My Crafty Christmas plans

Hi, I'm Helen from Josie and May. This is my first time blogging with Crafty Christmas Club (thanks Tilly for setting this up!), but I did enjoy reading all the posts last year and I've been making presents for friends and family for quite a few years now.

I''m not making too many presents this year - partly due to the amount of time left, but mostly because I'm knitting this beauty for my brother in law -

He's been pestering me for a Mark Darcy sort of Christmas jumper for years, so last year he got the pattern for his present, with the promise of a finished jumper this year. So far I've finished the back, and am up to rudolph's nose on the front.

It's not perfect. There are a few places where I've switched yarns and it's a little loose or I've not wrapped the yarns properly, but nothing that can't be sorted once I've finished. And it's hard work having four balls of yarn on the go at once.

Last year I'd planned on making some decorations, and even got as far as buying the materials, but I was channelling my energy into finishing presents so never got round to them. (Also, as I'm don't spend Christmas day itself in my flat, I never feel like I *have* to decorate - sad, I know!).

So this year I'm determined to make lots of decorations in short bursts to fill my flat with Christmas cheer. First on the list is Christmas bunting using these fabrics (from Beyond Fabrics on Columbia Road and Seamstar).

I may need more than these three fat quarters, but I'm going to see how many triangles I can get from them before I start buying more!

And no home is complete without a wreath. I fell in love with this ribbon wreath when I spotted it last year.

http://thelongthread.com

This all black one is for Halloween, but I bought green, red and gold satin ribbon from a market stall last year (I'm hoping I don't regret not getting grossgrain ribbon, but the amount needed would cost more than I was comfortable spending). Rather than buy a foam wreath I got some wire, so I may need to pad that out a bit before I start tying the ribbon.

But then this year I spotted this on Pinterest. So if I can find the foam wreath then I'm hoping to make this one too. What? More Christmas wreaths than bedrooms is totally ok, no?

Source: domestifluff.com via Helen on Pinterest

I will be making a few make up bags using Flossie Teacake's excellent pattern for presents for friends and family. Best £3.50 I've spent on a pattern - I've made so many of these!

I've been planning on giving my Mum this shawl from a Rowan book for, oooh, probably 5 years. That's how long I've had the book and the yarn (Sirdar Wash and Wear double crepe dk). But it took me a long time to get my head round the lace pattern, and now that I have the brother in law's jumper is getting in the way! Hopefully this will be ready in time, but if not it'll make a lovely Mothers Day present.

Kashmir Shawl in Rowan classic alpaca (book 13)
Source: www.englishyarns.co.uk

So that's the crafting sorted, and I haven't even thought about baking! I'm organising and taking part in a Christmas bake-off at work, so any suggestions of Christmas themed goodness kindly accepted!

It's a knitting bonanza!!

Hi! It's Katie from the Little Red Squirrel again!

Now you may remember from my list of things to do that my Christmas Crafting list is very full of knitting projects. Well I have been going crazy with my knitting needles and I have managed to complete 3 of my projects already! Here they are in all their glory:

1. Beret for my brother's girlfriend

(pattern from this lovely book)

Pretty bow detail!

Pretty spiral pattern on the top

2. Lacy scarf for my Nan

(pattern found here)

I added some pearls to the scarf too :)

In all it's lacy glory!

3. Cricket vest for my Sweetheart

(pattern purchased from this site)

I am totally in love with this vest, I may have to steal it from my Sweetheart!

Cable detail

The vest from the back

Now I have to say that I'm pretty proud of myself! I'm especially happy with the vest for my Sweetheart, it's so snuggly and warm and the cabling knitted up so beautifully. I am definitely going to try and get some wear out of it myself!

Anyway that's it from me for now, how are your projects coming along? Have you been getting your needles out too?

Bye for now!

Woolly Winter Warmers

Hi there, I'm Kerry and I blog at Kestrel Finds and Makes. I've been enjoying all the fantastic projects and ideas I've seen so far on the CCC, and am looking forward to sharing what I will be making this Christmas.

I love knitting and have just started dressmaking this year, so my crafty Christmas projects will be mostly wool-based, though I do have a couple of things relating to decorations and wrapping to share, which I will leave until December - it seems a bit too early to be thinking about wrapping up presents just yet!

Firstly, if you're thinking about knitting some gifts yourself, I have a couple of ideas for quick projects which use just 1 or 1 and a bit balls of wool.

• Fetching fingerless gloves - lovely cabled gloves. I've made 2 pairs so far as gifts. Know any smokers? Fingerless gloves are ideal!

• Darkside Cowl - I've previously made this, er, 4 times. It's so cosy, and uses just one skein of Rowan Silky Tweed in a super-stretch diagonal rib. Silky Tweed is a mix of wool and silk, making it lovely and soft, therefore ideal for next to your face. Cowls/neckwarmers are ideal for cyclists - no scarves flying about!

The above links are to Ravelry - if you're on Ravelry please do look me up, I'm LadyMissP.

So, what will I be crafting? Well, I haven't decided on patterns yet, but I will be making

• Mittens on a string for my niece, who's nearly 3 - what every child needs
• Mittens for an 8 month old
• Super-warm hat for my father in law

And perhaps a couple more things, depending on how time goes. That being said, I have a train journey to London next weekend which will provide me with 12 (12!) hours of time for knitting. I can't wait!

K x