After creating the first lighthouse night light with a crochet hook, I found that it was not only a favorite of mine—it was also requested again! This time, I decided not to simply repeat the same project, and so a knitted lighthouse came to life. A romantic little night light with a miniature LED light bulb that creates a wonderfully realistic lighthouse effect, made especially for a young explorer.
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You will need the following materials to knitting:
– YarnArt jeans 50 gr /160 m white yarn
– YarnArt begonia 50 gr /170 m blue
– orange yarn 100 gr /320 m
– spokes 2
– needle, scissors, wire about 90 cm, plastic table mat, miniature LED light bulb.
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Abbreviations:
CO – cast on
K – knit
P – purl
inc – increase
dec – decrease
When knitting, I only used two knitting needles and sewed the pieces together at the end. Therefore, my odd rows consist of knit stitches and my even rows consist of purl stitches. However, if you want to knit with three or four needles, then knit all pieces continuously with knit stitches.
Lighthouse cone
Start knitting with orange yarn.
Cast on 120 stitches onto one knitting needle.
1. 120 K
2. 120 P
3. 120 K
4. 120 P
5. 120 K
6. 120 P
7. 120 K
8. 120 P
9. 120 K
10. 120 P
11. 120 K
12. 120 P
13. 120 K
14. 120 P
15. 120 K
16. 120 P
17. 120 K
18. 120 P
19. 120 K
20. 120 P
21. (18 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 114 K
22. 114 P
23. 114 K
24. 114 P
25. 114 K
26. 114 P
27. 114 K
28. 114 P
29. (17 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 108 K
30. 108 P
31. switching to blue yarn 108 K
32. 108 P
33. switching to white yarn 108 K
34. 108 P
35. 108 K
36. 108 P
37. 108 K
38. 108 P
39. (16 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 102 K
40. 102 P
41. 102 K
42. 102 P
43. 102 K
44. 102 P
45. 102 K
46. 102 P
47. (15 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 96 K
48. 96 P
49. switching to blue yarn 96 K
50. 96 P
51. switching to orange yarn 96 K
52. 96 P
53. 96 K
54. 96 P
55. 96 K
56. 96 P
57. (14 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 90 K
58. 90 P
59. 90 K
60. 90 P
61. 90 K
62. 90 P
63. 90 K
64. 90 P
65. (13 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 84 K
66. 84 P
67. 84 K
68. 84 P
69. 84 K
70. 84 P
71. switching to orange yarn 84 K
72. 84 P
switching to white yarn
73. (12 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 78 K
74. 78 P
75. 78 K
76. 78 P
77. 78 K
78. 78 P
79. 78 K
80. 78 P
81. (11 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 72 K
82. 72 P
83. 72 K
84. 72 P
85. 72 K
86. 72 P
87. 72 K
88. 72 P
switching to blue yarn
89. (10 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 66 K
90. 66 P
91. switching to orange yarn 66 K
92. 66 P
93. 66 K
94. 66 P
95. 66 K
96. 66 P
97. (9 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 60 K
98. 60 P
99. 60 K
100. 60 P
101. 60 K
102. 60 P
103. 60 K
104. 60 P
105. (8 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 54 K
106. 54 P
107. 54 K
108. 54 P
109. 54 K
110. 54 P
111. 54 K
112. 54 P
113. (7 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 48 K
114. 48 P
115. (6 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 42 K
116. 42 P
117. 42 K
118. 42 P
119. 42 K
120. 42 P
switching to blue yarn
121. 42 K
122. 42 P
123. 42 K
124. 42 P
125. 42 inc = 84 K
126. 84 P
127. 84 K
128. 84 P
129. 84 K
130. 84 P
131. 84 K
132. 84 P
133. 84 K
134. 84 P
135. 84 K
136. 84 P
137. 84 K
138. 84 P
139. 84 K
140. 84 P
141. 84 K
142. 84 P
143. 42 dec = 42 K
144. 42 P
Carefully fasten off the remaining stitches, fasten the thread securely and then cut.
To make the knitted lighthouse structure more sturdy, we will use a plastic table mat or another suitable piece of plastic. In this case, the knitted piece itself can be used as a template for cutting the plastic frame. If you knitted the piece using double-pointed needles, it may be easier to first make a paper template. This will allow you to check that the shape and size of the frame fit your particular lighthouse perfectly before cutting the plastic.
Important: Do not include the upper blue section of the knitted piece when making the plastic frame. We will fold this part over later to create the “balcony,” so it should remain outside the plastic cone.
Sew the side seam of the knitted piece. Then, using small stitches, secure the plastic frame to the knitted piece along the edges.
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Now let’s create the imitation of the “balcony.”
You can simply add a little stuffing to the remaining blue section, creating a soft version of the balcony. Alternatively, you can use another piece of plastic to give the balcony a more defined shape. Cut two circles from the plastic, with diameters suitable for your knitted piece. The inner circle should match the diameter of the top opening of the cone, while the outer circle should fit the width of the blue section. Place both plastic circles inside the blue section of the cone. Then gradually add a small amount of stuffing around the edge, creating some volume between the two plastic circles. This part can be a little fiddly, so I recommend using a pin to help you work gradually around the edge. Add a little stuffing at a time, and use the pin to gently secure the edge of the knitted fabric around the cone.
In the photo, I have tried to show what the construction looks like from underneath.
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The upper part of the lighthouse
Start knitting with orange yarn.
Cast on 6 stitches onto one knitting needle.
1. 6 inc = 12 K
2. 12 P
3. (1 K, 1 inc) х 6 = 18 K
4. 18 P
5. (2 K, 1 inc) х 6 = 24 K
6. 24 P
7. (3 K, 1 inc) х 6 = 30 K
8. 30 P
9. (4 K, 1 inc) х 6 = 36 K
10. 36 P
11. (5 K, 1 inc) х 6 = 42 K
12. 42 P
13. (6 K, 1 inc) х 6 = 48 K
14. 48 P
15. 48 K
16. 48 P
17. 48 K
18. 48 P
19. 48 K
20. 48 P
21. 48 K
22. 48 P
switching to blue yarn
23. 48 K
24. 48 P
25. 48 K
26. 48 P
27. 48 K
28. 48 P
29. 48 K
30. 48 P
31. 48 K
32. 48 P
Carefully fasten off the remaining stitches, fasten the thread securely and then cut. Sew the piece together.
Prepare a piece of wire for the internal support inside the blue section of the knitted piece. Form the wire into a ring that matches the diameter of your piece. Fold the blue section upward, with the wire ring positioned inside it, and sew the blue section to the orange section all the way around.
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If you have found an LED light bulb similar to the one I used, you can build the next part of the construction directly around it. Take three pieces of wire, approximately 15–17 cm (6–6¾ in) long each. Use these pieces to hold the light bulb in place and sew it securely inside the upper part of the lighthouse. In the photo, I have marked with a pin where the wire and light bulb are attached. Once the light bulb is secured, spread the six resulting wire ends evenly around the piece and fasten them to the main cone section. You can secure the wire with a small drop of glue or with a few small stitches.
The exact measurements of these sections may vary depending on the light bulb you use. As a guide, take the length of your light bulb into account when determining the length of the wire. Measure the distance from the inside of the upper section to the visible part of the light bulb, then add a little extra length for securing the wire inside the cone. Multiply this total distance by two to determine the length of each wire piece for your particular construction. And remember, you will need three identical pieces of wire.
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If you cannot find a suitable miniature LED light bulb, you can use a small string of lights or another interesting lighting solution instead. In that case, simply take the particular shape and dimensions of your chosen light source into account when deciding how to position it and how long the wire pieces should be.
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Windows (3-6 parts, blue)
Cast on 10 stitches onto one knitting needle.
1. 10 K
2. 10 P
3. 10 K
4. 10 P
5. 10 K
6. 10 P
7. 10 K
8. 10 P
9. 1 dec, 6 K, 1 dec = 8 K
10. 8 P
11. 1 dec, 4 K, 1 dec = 6 K
12. 6 P
13. 1 dec, 2 K, 1 dec = 4 K
14. 4 P
Carefully fasten off the remaining stitches, fasten the thread securely and then cut.
Doors (in blue)
Cast on 15 stitches onto one knitting needle.
1. 15 K
2. 15 P
3. 15 K
4. 15 P
5. 15 K
6. 15 P
7. 15 K
8. 15 P
9. 15 K
10. 15 P
11. 15 K
12. 15 P
13. 15 K
14. 15 P
15. 1 dec, 11 K, 1 dec = 13 K
16. 13 P
17. 1 dec, 9 K, 1 dec = 11 K
18. 11 P
19. 1 dec, 7 K, 1 dec = 8 K
20. 9 P
21. 1 dec, 5 K, 1 dec = 7 K
22. 7 P
Carefully fasten off the remaining stitches, fasten the thread securely and then cut.
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Position the window and door pieces along the cone shape as shown in the photo, and sew them on.
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And now our lighthouse is finished. It can become your own little guiding light — gently lighting up your room, bringing a sense of warmth and comfort, and reminding you of the dreams that are always there to lead you forward.
There is something wonderfully romantic about creating your own lighthouse. It holds a special kind of magic: a little light that seems to carry a tiny piece of a distant seaside, of journeys yet to come, and of the anticipation of new adventures.
And if you decide to knit a lighthouse as a gift, I think it can become something truly special. After all, you are not simply giving someone a handmade night light — you are giving them a little symbol of light, warmth, and a safe journey.
