Northern Lights Ornaments by Cynthia Levy

Northern Lights Ornaments

Knitting
October 2020
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
8 stitches and 11 rows = 1 inch
in stockinette
US 1½ - 2.5 mm
50 yards (46 m)
3" diameter
English
This pattern is available for $4.00 USD buy it now

This select pattern is included in the Indie Design Gift-A-Long! Come join us at http://www.ravelry.com/groups/indie-design-gift-a-long for all the inspiration, chat and cheer you’ll need to get your gifts finished this year. My gift to you is a 25% discount on this pattern when you use the coupon code “giftalong2024” from November 21, 2024 at 5:00 pm US EST to November 27, 2024 at 11:59pm US EST.

Be entranced by the northern lights! These pretty little baubles feature colorwork aurora borealis motifs and twinkling stars over a stockinette background. Evoking the constant dancing of the aurora, the pattern provides a selection of six motifs creating a set of similar but unique ornaments. Make one, make two, make an entire night sky!

Each ornament requires one 3” polystyrene or styrofoam ball and approximately 40 yards of fingering weight yarn in the main color plus 10 yards in the contrasting color and 1 yard for surface embroidery. They work up quickly and are perfect for using up leftover sock yarn!

These ornaments are cleverly constructed without the necessity of awkward knitting around styrofoam balls. The ornaments are made in two sections with all shaping worked in stockinette in the main color. The pieces are later placed over a ball and grafted together using kitchener stitch. This requires a bit of patience but is much easier and enjoyable than trying to knit around a solid ball.

Skills/Techniques Required: (Pattern provides instructions and links to assist with unfamiliar techniques)

  • Working small circumferences in the round
  • Circular cast-on
  • Stranded colorwork
  • Grafting using kitchener stitch
  • Finger knitting for hanging loops
  • Surface embroidery using straight stitches

A kCDesigns version of this pattern, already set up for use in KnitCompanion, is available through Create2Thrive.