Cinema Knits

Welcome to part two of my series on knitting designs based on the classic 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz. Part 1 featured designs based in The Tin Man, The Scarecrow, and Dorothy. You can find Part 1 here.

Part 2 will cover all the remaining characters, including The Cowardly Lion, The Wizard, Glinda, the Wicked Witch of the West, and even the flying monkeys.

The Cowardly Lion

The cowardly lion’s costume was made from real lion pelts, which is clearly not something we are going to replicate.

But, we can attempt his regal style in a less harmful manner.

This lion cowl hood and paws by The Yarn Genie would be a lot of fun:

If you are knitting for the little Toto in your life, there are many excellent options:

You could try these beautiful Lion Mittens by Natalia Moreva:

Or, perhaps you would like to create your very own lion friend:

If you want to go for a more subtle lion look, I think knitting a sweater in a fluffy yarn like mohair in a lion-toned yarn would give you a stylish look in which to accomplish many courageous deeds.

I would knit Busan sweater by aegyoknit:

In Kid Seta Gepard in colorway 1332 – message, or a similar yarn.

I think this would look adorable paired with a chocolate brown beret and slacks.

I like crooked paths by Melissa LaBarre:

Glinda the Good Witch of the North

Glinda’s look is very feminine and diaphanous. She has that enormous tulle skirt, the sheer, wing-like puffed sleeves, and her splendid crown. The primary colors are pale pink and silver.

Some of those silver yarns that I picked out in Part 1 for The Tin Man would also work very well for Glinda inspired pieces, but this time combine them with some shimmering pinks:

The sheer upper bodice on Glinda’s dress immediately made me think of the very popular As If Tee pattern by Shay Johnson.

I think this t-shirt would be a perfect style nod to Glinda. A light as a feather mohair shawl would also make a lovely Glinda look:

Finally, I think the Clay sweater by designer Pope Vergara would be a great match for Glinda. It has both the diaphanous quality of Glinda’s dress and the element of bling is incorporated through the beading.

The Wizard

The Wizard undergoes quite a few costume changes as he executes his different roles around the castle, but the above green, fuzzy look is an easy choice to focus on. He really knows how to accessorise.

Let’s start with that memorable hat. It took a little digging, but I did end up finding some good pattern matches.

These patterns knit in a green faux fur yarn would definitely give you Wizard vibes:

Next, you’ll want to pair your Wizard hat with some green fuzzy mittens. Designer Stephanie Jessica Lau has created the perfect pattern for this look:

To complete your Wizard look, you’ll want a cape. The knitting world has a perfect answer to those who wish to wear a cape as streetwear. We call it the shawl.

One of these patterns knit up in a gorgeous emerald green yarn would be an excellent choice for your inner Wizard.

The Wicked Witch of the West / Elphaba

The Wicked Witch’s color palette is immediately identifiable. That vibrant lime green and black are so striking that it is easy to create Wicked Witch look by leaning into that color scheme alone.

You could choose any two color knitting pattern and knit it up in this color combination and immediately get that wicked witch look you are after.

There are so many two color knitting patterns out there that the possibilities here are almost endless, but I will give you a few ideas to get your creativity rolling.

Of course, there are some knitting patterns directly inspired by the witch: herself

Winged Monkeys

Finally, we can’t complete your Wizard of Oz look without including a winged monkey or two. They have these sporty little jackets in a grey-blue and red color palette.

Designer Rachel Molenaar has created the perfect shawl for you to live your best winged monkey life in:

I think this would be such a fun shawl to wear and the colors are lovely together.

That wraps up Part 2 of Knitting the Wizard of Oz. If you missed Part 1, which covered The Tin Man, The Scarecrow, and Dorothy, you can find that right here: Knitting the Wizard of Oz: Part 1

Tell me in the comments if any of these characters or patterns are sparking your creativity.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter if you would like more film inspired knitwear delivered straight to your inbox.