Easy Ornamentation:
It seems like everyone who's ever had a Christmas tree has some plain round glass ornaments. These decorations are pretty enough, but they are kind of plain.
Here's a quick idea for jazzing up a basic storebought ornament with a lacy knit sheath. The cover takes very little time (or yarn) to knit up and is a perfect way to make your ornaments more unique, or to turn an inexpensive store find into a quick and cute gift.
Materials:
- Small amount of lace weight yarn
- one pair size 4 US knitting needles
- one glass or plastic round Christmas ornament (mine is 9 inches around the center)
- scissors and yarn needle
Gauge:
20 stitches and 30 rows per 4 inches (5 stitches and 7.5 rows per inch) in Cat's Eye Lace. Gauge is not critical.
Size:
Unstretched the piece is 4 inches wide and 5.25 inches long. It will stretch to fit a medium-sized round glass ornament.
Instructions:
- Cast on 20 stitches.
- Work in Cat's Eye Lace pattern (below) until piece measures about 5.25 inches, or long enough to stretch around the ball of your choice.
- Bind off and cut yarn, leaving a long tail.
- Sew the cast on and bound off edges together, then along one side. Weave in any remaining ends.
- Slide the ornament into the knit sack, then use another piece of yarn to weave a wide running stitch across the top edge. Pull tight and weave in the end to secure the cover to the ornament.
Cat's Eye Lace:
Row 1: Knit 4, *(yarn over) twice, knit 4. Repeat from * across.
Row 2: Purl 2, *purl 2 together, purl 1, knit 1 (those are the yarn overs from the previous row), purl 2 together. Repeat from * across, end purl 2.
Row 3: Knit 2, yarn over, *knit 4, (yarn over) twice). Repear from * across, end knit 4, yarn over, knit 2.
Row 4: Purl 3, *(purl 2 together) twice, purl 1, knit 1 (those are the yarn overs from the previous row). Repeat from * across, end (purl 2 together) twice, purl 3.
Repeat these rows for pattern.
Note: stitch count will vary as increases on right-side rows are not decreased until wrong-side rows.
