for a folky princess

Years ago Interweave Knits printed a beautiful photo of two small children wearing knitted crowns.  I cut the pattern out (it was my magazine) and put it in a folder of things I wanted to make one day.

I lost the folder and thus, I thought, the opportunity to knit a crown, such a shame - they were so very sweet - very Lion, Witch and Wardobish.  Then, when I snuggled into bed the other night with my new knitted trims book, I realised, I had all the information I needed to make up my own knitted crowns.  Take an insert, mix it in with a lace and voila!  A crown.

With some pretty reddy-pink Paton’s Inca lying around, I knitted it up.  And ripped it out three or four times.  The insert - which was labelled easy (as opposed to the lace which was labelled intermediate) was doggedly difficult to commit to memory and fingers - even with the instructions laid out before me.  And it involved so many tricksy steps that it was impossible to undo just one row - so rip - out it all had to come, over and over.  Finally, I found my groove - and the crown knitted up so very pleasurably.  I LOVE knitting lace.  Love it.  Perhaps I was one of those French nuns in a former life, who spent her days knitting cobwebby fine lace for the dowries of wealthy, noble daughters.

So after a few scant hours I had this - and didn’t the strippiness of the wool really lend itself to the curve of the cinquefoil lace (which, after a bit of very primitive research, I know to mean - has five holes - or something like that) and the traditional insert provides a lovely stable band.

Of course, a crown needs jewels - of the Lion, Witch and Wardrobish variety - so Abby and I paid a visit to an amazing local store - the Bead Trimming and Craft Co in Merivale Street, South Brisbane.  It was so packed to the rafters with thousands of beads, Abby suggested we go somewhere smaller so it wouldn’t be so difficult to find what we liked!  We mused and “tried out” for over an hour before settling on some freshwater pearls (I always think they look like baby’s teeth - yellow ones perhaps being the teeth of baby goblins), 4 rose quartz tear drops and a resin flower - Abby was adamant it had to have a centrepiece.

It was tricky finding “jewels” that stood against the rich red background.  I’ll keep that in mind next time - I’ll try something softer.

I added a fabric inner band and joined the two knitted ends with a small encased piece of elastic - the crown will fit princesses of 3 - 5 years.  I just need to find one that would like to try it on for me!  Abby refuses to wear it - she says red’s not her colour and besides, it’s a wee bit small.  She’s waiting for a soft blue crown and I bet she wears it!

I have a lovely soft purple tweed by Debbie Bliss sitting on the table - I think I may get out that book and make another - a sprite crown - with leaves.  Mmmmm …..

Wishing you moments of romantic magic in your day :-)