Garland - Knit the Alphabet Quick and Easy Alphabet Knitting Patterns

What could be sweeter to give as a gift than a homemade, hand-knitted letter, a bundle of little letters that spell out someones name, or a loving word or phrase for a special person? The knitted letters in this book allow you to do just that, and more. Letters used as objet dart are seen in many magazines and blogs and this idea led me to create medium-sized letters too, which can be used to adorn walls and shelves. I then created even larger letters, which are perfect for floppy, cuddly cushions and individual pillows. There is plenty of scope here for names and initials, words and phrases for celebrations and occasions such as Christmas, weddings and birthdays. You are sure to come up with many ideas to have fun with the designs, for example, imagine a rug made up from the letters R U G, all joined together! Each letter gives the yarn and needle requirements, plus the finished sizes and gauge (tension). There are also suggestions on the type and colour of yarn to use for each of the sizes, although I hope that this book will encourage you to experiment with using different yarn types, colours and patterns, so that each letter will become as individual as the person for whom it is intended.

I have designed each letter to be knitted as one piece, with a cast on method similar to that in the making of a toe in a sock. The letters are then knitted in the round. For those new to knitting, all the techniques you need are at the back of the book, along with an abbreviation list and advice on finishing off and staging the letters. Happy knitting!

35yds (32m) of fingering-weight (4ply) yarn 1 set of 5 dpns size 1 (2.5mm) 2 sets of size 1 (2.5mm) circular needles 57yds (52m) of worsted weight (Aran) yarn 1 set of 5 dpns size 8 (5mm) 2 sets of size 8 (5mm) circular needles 101yds (92m) of bulky weight (chunky) yarn 1 set of 5 dpns size 15 (10mm) 2 sets of size 15 (10mm) circular needles Blunt-ended tapestry needle Toy filling Row counter SMALL 30 sts x 39 rows to 4in (10cm) over st st MEDIUM 18 sts x 25 rows to 4in (10cm) over st st LARGE 7.5 sts x 10 rows to 4in (10cm) over st st SMALL 6in x 5in (15cm x 13cm) MEDIUM 934in x 7in (24cm x 18cm) LARGE 1534in x 1334in (40cm x 35cm) (For the largest size it may be easier to work directly onto circular needles) Using simple sock cast on method (see ), cast on 28 sts. Rnd 1 K28. Divide sts equally between 2 circular ndls (14 sts on each), with yarn at tip of RH ndl.

Have LH sts at top of ndl to be worked. PM. Rnds 24 K28. Rnd 5 (dec) Skpo, k2tog, k6, skpo, k2tog, skpo, k2tog, k6, skpo, k2tog. (20 sts) Rnd 6 K20. (12 sts) Rnd 8 K12. Rnd 9 K1, kfb, k1, k2tog, k1, k1, skpo, k1, kfb, k1. Rnd 9 K1, kfb, k1, k2tog, k1, k1, skpo, k1, kfb, k1.

Rep last 2 rnds 5 times ending at back of left side of letter. Cut yarn and sl two sets of sts onto 2 dpns and set aside.

Using simple sock cast on method, cast on 38 sts. Rnd 1 K38. Divide sts equally between 2 circular ndls (19 sts on each ndl), with yarn at tip of RH ndl have LH sts at top of ndl to be worked. Rnds 24 K38. Rnd 5 (dec) Skpo, k2tog, k11, skpo, k2tog, skpo, k2tog, k11, skpo, k2tog. (30 sts) Rnd 6 K30. Rnd 7 (dec) Skpo, k2tog, k7, skpo, k2tog, skpo, k2tog, k7, skpo, k2tog. (22 sts) Rnd 8 K22. Rnd 9 K1, skpo, k6, kfb, k1, k1, kfb, k6, k2tog, k1. Rnd 9 K1, skpo, k6, kfb, k1, k1, kfb, k6, k2tog, k1.

Rep last 2 rnds 5 times.

Rnd 20 K11 sts from front of RHS, cast on 13 sts onto same ndl using backward loop method, k6 from front of LHS, slide rem 6 sts onto second circular ndl - (back sts of RHS will be facing), k these 6 sts, cast on 13 sts using backward loop method, k11 from back RHS. (60 sts 30 sts on each ndl). Cont in rnds keeping tension tight across joins to avoid gaps and taking care not to twist cast on sts. Rnd 21 (dec) K1, skpo, k24, k2tog, k1, k1, skpo, k24, k2tog, k1. Rnd 23 (dec) K1, skpo, k22, k2tog, k1, k1, skpo, k22, k2tog, k1. (52 sts) Rnd 24 K52. Rnd 25 (dec) K1, skpo, k20, k2tog, k1, k1, skpo, k20, k2tog, k1. (48 sts) Rnd 26 K48. Rnd 27 (dec) K1, skpo, k18, k2tog, k1, k1, skpo, k18, k2tog, k1. (44 sts) Rnd 28 K44. Rnd 29 (dec) K1, skpo, k16, k2tog, k1, k1, skpo, k16, k2tog, k1. (40 sts) Rnd 30 (dec) K8, kfb, k1, bind (cast) off 5 sts, kfb, k3, k3, kfb, k1, bind (cast) off 5 sts, kfb, k8. (40 sts) Rnd 30 (dec) K8, kfb, k1, bind (cast) off 5 sts, kfb, k3, k3, kfb, k1, bind (cast) off 5 sts, kfb, k8.

Cont with right side sts only as folls: Rnd 31 K1, skpo, k6, kfb, k1, sl next 6 sts from left side onto a dpn, sl next 6 sts from left back onto another dpn. Cont with rem 11 sts from RHS shaping as folls: k1, kfb, k6, k2tog, k1. Rnd 32 K22. Rnd 33 K1, skpo, k6, kfb, k1, k1, kfb, k6, k2tog, k1. Rep last 2 rnds 7 times so ending at back of RHS of letter. Cut yarn.

Rejoin yarn to 6 sts at front of LHS working with dpns or circulars, cont, shaping as folls: Rnd 31 K1, kfb, k1, k2tog, k1, k1, skpo, k1, kfb, k1. Join in the rnd. Rnd 32 K12. Rep last 2 rnds 7 times. Rnd 47 K1, kfb, k1, k2tog, k1, k1, skpo, k1, kfb, k1.

Rnd 48 Rejoin yarn k11 from front of RHS, k6 from front of LHS onto same ndl, slide next 6 sts from back of LHS to join 11 sts from back of RHS and k across onto other ndl. (34 sts 17sts on each ndl) Rnd 49 (dec) K1, skpo, k11, k2tog, k1, k1, skpo, k11, k2tog, k1. (30 sts)Rnd 50 K30.Rnd 51 (dec) K1, skpo, k9, k2tog, k1, k1, skpo, k9, k2tog, k1. (26 sts) Rnd 52 K26. Rnd 53 (dec) K1, skpo, k7, k2tog, k1, k1, skpo, k7, k2tog, k1. (22 sts) Rnd 54 K22. Rnd 55 (dec) K1, skpo, k5, k2tog, k1, k1, skpo, k5, k2tog, k1. (18 sts)