Monday, December 24
Merry Christmas
Thursday, December 13
And one stocking at the mantel
Two of the daughters don't want a Christmas tree this year. We are a bit cramped but we always managed before. As DD#2 isn't home with a boyfriend to put it all together, I will accede to no tree this year. I could have put these ornaments on it:
Some Christmas Fiddle Faddle done in cotton thread, some snowflakes from Knitted Snowflakes (Jeanette Crews Designs).
But I can still decorate:
At my office:
On the door:
At the window:
And I will put one stocking on the mantel:
So that means Santa Claus won't have much to fill this year.
Saturday, December 8
The menorah pillow!
I have to post this before it becomes Hanukkah present #8:
Front:
and deconstructed:
Three-needle bind-off on the top:
Which was tedious so I soon moved on to a crochet hook:
And what to do about all these ends - you know, the ends are invisible when the pillow is all put together.
Final step:
There are 4 buttonholes on the back. Do I conquer I-cord to make the knots that are in the directions,
go through my heirloom tin of buttons. The pillow cover is machine-washable but not if I put use these old buttons.
or go with new buttons.
Specs:
Menorah pillow, Handknit Holidays produced by Melanie Falick, made in Heirloom, shade 725, by Australian Yarn Company, purchased from The Yarn Exchange, DeKalb IL.
Edited to add: I found reference to not finishing this pillow in time for gift-giving the previous year all the way to the bottom of this archive. Obviously this has been on my mind.
Front:
and deconstructed:
Three-needle bind-off on the top:
Which was tedious so I soon moved on to a crochet hook:
And what to do about all these ends - you know, the ends are invisible when the pillow is all put together.
Final step:
There are 4 buttonholes on the back. Do I conquer I-cord to make the knots that are in the directions,
go through my heirloom tin of buttons. The pillow cover is machine-washable but not if I put use these old buttons.
or go with new buttons.
Specs:
Menorah pillow, Handknit Holidays produced by Melanie Falick, made in Heirloom, shade 725, by Australian Yarn Company, purchased from The Yarn Exchange, DeKalb IL.
Edited to add: I found reference to not finishing this pillow in time for gift-giving the previous year all the way to the bottom of this archive. Obviously this has been on my mind.
Tuesday, December 4
Gifts retroactively
I am a bad gift giver. I made Peggy socks one year and after that I just couldn't muster the energy - another year I made shortbread. She doesn't celebrate Christmas but she is always very good about giving presents. This year I am celebrating Hanukkah for her.
Picture the yarn as ballband warshrags. A vivid pink/pink sherbet combo and another in maroon, variegated blue with a dash of sunshine. That was the present today.
Day 2 - 4: a felted oven mitt in tribute to Da Bears, potholders from the STA Holiday Expo, socks that I made coincidentally on two circulars (I mean at the same time, not as it happens). Julie made the ornaments for the holiday expo. I priced them very reasonably and bought two. April bought one also. I'm not giving the ornaments as Hanukkah gifts.
I know there are 8 days. I have mittens on my list. Two more days are Saturday/Sunday. I'm thinking some baked goods to take along - but I really like this box.
Day 8 has to be the menorah pillow. That's the albatross around my neck. I need to find a pillow form, fabric for the back, and the time/energy to sew it up. I think the best present is supposed to be first. As I'm not a card-carrying Jew, I'm saving the best for last. This way I have more time to procrastinate. As if 2 years hasn't been enough.
Picture the yarn as ballband warshrags. A vivid pink/pink sherbet combo and another in maroon, variegated blue with a dash of sunshine. That was the present today.
Day 2 - 4: a felted oven mitt in tribute to Da Bears, potholders from the STA Holiday Expo, socks that I made coincidentally on two circulars (I mean at the same time, not as it happens). Julie made the ornaments for the holiday expo. I priced them very reasonably and bought two. April bought one also. I'm not giving the ornaments as Hanukkah gifts.
I know there are 8 days. I have mittens on my list. Two more days are Saturday/Sunday. I'm thinking some baked goods to take along - but I really like this box.
Day 8 has to be the menorah pillow. That's the albatross around my neck. I need to find a pillow form, fabric for the back, and the time/energy to sew it up. I think the best present is supposed to be first. As I'm not a card-carrying Jew, I'm saving the best for last. This way I have more time to procrastinate. As if 2 years hasn't been enough.
