add the curve, because the outer edge of a circle is longer than the inner.
Instructions
Cast on 36 sts, and work as follows:
Row 1 (WS): K10, p16, k10.
Row 2: K across.
Row 3: As Row 1.
Row 4: K10, turn, k10, turn, k10 (c4f) twice, k10.
Row 5: As Row 1.
Row 6: K across.
Row 7: As Row 1.
Row 8: K14, c4b, turn.
Row 9: P12, k10.
Row 10: K across.
Row 11: As Row 1.
Row 12: K10, (c4f) twice, turn.
Row 13: P16, k10.
Row 14: K across.
Row 15: As Row 1.
Row 16: As Row 8.
Row 17: As Row 9.
Rep Rows 2 through 17 until cable is approx. 31” long when slightly stretched. (Model had 18 cable reps.) End with a Row 8 or 16, but do not turn – k rem 14 sts.
TIP To get knitting to wrap evenly around wreath form, place a stitch marker at each end of the knitting between the two ridges below the needle after every repeat.
Placing matching colored stitch markers at the end of every pattern repeat makes handy matching points for sewing up later.
Each repeat is 16 rows, with four-stitch cables crossing to the front and the back. Repeat until the strip measures about 31″ when slightly stretched. That took 18 repeats. Place a matching marker at the end of every repeat, between the two garter ridges below the needle. They make handy points for sewing up.
Cast off in pattern, then join the cast-on and cast-off edges without twisting. Lay the strip wrong side up, with the form face down on top. Bring the sides around to the back and link them together, matching markers. Work two ridges together where needed to keep the markers aligned. Weave in the ends, and add a hanging loop if you like.
For a 14″ [35.6cm] form, lengthen the strip by 2″ [5.1cm]. Larger forms may need a few more stitches on each side.
The finished wreath is pretty on its own, but over the next few posts, I’ll provide ideas to embellish this beautiful base using the anti pilling acrylic
Decorate the wreath
The finished wreath stands alone, but a join shows at one point. Hide it with embellishments. Search for free patterns for knitted stars, snowmen, leaves, and flowers. Swap in flowers for Remembrance Day, then poinsettias for Christmas.
Cross-craft with a quilted ornament, hexagons, ribbon, or painted wooden figures. Sew clips to each decoration so you can swap them out. For a year-round wreath, choose a color that suits your front door.
Knit the poinsettia
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.
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.
A pair of poinsettias cleverly camouflage the point where the cable ends are joined.
Knit the snowmen
Each of these little characters has its own character! Black embroidery floss is used to make their coal eyes, mouth and buttons. Each one stands between 3½” and 4″ [8.5 – 10cm] tall.
Body
Cast on 6 sts.
Row 1: K across.
Row 2: Kfb in every st across (12 sts).
Row 3: P across.
Row 4: K1, m1, *k2, m1; rep from * to last st, k1 (18 sts).
Row 5: P across.
Row 6: K2, m1, *k3, m1; rep from * to last st, k1 (24 sts).
Row 7: P across.
Row 8: K2, m1, *k4, m1; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2 (30 sts).
Rows 9, 11, 13, and 15: p across.
For a taller snowman, work one more k row and one more p row.
Rows 10, 12, and 14: K across.
Row 16: (K2, k2tog) to last 2 sts, k2 (23 sts).
Row 17: P across.
Row 18: K3, m1, *k4, m1; rep from * to last 4 sts, k4 (28 sts).
Row 19: P across.
Row 20: K across.
Rows 21 and 22: rep rows 19 and 20.
Row 23: P across.
Row 24: (K2tog) to last st, k1 (14 sts).
Row 25: P across.
Row 26: (K2tog) to end (7 sts).
Break yarn and pull through all sts. Using that tail and the larger tapestry needle, stitch down the back of the top section to the neck (decrease round). Change direction: make a running stitch around the neck, but don’t pull tightly. Firmly stuff the head and body cavity, then pull the yarn tightly around the neck. Continue sewing the back seam down the body section. Add more stuffing if necessary, and weave in ends.
Row 1: *K1, p1; rep from * across.
Rep Row 1 until work measures 2” [5cm] from cast-on edge.
Next row: (K2tog) across (13 sts).
P 1 row.
Next row: K1, (k2tog) to end (7 sts).
With contrasting color, cast on 45 sts purlwise, or with long-tail cast on.
Knit 2 rows.
Cast off all sts, and weave in ends.
Tie the scarf or tack it around the snowman’s neck.
finishing
With a smaller tapestry needle threaded with a length of 6-strand embroidery floss, bury a knot into the back of the snowman, and make coal eyes, mouth and buttons with French knots.
Knit your very own welcoming committee! There’s more than one way to decorate a wreath! Knit the whole family, or just a happy couple.