How to Knit a Spot
Knitted Circle Size – variable from 2.5cm to 6cm diameter
What you will need…
Total time – variable according to size, each knitted circle from 5 Minutes to 20 minutes
3.25mm knitting needles (UK 10, US 3)
Double knitting yarn – Colours according to preference. I have used red, yellow and blue.
Sewing up needle
Selection of coloured pins for deciding on the placement
Scissors
No toy filling/stuffing is required, unless you wish to place a small amount underneath to leave them slightly raised.
Before You Start…
Abbreviations
K = Knit P = Purl St = Stitch Sts = Stitches
Cast On – I use the thumb method.
G-st = Garter stitch. Every row knit (no purl stitches).
St-st = stocking stitch. Alternating a row of knit stitches (right side), with a row of purl stitches (wrong side).
K2tog = Decrease by knitting two stitches together, making one stitch from two.
Inc = Increase – by knitting into the front and the back of the same stitch, to make two stitches out of one.
Cast off – K wise or P wise according to pattern. US – bind off.
TOP TIPS
Your knitted circles can be the traditional primary colours, as I’ve used here for the children in need theme, but depending on your use for them, adjust the colour to match your style or your room. Depending on your purpose, when sewing your circles into place, you may also wish to place a small amount underneath them, to leave them slightly raised (see Make it Different below).
How to Make it…
These patterns are for individual knitted spots or knitted circles of varying sizes, and show both garter-stitch style and stocking-stitch style – also see Make it Different below to help decide which may be the best option for you. All pieces have loose ends tied neatly onto the rear of the circle, and depending on your purpose, they are then sewn with simple cotton thread onto the surface of your desired item, such as a t-shirt, bag or cushion, with or without a small amount of stuffing.
Small Garter-Stitch Circles
Make 1 or several as required
Time – Total 5 Minutes each Knitted Circle
Piece Size – 2.5 cm diameter
Needles 3.25 mm
Yarn As per preference
Cast on 3sts
Next row K
Inc K-wise into every stitch (6sts)
G-st 5 rows
Next row K2tog to end (3sts)
Cast off
Medium Garter-Stitch Circles
Make 1 or several as required
Time – Total 10 Minutes each Knitted Circle
Piece Size – 3.5 cm diameter
Needles 3.25 mm
Yarn As per preference
Cast on 2sts
Inc K-wise into every stitch (4sts)
K 1 row
Inc K-wise into every stitch (8sts)
G-st 7 rows
Next row K2tog to end (4sts)
K 1 row
Next row K2tog to end (2sts)
K2tog and fasten off
Large Garter-Stitch Circles
Make 1 or several as required
Time – Total 15 Minutes each Knitted Circle
Piece Size – 5.5 cm diameter
Needles 3.25 mm
Yarn As per preference
Cast on 4sts
Next row K
Inc K-wise into every stitch (8sts)
Continue in g-st a further 4 rows, Inc Kwise into the first stitch of all rows (12sts)
G-st a further 10 rows
Continue in G-st a further 4 rows, decreasing by K2tog at the start of every row (8sts)
Next row K2tog to end (4sts)
Cast off
Stocking-Stitch Style…
Small Stocking-Stitch Circles
Make 1 or several as required
Time – Total 5 Minutes each Knitted Circle
Piece Size – 2.5 cm diameter
Needles 3.25 mm
Yarn As per preference
Cast on 3sts
P1 row
Inc Kwise into every stitch (6sts)
Beginning with a P row st-st 4 rows
Next row P2tog to end (3sts)
Cast off
Medium Stocking-Stitch Circles
Make 1 or several as required
Time – Total 10 Minutes each Knitted Circle
Piece Size – 3 cm diameter
Needles 3.25 mm
Yarn As per preference
Cast on 2sts
Inc Kwise into both sts (4sts)
P 1 row
Inc Kwise into every stitch (8sts)
Beginning with a P row st-st 5 rows
Next row K2tog to end (4sts)
P 1 row
Next row K2tog to end (2sts)
P2tog and fasten off
Large Stocking-Stitch Circles
Make 1 or several as required
Time – Total 15 Minutes each Knitted Circle
Piece Size – 4.5 cm diameter
Needles 3.25 mm
Yarn As per preference
Cast on 4 sts
Inc Knit-wise into every stitch (8sts)
Next row P
Continue in st-st a further 4 rows, Inc Kwise into the first and last stitch of all K rows (12sts)
St-st a further 2 rows
Continue in st-st a further 4 rows, decreasing by K2tog at the start and end of all K rows (8sts)
K2tog to end (4sts)
Cast off Pwise
Extra Large Stocking-Stitch Circles
Make 1 or several as required
Time – Total 20 Minutes each Knitted Circle
Piece Size – 6 cm diameter
Needles 3.25 mm
Yarn As per preference
Cast on 4sts
Inc Knit-wise into every stitch (8sts)
Next row P
Continue in st-st a further 6 rows, Inc Kwise into the first and last stitch of all K rows (14sts)
St-st a further 4 rows
Continue in st-st a further 6 rows, decrease Kwise (K2tog) at the start and end of all K rows (8sts)
K2tog to end (4sts)
Cast off Pwise
Piece it Together…
Sewing-up time – Variable, approx. 5 Minutes per circle
Fasten off Loose Ends – Tie off the two loose ends of each circle, and thread carefully through a few stitches on the rear so that they don’t ping out and show themselves from the front.
Pinning into Place – Place your completed circles on the surface you wish to cover, such as a t-shirt for children in need. Once happy with positioning sew into place with some simple cotton thread. Fasten off the loose ends. Once all your circles are sewn on, ensure all pins are removed.
Make it Different…
Your knitted circles can be the traditional primary colours, as I’ve used here for the children in need theme, but depending on your use for them, adjust the colour to match your style or your room. Depending on your purpose, when sewing your circles into place, you may also wish to place a small amount underneath them, to leave them slightly raised. These patterns show garter-stitch style and stocking-stitch style – when choosing which, consider that the garter-stitch tends to lie flatter. Garter-stitch also produces a larger circle for the equivalent effort, so more time-efficient. Choose a mixture of sizes to keep things interesting, or just go for the fast-track route by just making the larger knitted circles – more time efficient and fewer to sew on!
Behind the Scenes!
These patterns are all made up as I go along, learning from mistakes along the way. Every time I create a new pattern, I record it in the Updates part of this site (effectively my blog…) There is a story behind each creation, and this can help give you some more ideas and encouragement. See the Update info….
All done?
Feel free to share your successes or any other tips or suggestions by contacting me. If it’s all gone swimmingly and you’re ready for your next challenge, have a look at what to try next! My next pattern!