We come from the Planet Christmas

Two new aliens have popped up at my house.

Can’t get enough of this pattern!

Christmas is coming…!

Are you the type of knitter who knits a lot of holiday gifts, or not?  I fall somewhere in the middle.  I usually knit one or two significant gifts – often far ahead of time – but additionally, I succumb to some last-minute idea for something else handknit.

I’m right on track this year.  My big gift is for my mom (she doesn’t read the blog, so you all know about it already): the Pamuya shawl I finished in September:My last-minute gift is something a little less “me.”  Here’s a peek: Remember when I went to that yarn shop in the Outer Banks a couple of summers ago?  It was full of bright colors and stocked way more cotton than wool, not my aesthetic at all.  But I got caught up in that vibe and bought the yarn to make a little bag.  The multicolor yarn is made from recycled viscose from Indonesia.  It is held double with Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece (80% cotton, 20% wool).  You got the pattern (a shop original) for free if you bought the yarn.  I did it. I don’t know what I was thinking… this doesn’t look like a bag I would carry.  But you know who it does look like?  A 4-year-old girl!  So when I ran across this project recently when tidying up, I decided to knit it up for my niece for Christmas.  I think she’ll love it.

This is one of those projects that is deceptively simple.  The pattern is dead easy – you knit the base of the bag flat in garter stitch, then pick up stitches on 3 sides and begin knitting in the round – but working with these two yarns together is difficult.  I can see a beginner knitter being drawn to it and then frustrated by it.  But I will push through.  I got some done while errand-ing yesterday and during a music concert.I’ve noticed that knitters like to take care with the wrapping of their gifts, also.  If you aren’t already aware of the fabulous gift tags designed by Laylock, you should make your acquaintance.  She just recently released some free, printable tags shaped like mittens with care instructions already printed – you just circle the appropriate symbol(s). I’ve been using Laylock’s KnitLove tags for years.  They are really lovely.

For non-handknit gifts, you might enjoy these retro-look printable gift tags.  So many independent designers make things freely available for us to use – it’s a wonderful gift.

What are you knitting for Christmas, Hanukkah, or anything that’s celebrated this month?

Puppies, Tree

Long time no post.  I’ve been dutifully cranking out puppy parts.  Here are the bodies (in the back) plus piles of feet (not quite finished):

These stockinette projects can be a little tricky.  I don’t like how the fabric rolls so dramatically.  I tried to block the bodies so they would be easier to seam, but it didn’t work so well.

Right now I’m at the point where the knitting is done, but the finishing looms.  The dogs’ faces are on and the bodies have been seamed and stuffed: Now I have to sew on legs, ears, and tails.

I’m getting a little tired of these dogs.  I’m remembering why I don’t knit toys very often.  They are Fiddly with a capital F.  I’m not afraid of seaming, but I don’t love the way these look stuffed with polyfill.  They are awfully lumpy.  I think if I had to do them again, I would buy big rectangular sponges and design the dog body to fit the sponge.  Then it would be firm and rectangular.

You may have noticed that behind the puppies is a Christmas tree!  We went to our favorite tree farm yesterday and selected a lovely Turkish fir.  We also got the StandStrait tree stand and I’m told it’s worth every penny of the $29.99 charged.  Easy breezy.Doesn’t Boy 2 look like Elmer Fudd in this hat?  I love it.

Boy, knitting toys really makes me want to knit a sweater.  Soon, my Cerisara, soon….

Deck the Halls 2009

I started these last January (I see I had 8 small ones then) but clearly didn’t make a ton of progress this year – now I only have 11!  Still, they do look nice – and I will certainly make more.  I should cut a deal with myself to make a ball as soon as I finish each pair of socks – that would help my numbers!  Pattern: Deck the Balls by Kalamazoo Knits – leftover sock yarn of various types

And, I whipped up a couple of those Kristin Nicholas ornaments I linked to the other day.  The crochet was fun – I might do more of these sometime!

Pattern: Snowflake Ornaments by Kristin Nicholas Designs

More ornaments (Kristin Nicholas-style)

Now we’re getting serious.  Kristin Nicholas has posted a free ornament pattern on her blog – there is a crochet version and a knit version:

This reminds me that I still haven’t gotten around to making Kristin’s 2008 ornaments, which I liked very much:

The 2008 version is felted.  Looks like the 2009 version is just knitted (or crocheted) and then glued to cardstock to make it stiffer.

Boy 1 is home sick today with a fever.  I wonder if I could convince him to try some embroidery on an ornament if I knit the base part?

In case YOU get the fever (Christmas ornament fever, that is!), here is more to take off the edge (just previous posts, all collected in one place):

• http://tt820.blogspot.com/2009/11/more-knitted-christmas-ornaments.html
• http://tt820.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-ornaments.html
• http://tt820.blogspot.com/2008/12/ornaments-again.html
• http://tt820.blogspot.com/2009/01/deck-balls.html
• http://tt820.blogspot.com/2008/09/only-107-days-until-christmas.html

More knitted Christmas ornaments!

Ahhh, ‘tis the season to begin knitting Christmas ornaments again.  I got such a good start last winter knitting those Christmas balls (Deck the Balls pattern from Kalamazoo Knits).My plan was to work on these throughout the year so that I would have a big basket full by Christmas 2009.  So far my basket only has 11 balls in it, but that’s a start, eh?

The appearance of this year’s Minutia patterns (free from Berroco) reminds me that it’s time to accelerate the Christmas knitting.

There are some cute ones here!

Previous posts about Christmas ornament knitting:

• http://tt820.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-ornaments.html
• http://tt820.blogspot.com/2008/12/ornaments-again.html
• http://tt820.blogspot.com/2009/01/deck-balls.html

Deck the Balls

Deck the Balls
Originally uploaded by JLW in PA

My first batch of Christmas balls for 2009. These are so fun to make and addictive like potato chips - you can't make just one! I'm about ready to start trying the textured pattern by KalamazooKnits (which I received for Christmas).

Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday!

My friend Kristina's birthday is today, Christmas Day, and this year is a big one. I'll give you a hint: it starts with 4. Did you wonder why I wasn't showing much spinning lately? That's because I was spinning a secret! I gave Kristina this skein of handspun for her special birthday. It's 248 yards (114 g) of 2-ply wool from a roving called "Heidi's Blues" (the sheep is named Heidi). I got this at the Knitters' Day Out market back in September. It's not perfect, but it felt good enough to gift, and I'm proud of it. I wonder what she will knit with it... Today we're at home, just the four of us, and we're all having a ball. Boy 1 is deep into Mario Kart on the Wii, Boy 2 is hippity-hopping and scooter-ing around the house, and S and I are reading books about our various hobbies. Here's a collage of my knitting-related stuff:

Kristina sent me a pair of mittens that she knit from the Jamie Harmon yarn we love so much (we both made the mystery reversible hat from Jamie Harmon yarn earlier this fall, and this yarn matches my hat perfectly). The mittens fit great and are soooo cozy. She also knit mini stocking hat ornaments for our whole family (note the initials) - aren't they adorable? They are knit from the same yarn as our Christmas stockings. Thanks, Kristina!

S went all out and jumped on that Knitting Daily offer for the Knitter's Holiday Pack (sale now over, I checked), which included a bag full of knitting books and magazines, including the season one Knitting Daily TV on DVD and an audiobook (this one). Franklin's book has me giggling already, and those stitch cards from Harmony are really cool. So much more portable than the actual stitch dictionary. The Knitter's Holiday Pack also included Knit Fix, Knitter's Companion (which I already own but it's good to stash to give to a new knitter someday), Scarf Style (I've admired this book so many times but didn't own it), and several back issues of magazines, a Knitting Daily tape measure, and a Knitting Daily canvas messenger bag. I can't believe how much great stuff came bundled together in that package. In addition to the big package, I also got the Knitty 2009 calendar and the new Harlot book.

So now, I've got to get off the computer and go read. Merry Christmas, everyone, and I hope you have the best day!

'Tis the season

'Tis the season
Originally uploaded by JLW in PA

We spent some time this weekend decorating for the holidays. I love our hearth!

• The stockings hung by the chimney with care were knit by Kristina last year. Gorgeous!
• Those are the lower branches of our Christmas tree on the hearth. They conveniently hide the lamp cords, which normally lie behind some leaning picture frames.
• We took down the leaning artwork for Christmas and hung this cool paper snowflake that Boy 1 made at afterschool (pattern here). Doesn't it look nice against the red wall?
• I think the Ladybug spinning wheel looks pretty good there, too.

This hearth makes me smile.

I have quite a few fiber-related Christmas tree ornaments, too. Last year my mom gave me some clear glass balls, and I stuffed them with yarn scraps from current projects. They look nice, and they can be switched out anytime!

Christmas Ornaments

'Tis the season ... to knit! It may be too late to embark on large knitted gifts, but you can work up these ornaments in much less time. Perhaps you'll even bust some stash, too.

Lately I've run across several ornament patterns that are irresistible (in addition to the 12 tiny sweaters by Berroco Minutia '08 - you've already heard me blather about them).

Yesterday I developed a minor obsession with knitted Christmas ornaments designed by KalamazooKnits. I ran across one pattern at The Loopy Ewe site but found more in Ravelry and the designer's etsy site. There are four in all, three of which are basically fancy ball cozies:

1. Basic knitted ball, perfect for using leftover bits of sock yarn. Pattern includes instructions for 4 ball sizes. Pictured in A in the collage above.


2. Lacy balls. 4 lacy patterns to cover a standard Christmas ball. Pictured in B in the collage above.


3. Textured balls. 4 textured patterns that would look great in solid or semi-solid yarn. Pictured in C in the collage above.


4. Holiday lights ornament. This ornament does not go over a ball. It is knit and stuffed with polyfill. Looks just like the old, big, classic tree lights from your childhood (if you're my age!). Pictured in E in the collage above.

Then today I ran across a pattern by Little Cotton Rabbits for a knitted teddy bear ornament (pictured in F in the collage above). Normally a teddy bear would not float my boat, but this one is so cleverly constructed that it intrigues me. I might have to try one. See what blogger So Much Yarn, So Little Time has to say about knitting this project.

Little Cotton Rabbits has another pattern for knitted mini Christmas stocking ornaments, and these are adorable (pictured in D in the collage above). There are lots of examples to peruse in Ravelry, as well.

Still not enough?

• Here is a large directory of Christmas patterns.


• Teeny tiny stocking ornament


• Little stocking hats


• Mini mittens


• Christmas sweater by brooklyntweed