Fun
Stop, Drop, and Knit a Holiday Banner
My fascination for Rüdiger Schlömer’s knittable typeface, Knit Hello, continues.
In fact, he’s egging me on.
While I was still all aglow from my successful handknit placecard adventure at Thanksgiving, and just starting to think of the possibilities for Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year, Rüdiger went and published this twinkly little thing:
It’s called Knit Hello Season’s Greetings.
This wee pattern charts out Merry Xmas and Happy 2026, ready-to-knit for all your tree garland, package labeling, and general handknit holiday decor needs.
If you want to make up your own banner messages, I recommend downloading the Knit Hello Specimanual, an ebook that is now available in the MDK Shop here.
. External Link. Opens in new win. Tip: To get the ebook, choose any country from the drop-down menu; Switzerland is not currently shipping to the US, but it doesn’t matter for the ebook.
From the Specimanual, you can knit all the letters, numbers, symbols, and accent marks—it’s a proper font so you can knit the dictionary if you want. The Specimanual also has detailed instructions on how to make the incredibly tidy edging, so that’s my pick!
Letter math: at 3-5 minutes per letter or number (my rate of knitting while watching Unforgotten or The American Revolution or sitting in a team Zoom listening to chit chat and gibble gabble), each of these banners will take 27-35 minutes. No kidding—these are fast, even if you’re slow. Quick gift mode: activated!
The garland that is dancing in my head right now involves the phrase A Merry Little Klatchmas, for a Providence pal party coming up later this month. The klatch in question has always been very pro-knitting, and I’m tickled to think that the garland will come out every year for their annual celebration of the season.
My first banner word taught me that I need to dial up the contrast.
I’m going to knit the words separately and use i-cord to string them together with candy canes and such, in folkloric fashion. The official klatch vibe is kitsch, so I do not rule out jingle bells, trees, and/or gingerbread people. Note to Ann: batten down your gnomes when I come to town—they are perfect garland garnishes.
My Niece dog Georgie thinks the names of her beloveds are festive enough by themselves.
If time runs short, I can knit the letters but pick up the other bits at Paper Source or Michaels. As Ina Garten says, store bought is fine!
It’s Party time—Join us in Nashville!
I’m heading to Nashville on December 14 for the MDK Holiday Party at Atlas, and you can bet your reindeer I’ll be knitting festive words and phrases while I’m there. We’ll have a table set up for Knit Hello fun and stocked with yarn, just bring needles that will work with DK or worsted-weight yarns. (Bonus: this is an excellent chance to get to know Jane and Atlas, because those are the yarns we’ll be using.)
Here are the details:
What: Join us for a festive holiday hangout at MDK World Headquarters. Friends, shopping, snacks. No charge! If you want to meet some dedicated local knitters, this is a great opportunity!
And of course, sitting and knitting—bring your current project and get ready to share with the table.
When: Sunday, December 14, from noon until 5 p.m.
Where: 441 Atlas Drive, Nashville, TN 37211
Who: You! And us. Kay, Ann, and Team MDK will be available to give advice, recommendations, and laughs.
Let us know you’re coming here.
Plus: There’s a Zoom Party!
Can’t make it in person on the 14th? We got you! MDK’s virtual events coordinator Ashe Cain will be on hand and on Zoom, so you can join us virtually from 2-3:30 Eastern time.
This will be a jolly knit-together, not a formal class or presentation.
This Zoom will not be recorded—we will be in breakout rooms for some of the time, the better to chat and help each other. Old-school real-time fun!
What do you need to do to join in via Zoom?
—RSVP using this form, and we’ll email you a reminder with the Zoom link a couple of days before the event.
If you want to knit letters with us (optional):
Download Knit Hello Seasons Greetings OR the Knit Hello Specimanual so you’ll have the letters in front of you; and
—Gather up small amounts of DK or worsted-weight yarns and needles appropriate for the yarn. Things to think about: what colors you like and whether you want a consistent background color, in which case you will want to have more of that color. Don’t think about it too much—this is just for the fun of learning a thing that is easy to learn, and to hang out with each other.
The Zoom is free and open to all and we have a not-hidden agenda: to show you how fun our MDK Society Zooms and hangouts are, in hopes of getting you to join the MDK Society!
Hope to see you on December 14—in person or on Zoom.
Too stinkin’ cute!!
Thanks for the reminder to do this! I was always enamored of the alphabet blanket you made and now I am putting on the actual list to make in 2026… after I download the ebook that is to make these adorable little messages!
This is a lot less knitting than the ABC blanket! The letters are smaller so you can do more words, and I always prefer more words lol.
Genius! This year’s ornament gifts are now taken care of and the project can be easily (I’m assuming) added to my travel knitting. Between driving to Tulsa and then to Denver, I will need to knit 11. I’m thinking that is doable. Now to gather up the yarn and add it to the packing pile. Thanks, Kay! (Oh, yes, and to download the pattern.)
Do you need to be using a computer (or iPhone)?
You can also print from Android phones, too.
To order the ebook? Yes.
I ordered a Knit Hello Speciemanual after your last post, but it is not 32 pages. Is this a new edition?
Same here. It’s only 16 or 17 pages and does not even include the full alphabet charted – it’s work figuring out all the letters.
The ebook is formatted to show 2 of the book’s pages per spread, so it is 32 pages.
The ebook truly does give all the instruction needed. Start with “How to Knit Hello,” follow the “knitting instructions,” and after you’ve done that you will be able to knit any letters, words, or symbols you like.
How is the US listed in the country list??
It’s not due to Swiss regulation right now, so choose another country. It works!
I still can’t order the ebook even when I choose another country. It wants a complete address.
ok, finally got it to work. My efforts the other day were fruitless. Let the letter knitting commence!
I will not be there until around 2:30 to 3pm because of work but I’m planning on it and am looking forward to it.
Thanks Kay for pointing out more knitting typeface. I’m looking forward to trying this out. I’m thinking of making some garlands with favorite Christmas carol lyrics.
Here is my attempt to answer some questions above me:
1. I believe pp. 2-31 are displayed as double-spreads which is confusing since the pdf identifies them as single pages.
2. The full character set is on p. 12 (or pp. 22-23), and yes, it looks like it will require some extrapolation to figure out where the slip stitches should go.
3. I left the country at Switzerland and filled in my US street address when I ordered.
What does CH8 mean costwise? I already own his book Typographic Knitting. Will I gain anything (maybe banner pattern info) by ordering the ebook?
Thanks!
What did I do wrong? I ordered the manual, PayPal charged me $10.43 (which is fine; well worth the price); I received a receipt, but cannot download the manual as I am told that my email is wrong. It’s the only mail I’ve used for several decades. I left Switzerland as my country. Help, please.
Hi,
Planning to join from the UK
But I may not be there for the whole time, as it is 7pm UK time, and that is usually family dinner time here
See y’all then
I’ love to knit and crochet. I make things for my family. I will love to start this as a business. I am trying to figure out how to I do crochet hats for the homeless people and giving out for free. I just learned how to knit mittens and gloves for my kids and me.
Problem solved by the creator of the letters. Thank you, Rudiger. Definitely my error, as usual.
Does the Ravelry “Knit Hello Seasons Greetings” option have less information that the ebook you’re selling?
Yes, the Specimanual is the better choice because you get all the letters and symbols, numbers, etc.
Hi,
Planning to join from the UK
But I may not be there for the whole time, as it is 7pm UK time, and that is usually family dinner time here
See y’all then