i like lemons

These giant olives were inspired by the knit olives at the blog Mary Jane, Midge & Mink. While Mary Jane’s olives are to scale (and adorable!) and I continue to knit them for The Olive Plan 2008, I needed to do some stash busting, hence the gigantor size of these olives.Giant Olive

Do not reproduce this pattern elsewhere. This pattern is for personal use only. In other words, don’t try to make money off of it.

Materials
Size US 10.5 set of double pointed needles
Size US 10.5 straight needles
Lion Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in color Grass
Caron Simply Soft in color Autumn Red
Stitch marker
Material for stuffing (yarn scraps, batting, plastic grocery bags, etc.)
Yarn needle, for weaving in ends

Olive Pattern
Cast on 6 stitches

Round 1: knit as for I-cord. Equally divide stitches among 3 dpns to begin knitting in the round. Place marker at beginning of round
Round 2: *k1, kfb to increase; repeat from * (9sts)
Round 3: knit
Round 4: *k1, kfb to increase, k1; repeat from * (12sts)
Round 5: knit
Round 6: *k1, kfb to increase, k2; repeat from * (15sts)
Round 7: knit
Round 8: *k2, kfb to increase, k2; repeat from * (18sts)
Round 9: knit
Round 10: *k2, kfb to increase, k3; repeat from * (21sts)
Round 11: knit
Round 12: *k3, kfb to increase, k3; repeat from * (24sts)
Round 13: knit
Round 14: *k2, kfb to increase, k2, kfb to increase, k2; repeat from * (30sts)
Rounds 15-23: knit
Round 24: *k4, k2tog, k4; repeat from * (27sts)
Round 25: knit
Round 26: *k2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k2; repeat from * (21sts)
Round 27: bind off

Cut yarn leaving a 6-inch tail. Weave in ends, just enough to secure (leave excess ends – they can become part of the stuffing). Stuff olive with yarn scraps, batting, plastic grocery bags or whatever you like. Push, prod and mold stuffing to create an olive-y shape.

Pimento Pattern
Using straight needles, cast on 20 sts. Knit in flat stockinette for four inches; bind off. Tuck the flat swatch into the opening of the olive so that it covers the stuffing. Mold and shape olive again. Have a martini and admire your handiwork.

*****Giant Olive measures approximately 5.5-inches long and 12-inches in circumference at its widest part.One skein of the Thick & Quick (170grams/108 yards) should yield five olives. You don’t need much of the red yarn for the pimento, just enough to make a 4×4-inch swatch for each olive.

Pattern now available for download as a pdf file.

I’ve come up with an idea that is quite simple in its basis, but which I am hoping will help keep me optimistic as I begin the journey into this year.

I intend to knit at least one olive every week this year. Why olives? Well, olive trees/branches/fruit symbolize peace, prosperity and love (”olive you”). By the end of the year I should have a jar full goodness. Ok, ok. So I also need to use up some yarn, but with each olive I knit I’ll be reminded of the things I wish for myself and the people I care about.

The small olives are knit from the pattern from Mary Jane, Midge & Mink, with a couple of minor changes to suit the worsted weight yarn I’m using (knit on sz. 5s and adding an extra knit round before decreasing). I reworked the pattern to make the gigantor olives. I’ll write up the instructions if any interest is expressed (pattern now available).

I think some black olives will be knit to represent naughty and mischievous wishes. The giant olives will be for the most important and biggest wishes. I’m curious to see how full the big jar (which once held real olives) will get by the end of this year.

More pictures at Flickr

(Originally posted on January 5, 2008)