Who's Cool Applique Patch in Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool - L32130

Who's Cool Applique Patch – Free Knitting Pattern L32130 in Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool

This free downloadable knitting pattern (L32130) from Lion Brand Yarn guides crafters through creating a charming felted appliqué patch measuring approximately 7½ × 11 inches (19 × 28 cm). Rated Easy (Skill Level 2), this one-size accessory project is an excellent introduction to the satisfying combination of knitting, wet felting, and embroidery — all in a single compact project.

What Is Being Made

The finished product is a decorative appliqué patch in an octagon shape, designed to be attached to garments, bags, or other accessories. The patch is highly customizable — the pattern encourages makers to personalize the embroidered design, making each finished piece unique. Because the patch is felted before it is cut and embroidered, the edges are clean and stable without any need for hemming or finishing seams.

Construction Process and Techniques

The patch is built in several distinct stages, each involving a different craft technique:

• Knitting in Stockinette Stitch: The base fabric is knitted flat using Stockinette stitch — knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side — using Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool (yarn A). This creates a smooth, even fabric that is ideal for felting.
• Wet Felting: Once knitted, the fabric is felted, a process in which wool fibers are agitated in water and heat, causing them to mat together and shrink into a dense, sturdy cloth. Because Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool is made from 100% Pure Virgin Wool, it felts reliably and beautifully. Exact gauge is not essential for this project, as the felting process naturally evens out minor inconsistencies in tension.
• Cutting: After felting, an octagon shape is cut from the fabric. Because felted wool does not ravel or fray, the cut edges remain neat and tidy without any additional finishing. A ruler, sharp scissors or a rotary cutter, and a cutting mat are recommended tools for this step.
• Embroidery: The cut octagon is then embroidered using the colorful mini-skeins from Lion Brand Bonbons (yarn B). The pattern invites makers to personalize the embroidered motif, giving the patch its "Who's Cool" character and personality. A sharp embroidery needle with a large eye is used for this stage.
• Assembly: The finished embroidered patch is attached to the desired item using a sewing needle and thread. Straight pins and tissue paper are helpful for positioning, and tear-away stabilizer is listed as an optional aid during embroidery.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The foundational knit stitch pattern — knit every right-side row, purl every wrong-side row — used to create the base fabric before felting.
• Embroidery stitches: Applied by hand using the Bonbons yarn onto the felted and cut octagon to create the decorative surface design.

Materials and Yarn

This pattern calls for two Lion Brand yarn products:

• Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool (Article #150), Color Natural (150-098): A workhorse wool yarn made from 100% Pure Virgin Wool, available in an 8 oz (227 g) / 465-yard (425 m) ball. One ball is required (yarn A). Its pure wool content is essential for the felting process — synthetic fibers do not felt. This yarn is machine washable on a gentle cycle and should be dried flat.
• Lion Brand Bonbons (Article #601), Celebrate colorway (601-660): A delightful multi-pack of mini-skeins in a variety of fiber types and weights. The Celebrate colorway includes Cotton (100% Cotton, Sport Weight), Acrylic (100% Acrylic, DK Weight), and Metallic (96% Acrylic / 4% Metallic Polyester, Sport Weight) mini-skeins, each approximately 28–38