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Knitted Postbox Topper

Intermediate

Chunky / Bulky

Dawn Finney

Needle Size

US 8 / 5.0mm

Needle Type

Basic Shaping, Stocking Stitch

What you need to know

Postbox toppers are the ultimate way to bring a smile to your postie's face and add a bit of cheer to your community

Knit a postbox topper for the Coronation or any other event! A knitted postbox topper is the ultimate way to create a sense of joy and celebration in your town or village, and is sure to be admired by all! So take a look at our knitted postbox cover pattern and get making. You can also check out our fantastic selection of Toy Knitting Patterns and maybe add a Knitted Flower or two for extra vibrance. Whatever you make, don't forget to share your pics with our friendly knitting community on Facebook.

Don't forget to save your PDFs to your computer or tablet device as soon as it has been downloaded.

Watch to learn

Brush up on the skills needed for this pattern with this tutorial.

Techniques: Basic Shaping, Stocking Stitch

How to: work an i-cord

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Postbox toppers

final post box pattern.pdf

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Knitted Postbox Toppers: history of the UK’s quirkiest pastime

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Ever heard of crochet postbox toppers?

I definitely hadn’t before moving to the UK, but over the past few years, knitted postbox toppers like this one have been popping up all across the country.

They’re adorable, they add a pop of color and fun to local villages and even big cities, and there is no official organization that does them – just people from their homes or from crochet or knitting groups.

So I thought I’d do a little research into what in the world they are and how it all got started, so if you’ve also ever wondered or seen one of these “in the wild” across the UK, here we go!

Want to watch this content rather than reading it? Check out my YouTube video on it!

What is yarnbombing?

First things first, the concept of “ yarnbombing ” is essentially a type of cute graffiti that uses yarn instead of something like paint, and it began really as a way to reclaim ugly or cold public places and make them more colorful and welcoming.

It’s thought to have started in the US, in Texas specifically, when a woman from Houston named Magda covered a door handle with a knitted cover.

But then you’ve got other people like an artist in Houston who was already doing crochet-covered objects in the 1990s, so it’s hard to pinpoint the exact start.

Generally, though, it’s accepted that it started in the US.

When did the UK start making knitted postbox toppers?

Of course, they weren’t doing postbox bonnets or crochet toppers in the US because that is a very British thing.

The crochet post box toppers, according to Royal Mail themselves, started to pop up around 2012.

According to them, it was around the holiday season (or festive season as they called it – Americans would say holiday season) – with Christmas themed toppers.

Here are some of the most adorable Christmas themed toppers I could find!

Then, it started moving into other important times of the year like Easter with Spring themed toppers.

And then, years later, in the pandemic, when everyone was home learning to crochet, the trend got even bigger and suddenly postbox toppers were dotting up everywhere.

According to this article , 2022 was actually one of the biggest years yet for the craze and it hasn’t really slowed down.

Craft groups across the UK get together to make them together, or individual people who love to crochet will just sit in their homes and make them for their local postbox.

Some of them are more simple, but some are absolutely insane in how good they are.

Does Royal Mail approve of knitted postbox toppers?

Royal Mail are actually in favor of it and like what it brings to the community.

They ask, of course, that nothing is done to permanently alter the postbox and also that nothing obstructs the slot for the mail or the postman from collecting the mail, but as long as the designs are fun and cute and not making some large political or social statement, they’re totally on board with it.

Which is a very British thing, I feel, because I cannot imagine USPS feeling the same way if people were to put crocheted toppers on top of their mail collection boxes.

Do people ever steal knitted crochet toppers?

Now another question – does anyone ever steal the toppers?

Unfortunately those types of people do exist in the world and recent comments in Facebook groups like this one suggest that this is becoming more of a problem with people who clearly do not know how to live in a civilized society or not be total jerks are making a game out of stealing toppers.

But overall, it’s not so rampant of a problem that it’s not worth doing them – plenty are in small villages or rural areas that see very little crime, including postbox topper theft, and the others – well, they just put a new topper on because you can’t let the bad guys win.

UK Postbox Toppers Facebook groups

There are actually quite a few groups dedicated to this pillar box crochet madness, including the “ UK Post Box Toppers and More Group ” which has over 81,000 members.

People post and share about the ones they’ve seen or the ones they’ve put up themselves, and it’s basically the most wholesome thing I’ve seen all year.

Another point – while I did say that typically these toppers are neutral in their statement, ie, mostly just cute scenes, they have been used in support of the NHS workers during the pandemic as well as for the monarchy during the Platinum Jubilee and as well as the Coronation recently, but these are generally well-respected and accepted things to celebrate in the UK and were quite topical, temporary displays.

Other names for the people who crochet these toppers include yarn bombers, as well as Wooly delinquents.

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FREE Post Box / Pillar Box Knitting Pattern

Enjoy this Lovely FREE Postbox Knitting Pattern.  This cute post box is made with black and red double knitting yarn, 3mm single pointed needles and toy stuffing . Although any yarn and needles will work.   It is about 13cm tall when finished.

Abbreviations : k – knit. p – purl. st – stitch. tog-together. st-st – Stocking Stitch (k1row, p1row).  inc— increase. Knit into the front and the back of the stitch

Post Box—Make 1 Made in one piece from under the base to the top

With black, cast on 10 sts Purl 1 row Next: increase into every stitch (20 sts) Purl 1 row Next: (k1, inc1) to end (30 sts) Purl 1 row Knit 3 rows Starting with a purl row, st-st 9 rows Purl 1 row (define the colour change)

Change to red Starting with a purl row, st-st 13 rows Next: k11, p8, k11 (Mark for letterbox) Starting with a purl row, st-st 3 rows Next: k11, p8, k11 (Mark for letterbox) Starting with a purl row, st-st 3 rows

Top of post box Next: (inc1, inc1, k1) to end (50 sts) Purl 1 row Next: (k4, inc1) to end (60 sts) Starting with a purl row, st-st 5 rows Next: (k3, k2tog) to end (48 sts) Purl 1 row Next: (k2, k2tog) to end (36 sts) Purl 1 row Next: (k1, k2tog) to end (24 sts) Purl 1 row Next: (k2tog) to end (12 sts)

Draw thread through the remaining stitches and pull tight

Sew down the row ends of the piece. Stuff well , make sure the base is flat and it will stand. Then seal up.

Letterbox—Make 1 With black, cast on 8 sts Knit 1 row Purl 1 row Cast off

Sew the letterbox to the extra purl stitches on the front of the post box. It may be easier to do this before the main piece is stuffed.

Add any additional decorations such as ribbon and beads that you desire.

© Copyright 2019 Knitting by Post Ltd

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One thought on “ FREE Post Box / Pillar Box Knitting Pattern ”

thank you for the free patterns I have done two they are quite cute

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Product Details

This crochet pattern is for a basic UK Post Box Topper of the new style which have no top lip. Approximately 19inches diameter. I also give instructions how it can be fitted to the box. The decorative items are not included, this gives you free range to create your own display to bring smiles to your neighbours. It's made using 2 strands of UK double knit yarn together.

I am happy for you to use this pattern to make your own toppers. However, Copyright of this written pattern and all associated photographs belongs to Jacqueline Gibb (Jacknitss). Please respect my design rights and refrain from re-selling, duplicating, distributing or altering my pattern. Thank you.

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Knitted postbox toppers in tribute to the Queen appear around the UK

Since the Queen passed away, yarn bombers have been creating sweet tributes to the late monarch

The Queen passed away on Thursday 8 September at Balmoral, Scotland, aged 96. Mourners paid their respects at royal residencies, including Windsor, Buckingham Palace, Sandringham and Balmoral, leaving floral tributes and cards. There is also a digital book of condolence available on the Royal family website . People queued for many hours to see Her Majesty lying-in-state at Westminster Hall ahead of the state funeral on Monday, 19 September.

Yarn bombers have also been paying tribute by creating knitted likenesses of the Queen, which have appeared across the country in tribute to the monarch.

Yarn bombing is a form of street art using knitting and crochet . Often used to adorn post boxes, woolly creations can also be found decorating railings, lampposts and bollards.

We have seen royal-themed yarn bombing before, including for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee , which marked her 70-year reign. Since the Queen passed away, knitted tributes to Her Majesty with touching details have been pictured.

A black post box topper with a knitted Queen wearing a grey outfit and carrying a handbag was spotted in the Scottish village of Ballater, Aberdeenshire, which the Queen's coffin travelled through on its journey from Balmoral to Edinburgh. The detailed post box topper also featured a knitted white flower and a Thank You note.

A postbox topper in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II was also spotted outside Windsor Castle.

And it wasn't just postboxes seen adorned with the tributes – on Sunday, a knitted doll representing the late Queen was also pictured attached to barriers lining the procession route, ahead of the funeral.

Pictures of knitted and crocheted postbox toppers in tribute to the Queen have been snapped elsewhere, too, with passersby sharing the dedications on social media.

Although easily removed, without permission, yarn bombing can be considered illegal. If you want to create your own yarn bomb tribute, it's best to seek permission first.

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This crochet pattern is for a basic UK Post Box Topper of the new style which have no top lip. Approximately 19inches diameter. I also give instructions how it can be fitted to the box. The decorative items are not included, this gives you free range to create your own display to bring smiles to your neighbours. It’s made using 2 strands of UK double knit yarn together.

I am happy for you to use this pattern to make your own toppers. However, Copyright of this written pattern and all associated photographs belongs to Jacqueline Gibb (Jacknitss). Please respect my design rights and refrain from re-selling, duplicating, distributing or altering my pattern. Thank you.

• First published: November 2021
• Page created: November 28, 2021
• Last updated: November 28, 2021 …
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