This charming diagonal garter square wraps around a Terry’s Chocolate Orange or Christmas ball ornaments and ties with ribbon for an instant gift.

Knit flat (no seaming!) to show off self-striping yarn in candy-like bias stripes.

Great stash-buster, perfect Christmas knitting, and a speedy free knitting pattern you’ll make again and again.

Before You Get Started

Here are a few things to know before you begin:

Work the square diagonally in garter stitch; you’ll increase to the halfway point, then decrease back to three stitches.
Use self-striping sock yarn for crisp stripes. Choose single strand for lighter fabric or held double for a plumper cover.
Gauge isn’t crucial—knit to measurement so the corners meet neatly when tied.
For neat edges, you’ll sl1 wyif at the start of every row. In garter, both RS/WS look similar; choose one side to face out.
Sizes: Terry’s Chocolate Orange ≈ 70 mm; standard bauble 60 mm; large bauble 80 mm.

Knitted Christmas Bauble Cover Free Printable

Tools/Materials Needed

Yarn: Self-striping sock yarn (fingering weight yarn, around 60 m)
I used Christmas Universe (Col 21) from Hobbii
- Option A: single strand for crisper stripes
- Option B: hold yarn double for bolder stripes
Needles:
- Single strand: US 2.5 (3 mm)
- Held double: US 6 (4 mm)
- Use what gives a soft, not holey stitch in garter (straight needles or circulars used flat)
Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, tape measure
Optional: Stitch marker, safety pin, or clip to mark the RS, ribbon for tying

Abbreviations & Sizing

k = knit
k2tog = knit 2 together
yo = yarn over
sl1 wyif = slip 1 with yarn in front
RS = right side
WS = wrong side

Gauge = 28 sts / 38 rows in 4 x 4 inches/ 10 x 10 cm in garter stitch.

What size square to knit? (measure one side of the square)

Terry’s Chocolate Orange (70 mm): 33–34 cm (13–13.5 in)
Standard bauble (60 mm): 28–30 cm (11–12 in)
Large bauble (80 mm): 38 cm/ (15 in)
Tip: A touch of extra length helps the corners meet and tie with a tidy gather.

How To Knit The Diagonal Garter Square Cover

This simple construction is knit corner-to-corner in garter stitch.

You’ll slip the first stitch of every row for a clean edge.

1. Cast On

Cast on 3 sts using your preferred method.

2. Increase Side (work until one side = target length)

Repeat this row: sl1 wyif, k1, yo, knit to end.

Continue repeating until one straight edge of the square measures the target length from the sizing guide above.

3. Decrease Side (back to 3 sts)

Repeat this row until 3 sts remain:

sl1 wyif, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, knit to end.

This balances the earlier increases and maintains the neat slipped-edge selvedge as you shape down.

4. Bind Off

When 3 sts remain, bind off loosely in knit.

Weave in ends with a tapestry needle.

Use & Finishing

Place the chocolate orange/bauble in the center of the square (choose your favorite RS).
Bring the four corners up; gather at the top.
Tie with a decorative ribbon—form a bow. Use one loop as a hanger if desired.
Give your new ornament a gentle fluff so the stripes swirl beautifully.

Knitted Christmas bauble cover free pattern

FAQs & Extra Tips

Can I knit this on straight knitting needles?

Absolutely—straight knitting needles work perfectly; you’re knitting flat.

What if my fabric looks holey?

Go down a needle size (e.g., from 4 mm to 3.5 mm) or work single strand instead of held double to tighten the fabric.

Do I need to block?

Not required, but a quick steam helps the square lie flat before wrapping.

How do I avoid big eyelets at the edges?

Tension the yo snugly on the next row.

If you prefer fewer holes, swap the yo for kfb on the increase side.

What ribbon length works best?

About 30–45 cm (12–18″) lets you gather and bow neatly.

Free Printable

To make this project even easier, I’ve created a free printable version of the knitted Christmas bauble cover pattern.

You can keep it handy while you work—no need to keep checking your phone or scrolling through the blog.

It’s perfect for printing out or saving to your tablet for easy access anytime.

Just click the print button below to grab your free copy!

Yield: Knitted Christmas Bauble Cover

Knitted Christmas Bauble Cover

Wrap a diagonal garter stitch square around a bauble or Terry’s Chocolate Orange, then tie with ribbon for an instant ornament or gift wrap.

Worked in self-striping yarn (single or held double) with neat slipped edges and simple increase/decrease rows—fast, festive, and beginner-friendly.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Active Time 1 hour

Additional Time 10 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Difficulty Basic/Beginner

Estimated Cost $10

Materials

Yarn: Self-striping sock yarn (fingering weight yarn, around 60 m)
I used Christmas Universe (Col 21) from Hobbii
Option A: single strand for crisper stripes
Option B: hold yarn double for bolder stripes

Tools

Needles:
Single strand: US 2.5 (3 mm)
Held double: US 6 (4 mm)
Use what gives a soft, not holey stitch in garter (straight needles or circulars used flat)
Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, tape measure
Optional: Stitch marker, safety pin, or clip to mark the RS, ribbon for tying