Knitted Christmas Decorations

Small knits, big tree

Christmas decorations are among the most forgiving knitting there is. Nothing has to fit anyone, a whole ornament often uses less than 10g of yarn, and if one comes out slightly lopsided it reads as charm rather than error. That is why these patterns suit both a complete beginner's first project after a scarf and an experienced knitter looking for something to finish in one sitting. The collection covers hanging baubles knitted in the round over a polystyrene ball, flat stars and hearts, miniature stockings and jumpers, garlands of joined motifs, knitted characters such as robins, penguins, gnomes and Father Christmas, and full nativity sets that build up over several evenings.

Choosing what to make first

• Absolute beginner: flat garter stitch hearts and stars, seamed and stuffed. Two straight needles and no shaping.
• Next step: a mini stocking or jumper, which teaches ribbing, shaping and picking up stitches at a size where mistakes cost minutes rather than hours or days.
• In the round: baubles worked on double pointed needles or a small circular, with even decreases at the top.
• Character knits: robins, gnomes and nativity figures, where the fun and the fiddle are both in the small pieces and the assembly.
• Colourwork practice: Fair Isle baubles and Scandinavian star motifs on a tiny canvas, so you can learn two-colour tension without committing to a jumper.

Yarn, needles and stuffing

DK on 3.25mm or 3.5mm needles, a size or two smaller than the ball band suggests, is the standard combination. The tighter fabric matters here: any decoration that is stuffed will show the filling through a loose knit, and firmness helps a shape stand up. Wool holds its shape and blocks well; acrylic is washable and cheap enough to make twenty of; a little metallic thread carried alongside adds sparkle without changing the tension much. Stuff with toy filling in small pinches rather than one large lump, and use the blunt end of a pencil to push it into points.

Assembly, safety and hanging

Sew up with mattress stitch in the project yarn so seams disappear into the fabric. Embroider eyes and faces rather than sewing on beads or safety eyes if small children or pets will be near the tree. Attach a loop of ribbon or a crochet chain at the top, anchored through several stitches so the weight is spread. Weave every end in twice and trim close; ends that work loose on the tree are how a decoration unravels between one Christmas and the next.

Storing them for next year

Pack decorations flat in a lidded box with tissue between layers rather than crushing them into a bag with the glass baubles. Add a cedar block or lavender bag if the yarn is wool, since a box in a loft is exactly where moths look. A light steam held above the fabric next December will lift any flattening. It is worth labelling the box with the year you made them, because a knitted decoration outlives most bought ones by decades and families tend to want to know which child's first Christmas each one belongs to.

Knitted Christmas decoration questions

How much yarn does one decoration take? Usually a few grams, so oddments and leftovers are ideal.

Are these suitable for beginners? Yes. Flat stars, hearts and mini stockings need only knit, purl and simple decreases.

What needle size should I use? Go smaller than the ball band recommends, so stuffing and hanging loops do not show through.

Can I make a knitted garland? Yes, several patterns join motifs onto a knitted or crochet chain for mantelpieces and windows.

How do I stop decorations losing shape? Stuff firmly, block wool pieces before assembly and store them flat rather than squashed.