I said in my last pattern post, Sockkens, that they were my favourite pattern that I had written myself. I may have to change this as I forgot all about these little wee things! I wrote the pattern for these specifically to go on my jumper for Kirstie's Handmade Christmas. They were definitely trial and error until they finally turned into something I wanted.
Just to say - after I published this - I had a note on Ravelry to say that putting these on your fairy lights would be a fire hazard... i guess the name is confusing as these are fairy lights but they are definitely not fairy light covers! They were lit using stand along battery operated lights for the Handmade Christmas show & to be photographed here but as per the lights section, I don’t recommend that for long term use!
Yarn, Needles & Notions
Yarn: Any 4ply/fingering weight yarn where you can get gauge. Shown here in Jamiesons of Shetland (colours) and Jamieson and Smith (the black elements).
Needles: 2.25 mm needles for working in the round. Due to the small circumference I used double pointed needles, stitches distributed on 4 needles and knitting with the 5th.
Notions: Scissors, Darning Needle for ends, Stitch Marker, Toy Stuffing
Gauge & Finished Size
Gauge: Not essential but the stitches should be tight and tidy.
Finished Size (cast on to cast off): 4cm
Abbreviations
K: Knit
P: Purl
K2tog: Knit the next 2 stitches together (a decrease stitch)
Kfb: Knit front and back (an increase stitch)
St-st: Stocking stitch. When working in the round, knit all stitches.
Yo: Yarnover
Pattern
In black yarn, cast on 12 stitches using your preferred cast on method. Join for working in the round, being careful not to twist. If using double pointed needles, distribute the stitches evenly on four needles and knit with the fifth.
Holder
Working in st-st, work one round.
(K1, yo, k2tog, k3) twice. The yarnover in this round creates holes for inserting an iCord. If you don't require this, knit all stitches around.
In st-st, work one round.
(K1, kfb, k1) around. 16 stitches
Main Light
Change to colourful yarn for the light.
Round 1: In st-st, work one round.
Round 2: (K1, kfb, kfb, k1) around. 24 stitches
Round 3: In st-st, work one round.
Round 4: (K1, kfb, k2, kfb, k1) around. 32 stitches
Round 5: In st-st, work one round.
Round 6: (K1, kfb, K4, kfb, k1) around. 40 stitches
Rounds 7 - 9: In st-st, work three rounds.
Round 10: (K1, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k1) around. 32 stitches
Round 11: In st-st, work one round.
Round 12: (K1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1) around. 24 stitches
Round 13: In st-st, work one round.
Round 14: (K1, k2tog, k2tog, k1) around. 16 stitches
Pause here to stuff the bauble. Stuff until the folds of the yarn are smoothed out.
Round 15: (K2tog) around. 8 stitches
Round 16: K2tog) around. 4 stitches
Round 17: (K2tog) twice. 2 stitches
Break yarn and thread through last 2 remaining stitches to create the pointed tip of the fairy light.
Sew in ends. Hang up. Make many more!
iCord
The iCords shown here were made using 2 stitches on 2.5mm double-pointed needles.
In your chosen colour, cast-on 2 stitches onto one of the double-pointed needles. Allow a tail of 7.5cm when casting on. Knit these 2 stitches normally, from the left-hand needle to the right.
Slide the stitches from one end of the double-pointed needle to the other rather than turning the work. Knit these stitches as above.
Repeat these steps, pulling the yarn tightly at the beginning of each row to ensure even stitches, until the iCord is the required length. Cast off as usual, leaving a 7.5cm tail.
The iCord threads through the hole created by the YO in the holder element of the lights
What about the lights?
So, the lights! I bought them from Amazon. I add them when I am stuffing them. I wouldn't recommend them long term really as they really were for the show. Once you put the fairy lights on your tree, they'll be lite up by your regular lights!
The Lights!
Ravelry
It would be great if you could add this to your Ravelry library if you are making the pattern.
Social stuff!
Should you have found this page via Kristie's Handmade Christmas you may also like to copy of the '90 minute knit' hat. If so, you can get a free copy by signing up to our mailing list. (If you are already a subscriber there is no need to subscribe again, as we'll be sending a link in our next newsletter!) The pattern is also available to buy on Ravelry.
Hats may take longer than 90 minutes ; )
The hats are knit in West Yorkshire Spinners, Retreat which is available on the site here. We will include a printed copy of the hat pattern with all orders of two or more balls of Retreat until we finish pre-Christmas shipping on Friday December 21st 2018 (while stocks last!).
You might also like to like our Facebook page and join our Facebook Group.
Next time on the blog: I'm sharing the techniques I used in making The Sweater! No pattern as I'm not quite sure it'll catch on ; )