Knit Gift Box Ornament – 12 Ornaments of Christmas

Oh, what’s that? For me? Well, it’s the third ornament of Christmas, so it’s actually a new pattern for you. ;) Even though this third ornament in the series looks just like a present, I’m still clinging to my promise from the series kickoff to avoid sharing overly festive stuff as long as possible. I’m hoping the orange and purple colors are helping keep things subtle. Just you wait, though! With Thanksgiving (a.k.a. the herald of all things Christmasy) on Thursday, the floodgates will be opening, bringing all the red, green, and evergreen I can think up. Enjoy!

Get an inexpensive, printable, ad-free PDF of this pattern here, or you can continue scrolling to see the pattern now.

Don’t forget! If you make this or any other of the 12 ornaments of Christmas, you can share them on social media using #handsoccupiedhohoho! 

Knit Gift Box Ornament Pattern

Updated 12/8/18. 

Skill level: basic

Supplies
1 pack Lion Brand Yarn Bonbons in Beach, which comes with 8 mini skeins. – You need less than a skein of orange and purple to complete the ornament.
size US 3 (3.25 mm) knitting needles
scissors
tapestry needle
poly-fil
scrap ribbon
sewing needle & thread

Abbreviations & Terms

CO – cast on
sts – stitches
WS – wrong side
sl 1 wyif – slip 1 stitch purlwise with yarn in front
p – purl
RS – right side
rep – repeat
BO – bind off
mattress stitch – A seaming technique for joining knit pieces. Here’s a tutorial.

Gauge & dimensions: 22 sts & 28 rows over 4 inches, knit in stockinette stitch. Finished ornament measures approx. 1.5” per edge.

Looking for a printer-friendly version of this pattern? Grab an inexpensive, ad-free PDF of this pattern right here.

The Pattern

Box panels (make 2)

CO 12 sts in orange.
odd rows 1-11. (WS) sl 1 wyif, p 11.
even rows 2-12. (RS) sl1 wyif, k 11.
row 13. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k 11.

even rows 14-24. sl1 wyif, k 11.
odd rows 15-25. sl1 wyif, p 11.
row 26. (RS) sl 1 wyif, p 11.

rows 27-38. rep rows 1-12.
BO all sts.

Lay your rectangles perpendicular to each other as shown below, and begin joining the two rectangles using the mattress stitch. You can sew one continuous line starting at the point shown in the diagram without having to break your yarn. When you get to the last sides to be joined, stuff your cube with poly-fil before finishing the seam.

Box band (make 2)

CO 4 sts in purple.
odd rows 1-11. (WS) sl 1 wyif, p3.

even rows 2-12. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k3.

row 13. (WS) sl 1 wyif, k3.
even rows 14-24. sl 1 wyif, k3.

odd rows 15-25. sl 1 wyif, p3.
row 26. (RS) sl 1 wyif, p3.
rows 27-38. Rep rows 1-12.
row 39. (WS) Rep row 13.
rows 40-51. Rep rows 14-25.
BO all sts.

Sew ends of each band together, forming a loop (be careful not to twist the band when you sew the ends together). Place both box bands around the box, forming a plus sign as shown. It’s not necessary to sew them to the box unless you prefer to.

Box bow

CO 4 sts in purple.

odd rows 1-7. (WS) sl 1 wyif, p3.
even rows 2-8. (RS) sl 1 wyif, k3.
row 9. (WS) sl 1, k3.
even rows 10-16. sl 1 wyif, k3.
odd rows 11-17. sl 1 wyif, p3.

Sew ends of band together, forming a loop (be careful not to twist the band). Wrap some scrap yarn around the center of this small loop so it looks like a bow. Leave approx. 6-8” tails from the scrap yarn to tie the two bands of the box together as shown.

Finishing
Weave in all ends. Using a needle & thread, sew a scrap of ribbon to the back of your finished ornament to hang.

Missed anything? Catch up with all of the ornaments in the 12 ornaments of Christmas series here.