Brighten up your holiday decorating with this sweet candy-striped wreath! This is a perfect project to do if you are new to color-work, or just a little worried about your finishing skills – add to the holiday spirit with cellophane colored “sweets” made from the leftover yarn.

Skill Level: Beginner

Size: Diameter = 18”

Gauge: 10 sc and 10 rows = 4” [10 cm] in sc without blocking

Materials

Yarn: Universal Yarn Uptown DK (100% acrylic; 273 yards [250 meters]/100 grams): #101 White (MC, 1 skein), #106 Bittersweet (CC, 1 skein)
Hook: US size F/5 (3.75 mm) hook or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions: 18” wire floral wreath form, tapestry needle, 1 yard 2.25” wide white satin ribbon, clear cellophane sheets in clear and red, glue to attach sweets

Pattern Notes

Wreath is worked flat and on the bias, then stitched into place around the form.
There is no need to cut yarn after each color change – just float the yarn loosely up the side. It will be covered in the seam.

Pattern

Increase Section
With MC, ch 2.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook. Ch 1, turn.
Row 2: 3 sc in sc. Ch 1, turn. (3 sc)
Row 3: 2 sc in first sc, sc in next sc, 2 sc in last sc. Ch 1, turn. (5 sc)
Row 4: 2 sc in first sc, sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in last sc. Change to CC, ch 1, turn. (7 sc)
Row 5: 2 sc in first sc, sc across until 1 sc remains, 2 sc in last sc. Ch 1, turn. (9 sc)
Row 6: Rep Row 5, change to MC, ch 1, turn. (11 sc)
Rows 7-18: Rep Row 5, maintaining color pattern as established (4 rows MC alternating with 2 rows CC, changing to new color before ch 1, turn at end of last row in old color). (35 sc)

Work Even
Row 1: With MC, sc2tog, sc across until 1 sc remains, 2 sc in last sc. Ch 1, turn.
Row 2: 2 sc in first sc, sc across until 2 sc remain, sc2tog. Ch 1, turn.
Rep Rows 1-2 for pattern, maintaining color pattern as established (4 rows MC alternating with 2 rows CC, changing to new color before ch 1, turn at end of last row in old color) until work measures 56” along longest edge or length of outer circumference of wreath form, ending with 4 MC rows.

Decrease Section
Row 1: With CC, sc2tog, sc across until 2 sc remain, sc2tog. (33 sc)
Maintaining color pattern as established, rep Row 1 until 3 sc remain.
Last Row: Sc3tog. End off.

Finishing

Weave in all ends.
Do not block – the natural curl of the bias fabric helps it form neatly to the wreath form.
Sew short ends together, into a ring, being careful not to twist.
Wrap ring around wreath form.
Stitch long ends together at back of wreath.
Tie satin ribbon in a bow, covering seam; cut ends in a V-shape to avoid fraying.

Sweets

Wind leftover yarn into 1” balls, fastening the end with a tapestry needle so they don’t unwind.
Cut sheets of cellophane that are 6” wide x 4” tall.
Wrap each yarn ball in cellophane, twist ends like a hard candy wrapper.
Glue finished sweets into place as shown in photo or as desired.