Free Jewelry Knitting Pattern for High Tea Collar Necklace

An avid knitter for over 10 years, Donna enjoys sharing her free patterns and knitting experience with other fiber fans and yarn lovers.

Knit a Unique Collar Necklace

This versatile necklace can be worn with either the button fastening in the back as a necklace or in the front for more of a collar look. The necklace in the photos is about 27” long. You can add or omit repeats of the pattern to customize the length.

I used DK weight yarn for this project, but I think it would also be pretty in a sock weight (adjust needle size as needed). This pattern is written for advanced beginners or experienced knitters. For help with knitting terms and abbreviations, please visit knittinghelp.com.

My Materials

• About ½ skein (maybe 75 yards?) of Berroco Pure Pima (100% cotton, color 2209). Be sure to choose some type of fiber that will be comfortable lying around your neck.
• #5 circular (or straight) needles
• Cable needle
• 1 button

Patterns

This necklace uses two different patterns, plus cabling.

Seed Stitch

Row 1 (RS): K1, * p1, k1, rep from * across.

Rep this row for Seed St.

Deco Lace Pattern

Row 1 (RS): K3, k2tog, yo, yo, ssk, k3.

Row 2 (and all WS rows): Purl all stitches.

Row 3: K2, k2tog, yo, k2, yo, ssk, k2.

Row 5: k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, k1.

Row 7: repeat Row 3

Row 9: repeat Row 5

Row 11: K2, ssk, yo, k2, yo, k2tog, k2.

Row 13: K3, ssk, yo, yo, k2tog, k3.

Row 14 (WS): Purl all stitches

How to Start the High Tea Collar Necklace

CO 10 sts on #5 needles

Knit 6 rows in Seed Stitch pattern (you could also use garter if you prefer).

Then knit two rows of St St, ending on WS.

Knit rows 1–14 of DECO LACE pattern.

After row 14 of DECO LACE, knit 6 rows in St st, ending on WS.

Cable row: Knit 1 st, slide next 4 sts on cable needle and hold to the front of work. Knit next 4 sts, then 4 sts from cable needle. Knit last st on left-hand needle.

Knit another 13 rows in St st, ending on WS.

Cable row: Knit 1 st, slide next 4 sts on cable needle and hold to the front of work. Knit next 4 sts, then 4 sts from cable needle. Knit last st on left-hand needle.

Knit another 13 rows in St st, ending on WS.

Cable row: Knit 1 st, slide next 4 sts on cable needle and hold to the front of work. Knit next 4 sts, then 4 sts from cable needle. Knit last st on left-hand needle.

Knit 3 rows of St st.

Now knit rows 1–14 of DECO LACE pattern.

Knit next 6 rows in St st.

Cable row: Knit 1 st, slide next 4 sts on cable needle and hold to the front of work. Knit next 4 sts, then 4 sts from cable needle. Knit last st on left-hand needle.

Then knit 3 rows in St st.

*Repeat rows 1-14 of DECO LACE, 6 rows in St st, cable row and 3 rows in St st 4 MORE TIMES .*

Then knit 10 more rows in St st.

Cable row: Knit 1 st, slide next 4 sts on cable needle and hold to the front of work. Knit next 4 sts, then 4 sts from cable needle. Knit last st on left-hand needle.

Knit another 13 rows in St st, ending on WS.

Cable row: Knit 1 st, slide next 4 sts on cable needle and hold to the front of work. Knit next 4 sts, then 4 sts from cable needle. Knit last st on left-hand needle.

Next knit 5 rows of St st.

Then knit rows 1–14 of DECO LACE pattern.

Knit 2 rows in St st, ending on WS.

Finishing

To finish, knit 6 rows in SEED STITCH. I added my button hole on the 4^th row of SEED St. (This version of the necklace is 27” long, you may not need to actually make a button hole. You might be able to just overlap the ends of the necklace and sew the button in place).

Button Hole

For button hole, I knitted first 5 sts on the 4^th row, then for last 5 sts: k2tog, yo, yo, ssk, k1. Complete next two rows in SEED St, then BO.

Blocking

For blocking: I laid this necklace out in a circle and overlapped the ends as if it were buttoned (see photo), then pinned in place for blocking. Finished it off with your favorite button for decoration!

Comments

Donna Herron (author) from USA on September 12, 2013:

Hi Heather - this necklace is not difficult, but it is not really a beginner knitting project either. I'm sure with a little bit of knitting practice, you could make yourself one. But you can also tell your knitting friends that it is a really quick project and an easy pattern to follow - maybe that will help encourage one of them to make it for you :) As always, I appreciate your support and kind comments :)

Heather from Arizona on September 12, 2013:

This is gorgeous. I'm crafty but have never been able to get the hang of this. I absolutely love what you have made. It looks cute both ways and that button is adorable. I'm pinning this with hopes that I can convince a knitter to make me one :)

Donna Herron (author) from USA on February 28, 2013:

Hi Peggy W - Thanks so much for your kind comments!! I appreciate it!

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on February 28, 2013:

I learned how to knit many years ago and actually made a sweater one time but have not knitted in so long that I would have to learn all over again. I also learned how to crochet. This knitted collar necklace looks very pretty. Am sure that active knitters will like learning this pattern. Up and useful votes.