purlJam

# Knitted Christmas Bauble "2026" with Star Motif

A festive hand-knitted bauble worked seamlessly in the round, featuring the year **2026** in stranded colourwork with a small **star** nestled between the "2" and the "6". A lovely keepsake ornament for your tree, or a thoughtful handmade gift.

**Skill level:** Intermediate (requires comfort with DPNs/magic loop, increases, decreases and basic two-colour stranded knitting)

---

## Finished Measurements

- **Diameter:** approx. 7 cm (2¾ in)
- **Circumference at equator:** approx. 22 cm (8¾ in)
- **Height (excluding hanging loop):** approx. 7 cm (2¾ in)
- **Hanging loop:** approx. 5 cm (2 in)

---

## Materials

- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (Aran) wool or wool-blend, in two contrasting colours:
  - **MC (Main Colour):** approx. 15 g — suggested: deep red, forest green, or midnight blue
  - **CC (Contrast Colour):** approx. 8 g — suggested: cream, gold, or silver-grey
- **Needles:** 3.5 mm DPNs (set of 4 or 5) or one long circular for magic loop — **one to two sizes smaller** than the yarn label recommends, to produce a firm fabric that hides the stuffing
- **Notions:**
  - Polyester fibrefill stuffing — approx. 8–10 g
  - Tapestry needle
  - Stitch marker (optional, to mark beginning of round)
  - Small piece of scrap yarn or ribbon for hanging (optional, in addition to the knitted i-cord loop)

---

## Tension (Gauge)

**22 sts × 30 rounds = 10 cm (4 in)** in stocking stitch in the round, worked tightly on 3.5 mm needles after light blocking.

> **Important:** A tight, even fabric matters more than hitting exact tension. The stuffing must not show through. Adjust needle size down if your fabric looks loose or open.

---

## Abbreviations (UK terms)

- **k** – knit
- **p** – purl
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **kfb** – knit into front and back of stitch (1 st increased)
- **k2tog** – knit 2 stitches together (1 st decreased)
- **ssk** – slip, slip, knit slipped sts together (1 st decreased)
- **rnd(s)** – round(s)
- **MC / CC** – main colour / contrast colour
- **st st** – stocking stitch (knit every round when worked in the round)

---

## Construction Notes

The bauble is worked **bottom-up in the round** as a single seamless sphere:

1. Cast on a small number of stitches at the base and join in the round.
2. Increase rapidly to the equator (maximum circumference).
3. Work a straight colourwork band featuring the **2026 + star** chart.
4. Decrease symmetrically to mirror the bottom.
5. Stuff firmly before the final decreases.
6. Cinch the top closed and add a knitted i-cord hanging loop.

Stitch counts at key points:
**Cast on 8 → 16 → 24 → 32 → 40 → 50 sts** (equator) → chart band → **50 → 40 → 32 → 24 → 16 → 8 → cinch**.

---

## Attached Stitch Chart

A separate **colourwork chart panel** is attached to this pattern showing the **"2 – 0 – 2 – ★ – 6"** motif. **Please refer to the attached chart for the visual grid; it is not reproduced here.**

- **Placement in the pattern:** the chart is worked across **Rounds 21–30** of the bauble (the straight equator section), over all **50 sts** of the round.
- **How to read the chart:**
  - The chart is **10 rows tall × 50 stitches wide**.
  - Because the bauble is worked in the round, read **every row from right to left**, starting at the **bottom right** corner and working upwards.
  - Each square represents **one stitch**: filled squares = **CC (contrast colour)**, empty squares = **MC (main colour)**.
  - The chart contains five motif blocks of 10 sts each, in this order around the bauble: **"2", "0", "2", ★ (star), "6"**, with a single MC "spacer" stitch between each character built into the 10-st block.
- **Colour / yarn management:**
  - Carry the unused colour loosely across the back (wrong side / inside of bauble). Floats longer than **5 sts** should be caught/woven behind a working stitch.
  - Keep MC dominant (held below/left) and CC dominant where lettering needs sharp edges — choose one strategy and stay consistent for all 10 rounds.
  - Stranded rounds tend to pull in: go up half a needle size for the chart rounds only if your colourwork tension is tight, then return to the main needle size for the decreases.
- **Stitch-count integration:** the chart is exactly **50 sts wide**, matching the 50 sts on the needles at the equator — no adjustment maths required. Begin Round 21 at your beginning-of-round marker; the first stitch of the chart aligns with the first stitch of the round.

---

## Pattern Instructions

### Base (worked in MC)

Using MC and 3.5 mm DPNs, cast on **8 sts**. Divide evenly over 3 or 4 needles and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Place marker for beginning of round.

- **Rnd 1:** k all sts. *(8 sts)*
- **Rnd 2:** [kfb] to end. *(16 sts)*
- **Rnd 3:** k all sts.
- **Rnd 4:** [kfb, k1] to end. *(24 sts)*
- **Rnd 5:** k all sts.
- **Rnd 6:** [kfb, k2] to end. *(32 sts)*
- **Rnd 7:** k all sts.
- **Rnd 8:** [kfb, k3] to end. *(40 sts)*
- **Rnd 9:** k all sts.
- **Rnd 10:** [kfb, k3] 10 times. *(50 sts)*

**Check:** 50 sts on needles. ✓

### Lower plain section (MC)

- **Rnds 11–20:** k all sts in MC. *(50 sts, 10 rnds)*

### Colourwork band — "2 0 2 ★ 6"

Join CC, leaving a 20 cm tail for weaving in.

- **Rnds 21–30:** work all 50 sts of each round following the **attached colourwork chart**, reading each row from right to left, from the bottom up. *(50 sts)*

At the end of Rnd 30, cut CC leaving a 15 cm tail to weave in. Continue in MC only.

### Upper plain section (MC)

- **Rnds 31–35:** k all sts. *(50 sts, 5 rnds)*

### Top decreases (MC)

- **Rnd 36:** [k3, k2tog] 10 times. *(40 sts)*
- **Rnd 37:** k all sts.
- **Rnd 38:** [k2, k2tog] 10 times. *(30 sts)*

> **Stuff now:** Begin firmly stuffing the bauble with polyester fibrefill through the top opening. Work in small handfuls and shape gently into a round sphere. Add more stuffing as you continue decreasing.

- **Rnd 39:** k1, [k2tog, k1] to last 2 sts, k2tog. *(20 sts)*

  *(Check: 30 sts − 10 decreases = 20 sts ✓)*

- **Rnd 40:** [k2tog] to end. *(10 sts)*

Top up stuffing to a firm, round shape.

- **Rnd 41:** [k2tog] 5 times. *(5 sts)*

### Hanging i-cord loop

Slip all 5 remaining sts onto one DPN. Work an **i-cord** as follows:

- **I-cord rows:** *Do not turn.* Slide sts to the right end of the needle, bring yarn firmly across the back, and k5. Repeat for **14 rows** (approx. 5 cm / 2 in), or to desired loop length.

Cut yarn leaving a 25 cm tail. Thread tail onto tapestry needle, draw through all 5 sts and pull tight to close the i-cord tip.

---

## Finishing

1. **Form the hanging loop:** Bend the i-cord into a loop and stitch the closed end securely to the top of the bauble where the i-cord began, forming a sturdy loop for hanging. Pass the needle through the bauble centre once or twice to anchor.
2. **Close the cast-on base:** Thread the cast-on tail onto a tapestry needle. Run it through the 8 cast-on sts and pull tight to close any small gap at the bottom. Pass the needle up through the centre of the bauble and out near the top, pull gently to give the bauble a slight "pinched" shape if desired, then trim.
3. **Weave in ends:** Weave in all MC and CC ends **on the inside** of the bauble, burying them into the stuffing so they cannot work loose.
4. **Block lightly (optional):** Mist with water and shape gently with your hands to even out the colourwork and round the sphere. Allow to dry fully before hanging.

---

## Tips & Troubleshooting

- **Puckering in the chart band?** Your floats are too tight. On the next attempt, spread the stitches out on the right needle before bringing the new colour across, and consider using a needle one size larger for Rnds 21–30 only.
- **Numbers look distorted?** Stuffing is too firm or unevenly distributed. Massage the bauble gently to redistribute.
- **Stuffing visible through fabric?** Tension is too loose — go down a needle size and re-knit, or add a layer of matching-colour felt inside before final closure.
- **Want a set?** Knit a coordinating bauble in each colourway: red/cream, green/gold, navy/silver. Change CC each year by re-charting the date — the 50-stitch grid accommodates any four digits plus one small central motif at 10 sts each.

---

**Enjoy your handmade 2026 keepsake bauble — happy knitting and happy holidays!** 🎄