Materials
I used approx. 40gm of Patons Herdwick 8ply 100% Wool in dark blue (colour 9264) and oddments of various yarns in 2 shades of green and brown
Tension
20sts and 28 rows to 4 inches (10cm) over st st on 4mm needles, or needles needed to obtain gauge.
Abbreviations
K = Knit
P = Purl
YO = yarn over
Sl 1 = slip one st purlways
PSSO = pass slipped st over
K1B = Knit into back of the next st, so as to twist it
M1 = Make one. Pick up bar lying between sts and knit into the back of it.
WT = Wrap and turn: K to the point where your pattern says to turn but don’t turn the work yet.
Bring your yarn to the front of the work,
Sl the next st from the left hand needle,
take your yarn to the back of the work,
Sl the st back to the left hand needle.
Turn your work.
The next time you knit the wrapped st, knit the wrapped yarn along with the stitch it is wrapped around, thus:
Put the needle up through the wrap on the right side of the work,
put the needle through the st and K the two together.
Technique
Base:
Cast on 47sts and work 65 rows st st. Cast off.
Leaves: Make 5 in darker green and 4 in lighter green.
Cast on 3 sts and work as follows:
1st row: K1, YO, K1B, YO, K1
2nd and all alt rows: Purl
3rd row: K2, YO, K1B, YO, K2
5th row: K3, YO, K1B, YO, K3
7th row: K4, K1B, K4
9th row: K3, Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO, K3
11th row: K2, Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO, K2
13th row: K1, Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO, K1
15th row: Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO
Fasten off
Tree Trunk and Branches
Using brown cast on 4 sts and work 4 rows st st
*5th row: K1, M1, to last st, K1 (7sts)
6th and every alt row: Purl
7th row: (K1, M1) 3 times, K2, M1, K1, M1, K1 (12sts).
Next rows: K4, turn
P1, WT, K1, turn
P2, WT, K2, turn
P4, turn
Work 6 rows st st on these 4 sts, cast off.
Slip next 4 sts onto a holder for trunk, rejoin yarn to last 4 sts and work as follows:
K1, WT, P1, turn
K2, WT, P2, turn
K4, turn
Work 7 rows st st on these 4 sts, beginning with a purl row. Cast off
Rejoin yarn to centre 4 sts with right side facing and work 8 rows st st. **
Repeat from * to ** once more.
Work 2 rows st st, cast off.
Making Up
Block all pieces.
Sew trunk to background.
Sew one light leaf to the top branch , sew other leaves down the side of the tree following the picture above. Embroider three lines underneath the tree using chain stitch for the grass.
Copyright © Sarah Bradberry, March 1998