How to knit an acorn

Ten years ago, I knitted a handful of acorns. The process frustrated me. To knit an acorn really shouldn’t have been such a trial. For goodness sake, the shape is not that complicated. It’s true, the acorn part was straightforward, but somehow the perfect cup eluded me. It needed a bit of overhang. Too much it becomes a mushroom. Too little and you have a two tone egg. Eventually, I achieved a near perfect one, then I retired at the top. I put the project to one side. Totally forgetting to write down the steps of the final version.

Roll on to the present moment and here I am knitting another. This time prompted by a lovely comment. (Merci, Rolande). Fortunately during the in between years, I have played around with mini knits and learnt a bit more. This time the acorn and its cup worked straight away.

Even better, I noted down the steps, this time.

Details

I used 4 ply wool this time with 2.75mm needles. By swapping the yarn and needles, I could make a bigger acorn. Almost tempted to try using toothpicks and lightweight yarn to make a miniature version too. That would be cute.

So would googly eyes, but I’m forcing myself to be sensible and resist the temptation.

Right. Time to share the instructions

How to knit an acorn

Yarn: small amount of 4ply King Cole Merino blend – Grass
and 4 ply Drops Flora – Black

Needles: 2.75mm (US 2) needles

Acorn

1. Cast on 28 stitches using the green yarn
2. Starting with a knit row, complete 6 rows of stocking stitch (knit one row, purl the next, repeat)
3. Next row. (Knit 2 together, then knit 5 stitches). Repeat to end of row (24 stitches left)
4. Purl next row.
5. Next row. (Knit 2 together, then knit 4 stitches). Repeat to end of row (20 stitches left)
6. Purl next row.
7. Next row. (Knit 2 together, then knit 3 stitches). Repeat to end of the row (16 stitches left)
8. Cut yarn, leaving a 10 cm (4 inch) tail attached to your knitting. Using a sewing needle, thread thread the tail through the 16 stitches and remove the knitting needle. Gather the end of the knitting together by pulling the end of the tail and fasten the thread off with a couple of stitches on the spot.
9. Stuff the acorn with toy filler.

Cup

10. Cast on 28 stitches using the black yarn.
11. Next row. (Knit 1, Knit 1 into front and then back of next stitch). Repeat to end. (42 stitches)
12. Knit 4 rows.
13. Next row. (Knit 2 together). Repeat to end of row. (21 stitches)
14. Next row. (Knit 2 together, Knit 1). Repeat to end of row. (14 stitches left)
15. Knit 2 rows.
16. Cut off yarn, thread yarn through the 14 stitches and pull tight to draw the top of the cup in. Fasten off with a couple of stitches on the spot.
17. Add a little toy filling to the cup.

(new acorn among my original first attempts at knitting acorns)

To assemble acorn

18. Sew the cast on stitches of the acorn to the cast on stitches of the cup.
19. (optional) Using the black thread, sew a loop at the cup. To squash down the cup, sew it down through the acorn and up again. Pull slightly and tie the yarn together at the point it emerges from the cup.

(How did those get there? Ok. I couldn’t resist.)

Acorn is now ready to hang up as part of a garland.

Let me know if you have any questions or if you make an acorn or two.