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Plain Baubles (R3)

plain baubles, embroidered and strung together

Time for some making it up as you go! Make plain baubles in different sizes, thread them together, embroider and decorate.

A printable version of this pattern is available.

You will need:

  • yarn leftovers (sock wool or 4ply)
  • toy stuffing
  • 4 x double ended knitting needles (2.5mm)
  • tapestry needle
  • scissors

Pattern:

Main Bauble

Cast on 5 stitches, divide them between three needles and join them into a round.

(A list of abbreviations is available.)

  1. Round 1: [kfb] x 5 (10)
  2. Round 2: [kfb, k1] x 5 (15)
  3. Round 3: [kfb, k2] x 5 (20)
  4. Round 4: [kfb, k3] x 5 (25)
  5. Round 5: k –
  6. Round 6: [kfb, k4] x 5 (30)
  7. Round 7: [kfb, k5] x 5 (35)
  8. Round 8: k –
  9. Round 9: [kfb, k6] x 5 (40)
  10. Round 10: k –
  11. Round 11: [kfb, k7] x 5 (45)
  12. Round 12: k –
  13. Round 13: [kfb, k8] x 5 (50)

Knit 8 rounds straight.

  1. Round 22: [k8, k2tog] x 5 (45)
  2. Round 23: k –
  3. Round 24: [k7, k2tog] x 5 (40)
  4. Round 25: k –
  5. Round 26: [k6, k2tog] x 5 (35)
  6. Round 27: k –
  7. Round 28: [k5, k2tog] x 5 (30)
  8. Round 29: [k4, k2tog] x 5 (25)
  9. Round 30: k –
  10. Round 31: [k3, k2tog] x 5 (20)
  11. Round 32: [k2, k2tog] x 5 (15)
  12. Round 33: [k1, k2tog] x 5 (10)
  13. Round 34: k –

Stuff the bauble firmly. Cut the yarn, thread through remaining stitches and pull tight.

Little Bauble:

Cast on 5 stitches, divide them between three needles and join them into a round

  1. Round 1: [kfb] x 5 (10)
  2. Round 2: [kfb, k1] x 5 (15)
  3. Round 3: k –
  4. Round 4: [kfb, k2] x 5 (20)
  5. Round 5: k –
  6. Round 6: [kfb, k3] x 5 (25)

Knit 5 rounds straight.

  1. Round 12: [k3, k2tog] x 5 (20)
  2. Round 13: k –
  3. Round 14: [k2, k2tog] x 5 (15)
  4. Round 15: k –
  5. Round 16: [k1, k2tog] x 5 (10)
  6. Round 17: k –

Stuff the bauble firmly. Cut the yarn, thread through remaining stitches and pull tight.

Tiny Bauble:

Cast on 5 stitches, divide them between three needles and join them into a round

  1. Round 1: [kfb] x 5 (10)
  2. Round 2: [kfb, k1] x 5 (15)

Knit 3 rounds straight.

  1. Round 12: [k1, k2tog] x 5 (10)
  2. Round 13: k –

Stuff the bead firmly. Cut the yarn, thread through remaining stitches and pull tight.

Making Up:

There are no hard and fast rules for making up your decorations. Work through the bauble pattern, sew in any loose ends, and then choose how you want to decorate it. Add a knitted bead, or a tiny bead, or a tassel, or a pompom. It really is a chance to get your creative juices flowing!

Notes:

Confession

OK, I'll come clean, this pattern is a bit of a cheat. The middle bauble pattern is the same as the bracelet bead pattern that I've already published.

Starting the Beads

Rounds 1 and 2 of the bead pattern can be very fiddly to work. If you wait until there are more stitches on the needle before joining the work into the round then the result is slightly less neat but also less tricky. Try working as follows:

Cast on 5 stitches.

  1. Row 1: [kfb] x 5 (10)

Split these stitches between three needles. Join your knitting into the round and continue as for original pattern from round 2.

Needle/Yarn Size

As with most ODDknit patterns the yarn and needle sizes in the "you will need" section are just a guide. Feel free to improvise with whatever needles and yarn you have lying around - that's half the fun!