Christmas Tree-oh
By Lucy Barkley These cute little trees are quick and easy to knit in the round, and use only small amounts of yarn. There are three different techniques to try: 1. Simple stranded colourwork to make a spiral, tinselled tree 2. A variation on chevron stitch that creates a funky, angular tree 3.Popcorn stitch‘bauble' tree.
Materials:
Small amounts of DK yarn, in various colours 3.25mm dpns Toy stuffing
Tension:
Not important for this, but make sure you knit tightly enough that the stuffing won't show through.
Abbreviations and chart symbols:
cO cast on k knit p purl kfb knit into the front and back of the same st, increasing 1 MC main colour CC contrast colour / k2tog bobble stitch (explained in detail under the bauble k2tog knit next two sts together, decreasing 1 skpo slip 1, knit 1, pass the slipped st over, decreasing 1
Tinsel tree:
With green or other MC if you like, CO 8 sts. Join to work in the round, and place a marker for the start of the round. K 2 rounds Kfb into every st = 16 sts K 2 rounds Kfb into every st = 32 sts K 1 round P 1 round, for the edge of the tree's base. Now begin working from the chart, from right to left; it shows 1 repeat of the pattern - you will need to work the chart 4 times to finish one complete round on your needles. (l've shown the MC as green, and the CC as blue, as in my photo. Grey squares indicate no stitch. Please note, 1 improved the colour chart after knitting my sample, so don't worry that yours looks different - you will have more strands of tinsel in your tree but they will be more evenly spaced). As you knit the chart, stuff your tree firmly making sure to push the filling right against the purl row which marks the edge of the base. When you've completed the chart, draw the yarn through the remaining sts and pull up tightly. Fasten this off, then close the hole at the bottom of the tree (cast on edge) if necessary.
Chevron stitch tree:
CO 11 sts. Join to work in the round, and place a marker for the start of the round. K 2 rounds Kfb into every st = 22 sts K 2 rounds Kfb into every st = 44 sts K 1 round P 1 round, for the edge of the tree's base. K 1 round. Begin the chevron stitch pattern,which consists of the following two pattern rounds: 1) [k2tog, k2, kfb, k1, kfb, k2, skpo] to end. 2) k Repeat rounds 1 and 2 five more times, then work round 1 once more. [k2, k2tog] to end = 33 sts. Change colour if you like. Repeat rounds 1 and 2 four times, then work round 1 once more. [k1, k2tog] to end = 22 sts. Change colour if you like. Repeat rounds 1 and 2 three times, then work round 1 once more. [k2tog] to end = 11 sts. Draw the yarn through the remaining stitches but don't pull up. Stuff firmly, pushing the filling against the purl row which marks the base. Pull up the thread at the top and fasten off tightly. Close the cast on edge at the base if necessary. Now form the angular shape with some basic sewing: Using yarn to match, attach a thread securely to the back of your tree (the beginning/end of the round), at the point where you decreased from 44 to 33 sts. Insert the needle into your tree and out at the ‘top' of the first chevron (where you did k1), take a stitch and then go into your tree again and out at the ‘bottom' of the chevron (where the skpo and k2tog meet). Repeat all the way around the tree, drawing it up as you go. When you get back to the beginning, fasten it off securely. Repeat where you decreased from 33 to 22 sts.
Bauble tree:
With green, CO 8 sts. Join to work in the round, and place a marker for the start of the round. K 2 rounds Kfb into every st = 16 sts K 2 rounds Kfb into every st = 32 sts K 1 round P 1 round, for the edge of the tree's base. Now work from the chart, making a bobble where marked. These can be done in green (to make a knobbly tree), or in various colours to make baubles. To make a bobble: Knit into the front, back, front, back, front of the same stitch. Turn your work and purl across these 5 stitches. Turn your work again and k2tog twice, then k1. Slip the first two stitches over this last one and your bobble is complete. You might want to knit the stitches by the bobble a bit tighter than usual on the following row, to ensure that you don't get holes in your tree. Stuff your tree as you knit it, pushing the filling firmly against the purl row at the base. When you've knitted the chart, draw the yarn through the remaining sts and pull up tightly. Fasten off, and close the hole in the base if necessary.
