Sometimes crochet designs come to me when I’m playing with my daughter. We got a book that teaches short ballet dances and The Sugar Plum fairy dance has pictures of this adorable little girl and her wand.
Autumn was finding anything that was even slightly wand shaped to dance with: a wooden spoon, vacuum tubes, outdoor sticks. I know that all of these things are perfect make believe wands and especially Autumn being on the spectrum it was exciting to see her do this. Autistic children can struggle with pretending objects are things other than what they actually are, we have worked on this a lot with Autumn over the years. I just knew she would LOVE a wand that looked like the one in the pictures and we could still practice a lot of imaginative play with it. I also really love making her things so…crochet to the rescue!
I set out to create a star wand as that’s what is in the pictures and after a couple tries got the shape the way I wanted it. A bit more experimenting with stuffing and attaching the form to the stick and I had a wand in no time! And I was right! Autumn loved the wand and we practiced our Sugar Plum Fairy dance over and over.
I thought a wand is such a great toy and as far as a crochet project this one hits all the boxes. Fast. Scrap busting. ADORABLE. I think lots of children would love a wand so I want to share the pattern with you!
What you’ll need:
- Approximately 20 yards of DK/light weight yarn
- E/3.5 mm hook or size needed to obtain gauge
- Scissors
- Small tapestry needle
- 3/8″X12″ dowel rod
- Glue gun and sticks
- Fiber Fill Stuffing
Pattern Info:
Gauge: First 3 rounds should have a diameter of 1.5 inches.
Gauge is important to your project so your finished piece will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. The hook size for the pattern is based on what I used, but gauge can vary from person to person and be affected by yarn. If it takes you fewer rounds to make 1.5”, try using a smaller size hook; if more rounds, try a larger size hook.
Notes:
- Beginning chains do not count as stitches, so DO NOT skip the first stitch.
- Star is created by crocheting two pieces and then crocheting them together.
- Pattern has all shapes in written instructions with a picture tutorial for assembly.
- Joins are made with a slip stitch to the first stitch.
- Stitches between the * * are all to be repeat number of times indicated total.
- Finished star is 3.5″ wide and 3.5″ tall, wand is 12.75″ long with stick handle.
Stitches and Abbreviations:
ch(s) – chain(s)
st(s) – stitch(es)
sl st – slip stitch
sc – single crochet
sc2tog – single crochet two together
rep – repeat
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
Pattern:
Make Two:
Rnd. 1: Working into a magic circle, ch 1, sc 8, join. (8)
Rnd. 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, join. (16)
Rnd. 3: Ch 1, sc first st, 2 sc in next, *sc, 2 sc* rep around until 2 sts remain, 2 sc last 2 sts, join. (25)
You will now create the star points:
Row 1: Ch 1, sc next 5 sts. (5)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc next, sc2tog. (3)
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc across. (3)
Row 4: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog over 1st & 2nd sts, sc2tog over the 2nd & 3rd sts. (2)
Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sc across. (2)
Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog. (1)
Row 7: Ch 1, turn, sl st in st, working down the side of the point, sc 4, sl st into 5th st of 1st row.
Row 8: Working into the last round, sc next 5 sts. (5)
Row 9: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc next, sc2tog. (3)
Row 10: Ch 1, turn, sc across. (3)
Row 11: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog over 1st & 2nd sts, sc2tog over the 2nd & 3rd sts. (2)
Row 12: Ch 1, turn, sc across. (2)
Row 13: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog. (1)
Row 14: Ch 1, turn, sl st in st, working down the side of the point, sc 4, sl st into 5th st of 1st row.
Repeat rows 8 to 14, 3 more times.
Fasten off.
Move onto assembly of your wand!
Assembly:
Finishing:
Take your tail you left and sew the hole shut around the stick.
Weave in ends.
Decorate your stick with ribbons or yarn. I like to tie it in a knot and then also glue it into place against the crocheted topper.
Enjoy your new wand!
Coming up is the Peppermint Wand! It will be on the blog 12/10 and then the Snowflake Wand will be next releasing on 12/12!
Can’t wait? You can get the whole collection in PDF format from my Etsy or Ravelry.
