Christmas Wreath

Christmas Wreath by Phoenixknits

What is Being Made

This is a knitted Christmas wreath decoration designed to measure approximately 11 inches across. The wreath is created using a circular knitting technique and finished with festive embellishments including baubles, beads, buttons, and bells for a complete holiday decoration piece.

Techniques Used

The Christmas Wreath employs several intermediate-level knitting techniques to create its distinctive structure. The pattern uses short-row shaping, a method where knitting is turned before reaching the end of the row to create curved, three-dimensional sections. This technique is fundamental to the wreath's circular form and allows the fabric to cup and shape naturally without increasing or decreasing stitches in traditional ways.

The short-row pattern repeats over four rows, creating a rhythmic sequence that builds the wreath's body. The design also incorporates yarn-forward and yarn-back movements to create deliberate stitch slips that contribute to the fabric's texture and structure. Working with doubled yarn strands—combining light and dark green together—adds visual interest and creates the multi-tonal effect characteristic of evergreen wreaths.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (K): The primary stitch forming the base fabric
• Purl stitch (P): Used in alternating rows to create stockinette stitch sections
• Slip stitch (slip 1 st purl wise): Stitches are slipped rather than worked to create clean edges and textural variation
• Yarn forward (yf): Yarn is brought to the front before slipping stitches, creating intentional stitch manipulation
• Yarn back (yb): Yarn is taken to the back of the work as part of the short-row turning sequence

Materials and Tools

The wreath is constructed using 40 grams each of light green and dark green yarn, worked together as a doubled strand on 4.5mm needles. The pattern begins with casting on 24 stitches and continues for approximately 25 inches of unstretched fabric before completion.

Embellishment materials include red yarn scraps for accents, white and orange yarn for additional color details, and assorted odd colors for the baubles. The wreath is further decorated with 2 x 10mm plastic toy eyes, fiberfill stuffing, and a collection of odd beads, buttons, and bells that add dimension and festive charm to the finished piece. 3mm needles are also required, likely for finishing work or attaching embellishments.