This page has the technical information about the pattern for makers. There is a separate page for information about participating in the make-along.
Garland Sizes
Make the garland to fit your own home and in your preferred weight of yarn, so your sizing will reflect this. Sizes and yardage in the pattern are for DK yarn.
Garland Tension
Knitting: 24 sts x 32 rows = 10cm/4” measured over st st in DK cotton yarn.
Crochet: 16 sts x 20 rows = 10cm/4” measured over UK dc/US sc
Garland Requirements
You'll need the following to make the entire garland with one of each ornament, 2 candy canes and the garland cords:
Yarn
Double knitting weight yarn (I'm using Paintbox DK cotton by Love Crafts) but you could use wool or acrylic for example. If you use thicker yarn you may need more. Knitters may need less than crocheters for the ornaments but the reverse is true for the garland cords:
125m/140yds in white
60m/70yds in gold
125m/140yds in brown
125m/140yds in red
125m/140yds in green
Tools
3.5mm (US4/E) or 4mm (US6/G) crochet hook, double pointed needles (DPNs) or your preferred needles for working in the round. I found 3 DPNs best for knitting these small items: one each for front stitches and back stitches and one to work with
Yarn needle, sewing needle, thread and scissors
Notions
1 red 10mm / 3/8" button
2 black 8mm / 1/4" buttons
1 brown 15mm / 5/8" button
1 white and 1 beige 20 cm/8" pipe cleaner
Optional: an i-cord making tool such as a hand cranked machine or a french knitting spool may be used instead of needles for the garland and could be a great way to involve other family members who don’t knit.
I used a crochet cast on so I used a matching size crochet hook too.
Note: 2 stitch markers to mark mid-point and start/end of rounds are mentioned in the knitting patterns but in practice, I’d expect these only to be needed by those using a circular needle technique. DPN users can split the stitches evenly on the needles so can see where these points are and the crochet pattern doesn't feature them.
What size are the ornaments?
The ornaments are approximately the following sizes when made up in DK cotton yarn to the tension/gauge specified in the pattern but these are great for using up yarn scraps so don't feel obliged to use that kind/weight of yarn or match the sizes below.
Bell and bow (February)
Height: 8.5 cm / 3 1/4"
Width: 7 cm / 2 3/4"
Reindeer (March)
Height: 8 cm / 3 1/4"
Width: 8 cm / 3 1/4"
Gingerbread house (April)
Height: 8.5 cm / 3 1/4"
Width: 6 cm / 2 1/4"
Christmas tree (May)
Height: 8.5 cm / 3 1/4"
Width: 7 cm / 2 3/4"
Teardrop bauble (June)
Height: 9 cm / 3 1/2"
Width: 5 cm / 2"
Gingerbread man (July)
Height: 12 cm / 4 3/4"
Torso width: 6 cm / 2 1/4"
Gingerbread woman (August)
Height: 12 cm / 4 3/4"
Torso width: 6 cm / 2 1/4"
Gingerbread girl (September)
Height: 9 cm / 3 1/2"
Torso width: 4 cm / 1 1/2"
Gingerbread boy (October)
Height: 9 cm / 3 1/2"
Torso width: 4 cm / 1 1/2"
Garland mounting cords and assembly (November) so you're ready to hang it up whenever you decorate.
Length: 1.5 m /59"
Width: 1 cm / 1/2"
Candy canes (December) you can just hang these on when they're done if you've already put your garland up
Height: 8 cm / 3 1/4"
Width: 3 cm / 1 1/4"
Information for Knitters
Scroll down for crochet information
Knitting Abbreviations and Special Stitches
R row/round
St/sts stitch/stitches
Beg beginning
Rep repeat
Rem remaining
RS/WS right/wrong side
k knit
p purl
skp Slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over
p/s/rm place/slip/remove marker
Inc/dec’d increased/decreased
sk2p slip 1 st to active needle, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over the resulting stitch and off the needle. 2 sts dec’d
m1l Insert working needle from back to front under yarn strand between previous and next st, place tip of passive needle between front loop and working needle. Knit new st
m1r Insert passive needle from back to front under yarn strand between previous and next st, knit new st
Knitting Pattern Notes
Sample is made using crochet chain cast on and a three needle cast off for all pieces (the cast on stitch count indicates total stitches on both sides). Confident makers can substitute their preferred double sided cast on and may then wish to substitute alternative paired increases for those in the first round if they don’t have anything to pick up for m1 type increases. If you don’t enjoy a three needle cast off, you can cast the sides off separately and seam at the end.
Crochet working method
Most ornaments are knitted in the round in the manner of a toe-up sock, using a double sided cast on and paired side incs and decs for shaping. Embroidered details, button and pipe cleaner embellishments are added afterwards. The candy cane is made as i-cord with a pipe cleaner inside to shape it.
The garland is made of three strands of i-cord and the ornaments can be stitched on (or given ribbon ties enabling them to be fastened on).
Information for Crocheters
Scroll up for knitting information
Crochet Pattern Abbreviations and Special Stitches
St/sts stitch/stitches
Beg beginning
Rep repeat
Rem remaining
RS/WS right/wrong side
ch chain (0)
slst slip stitch (.)
dc double crochet (x)
htr half treble (T)
tr treble (2)
chsp chain space
2/3tog decrease: work the two/three sts together
B/FLO back/front loop only (of head of st or ch)
Inc/dec’d increased/decreased
Crochet Pattern Notes
Unless otherwise stated beginning/turning chains do not count as a stitch.
This pattern uses UK terminology and a US terminology version is also available. Please be sure you are using a copy in your preferred terminology. I recommend that you read through the pattern before starting.
The hanging loops for the ornaments worked during the edging as “5 ch, slst in FLO of last dc worked” can be omitted if using one of the other fastening options from the “Make it your Own” section
Crochet working method
Most ornaments are crocheted flat, back and forth with paired side incs and decs for shaping. An edging is added for a smooth, firm, non-curling finish and embroidered details, button and pipe cleaner embellishments are added afterwards. The candy cane is made as crocheted cord with a pipe cleaner inside to help shape it.
The garland is made of three strands of crocheted cord and the ornaments can be stitched on (or given ribbon ties enabling them to be fastened on).