Mythos Wall Hanging Tutorial

Easy step by step photo-tutorial for a round knitted wreath

Jun 21, 2023

Humans have always sought to understand the origins of the universe. Creation myths are nearly universal, offering profound insight into how we, as a species, make sense of existence.

Lately, I’ve been reading Mythos by the brilliant Stephen Fry — a wise, inspired, and subversively funny retelling of the classic Greek myths.

According to the Greeks, the universe didn’t begin with a bang or an explosion, but with CHAOS — a fascinating concept that frames creation not as destruction, but as pure potential.

As I read, I kept returning to the idea of life’s circularity — how everything is connected, how beginnings and endings blur into one another. That idea deeply inspired this design: a representation of the life cycle, embodied in the form of a round wreath.

I set out to create a contemporary knitted wreath — a textured wall hanging to be enjoyed year-round, celebrating the quiet poetry of beginnings, endings, and everything in between.

Construction Notes

I first knitted a round doily, holding two strands of Aran yarn together. After reaching the desired size, I placed the live stitches on waste yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing. Using a tapestry needle, I wove the piece onto the hoop frame. To finish it off, I removed the waste yarn and applied the fringe. That’s it! Super easy and fun.

You can use whichever method for circular knitting you prefer: double-pointed needles, two circular needles, or a long circular needle for magic loop (my favorite). The pattern starts with just 8 stitches, which can make the first round a bit tricky, but it gets easier quickly, I promise!

I’m suggesting a wreath with a 9-inch (23 cm) diameter, but the pattern is easy to resize. Just keep in mind that if you use a larger hoop, you’ll need more yarn to complete the project.

About the yarn: I bought this 100% llama yarn during a visit to Argentina, in the beautiful city of Colón. It’s a coarse and rustic yarn, not great to work with directly from the skein, but perfect for decorative projects. The yarn isn’t widely available (unless you’re in Argentina), but there are plenty of good alternatives out there.

Look for wool, alpaca, or blends of the two in Aran weight. Acrylic will work as well, though you’ll lose some of the rustic charm seen in the sample. You’ll be holding two strands together while knitting, but you can also opt for a super bulky yarn and use just one strand.

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Pattern Starts Here

You’ll need:

One bamboo craft hoop measuring 9 inches (23 cm) in diameter
Wool or alpaca yarn:
Aran weight – approximately 300 yards (280 meters), held double
OR
Super bulky weight – approximately 150 yards (140 meters), held single
(See yarn recommendations above)
Needles: US 10 (6.5 mm) – either double-pointed needles or a long circular for magic loop
Notions: tapestry needle, scissors, and waste yarn
Gauge is not important for this project.

Abbreviations:

K: knit

PM: place marker

SM: slip marker

YO: yarn over

Step by Step Tutorial

First: Prepare the doily

If working with Aran weight yarn, hold two strands of yarn together throughout the piece.

Cast on 8 stitches and join to work in the round.

Round 1: *Knit 1, YO; rep from * to end — 8 stitches increased.

Total of 16 stitches.

Rounds 2, 3 & 4: Knit to end.

Round 5: *PM, (K1, YO) twice; rep from * 7 times more — 16 stitches increased.

Total of 32 stitches.

Rounds 6, 7 & 8: Knit to end.

Round 9: *SM, K1, YO, knit to next marker, YO; rep from * 7 times more — 16 stitches

increased.

Total of 48 stitches.

Repeat rounds 6 to 9 for the pattern, increasing 16 stitches after each round 9.

You should work until you get a doily slightly smaller than the hoop size, stoping after rounds 6, 7, or 8.

Place all stitches on waste yarn. Cut yarn leaving a long tail (length approximately 3 times the circumference of the hoop). You should have something like the picture below:

Step 2: Attach the Doily to the Hoop

Thread the tail onto a large tapestry needle. Wrap the yarn around the hoop and insert the needle into the first held stitch. Continue wrapping the yarn around the hoop, threading it through each following stitch.

Don't tighten the wraps too much! Looser wraps will make it easier to spread the stitches evenly around the hoop.

When you've finished attaching your doily, secure the tail with a knot and remove the waste yarn.

Result:

Step 3: Embellishments

To create the tassels at the bottom of your wreath, cut ten strands of yarn, each about 15 inches (38 cm) long (you can always trim them later). Fold the strands in half.

Choose a spot to place your tassels. Thread the folded end down and under the hoop. Then, pull the two tails through the folded loop. Gently pull to tighten.

Repeat these steps to add more tassels until you’re happy with the look.