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Paper Chain Decoration Knitting Pattern

There’s something wonderfully soothing about the rhythm of these little knitted links.

Each one is quick to make, offering a moment of calm, a mindful pause, or a comforting breath of creativity in your day. There’s no pressure to complete anything big or time-consuming. Your chain can grow slowly, one peaceful moment at a time.

This is a beautiful project for using up leftover yarn, especially those small scraps that hold memories of other knits, people, and places. As your chain grows, it becomes a gentle reminder of the stitches that have come before it, and the stories woven into it through your yarn.

This free Paper Chain Decoration knitting pattern is a simple, joyful make. It's an invitation to bring colour, memories, and a little handmade magic into your space.

Yarn requirements

Approx 8 - 10m DK yarn per link.

This is the perfect project to use up lots of different scraps of yarn. Each chain link (aka knitted strip) uses less than 10 meters of DK yarn.

If you'd like to buy new yarn for this project, the recommended yarn is West Yorkshire Spinners Colour Lab DK in the Technicolour colourway. This colourway is self-striping and will result in 2-colour strips as seen in the photo.

Other multi-coloured options in this yarn include Tutti Frutti, Purple Rain and Frosty Blues all of which would also work wonderfully.

Needles & Notions

4mm needles

Circulars, straights or DPNs are all options here, depending on how you choose to knit the strips.

You have a choice of working the strips flat and seaming or knitting in the round and connecting as you go along.

4mm (or larger) crochet hook

This will be used for the cast on only.

Darning needle

To weave in all those ends.

Crochet Chain Cast On

Although at first glance these little strips look like they have no special stitches, for best results I recommend using the crochet chain method for your cast on.

This method is often used when a provisional cast on is needed but it doesn't have to be provisional and it will give a beautiful cast on edge that will perfectly match the cast off as you can see in the photo below:

If you've never tried this method before, it can be a little fiddly to get started but it's well worth the effort. There are lots of great tutorials online. I really liked this step by step photo guide:

https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/community/the-crochet-cast-on/

Directions to knit flat

Using the crochet chain method cast on 35 stitches.

Knit 12 rows

Cast off.

Sew the two short ends together.

Weave in the ends

Note: For the second and subsequent links, remember to loop your new strip around the last link in the chain before sewing together.

Directions to knit in the round

Using the crochet chain method cast on 35 stitches and join to work in the round ensuring that the chain edge is facing towards you and taking case not to twist your stitches.

Round 1 - Knit all stitches

Round 2 - Purl all stitches

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 five more times, you will have worked a total of 12 rounds.

Cast off

Note: For the second and subsequent links, remember to loop the last link in the chain onto your left needle before joining to work in the round, as shown in the photo below.

Options/Variations

Create a chain of memories by using leftover yarn from past projects.

Choose colours that reflect your mood or the season.

Use this project as a mindful practice: one link per day, or whenever you need a moment to ground yourself.

If you have lots of yarn scraps in say 4 ply or aran, you could follow the directions about to create a mini or large version of the chains.

Hold two strands of sock yarn together to create a marled effect.

Or experiment with different stitch counts and row numbers to get the effect you like best.

🧶 Mindful Knitting Note

This is a wonderfully forgiving project, perfect for dipping in and out of whenever you need a moment of calm. There is no right or wrong way for your chain to grow. Whether you make one link or many, each one is enough.

Settle into the simple rhythm of these rows and let them be a soothing addition to your day rather than another task to complete. However and whenever you knit these little links, let them bring you a sense of comfort, creativity, and calm.

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