Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I have enjoyed a wonderful (snowy!) holiday with family and friends (and our celebrating isn’t done yet!) One of my favourite things about Christmas is making handmade gifts. And although I didn’t make quite as many gifts as I usually do, a few handmade things made their way under the tree.
I have a very good friend who has been wanting a Gryffindor scarf for a very long time. This is only the 3rd thing I have ever knit, and the first time I have ever done the seed stitch, so, although it took a few visits from my mother-in-law for help, I am quite proud of the finished project! And I now know how to knit! (well, scarves anyway!) The pattern I used can be found here.
Then came this angry little fellow.
If you love Angry Birds, tutorials for the whole collection can be found here. I have never played the game and am still tempted to make them all, just because they are so much fun!
My sister-in-law asked for a quilted case for her hair dryer. This is what I cae up with:
The button almost didn’t make it on, because my sewing machine was convinced that there was no such thing as a button bigger than an inch! But I persevered and am glad that I did, a smaller button just wouldn’t have had the same impact.
Before Christmas my sister-in-law and I visited a craft show together. We spent a long time looking at some fabulous mittens made out of old sweaters. After she decided not to buy herself some, I knew what I had to make her for Christmas! I found this excellent pattern on Etsy, and made two pairs, one for her and one for my mother-in-law.
This was my first experience at felting sweaters, and I must admit that I think I am hooked! The mittens are lined with polar fleece, so they are extra warm! And I couldn’t resist these little gingham buttons:
For my mother-in-law, I used a Cashmere sweater for both the outside and the lining.
A fancy button finishes them off nicely.
The last gift was a scarf made out of a very soft and lacy sweater, based on s0mething I found in this book. I really love the way it ruffles along the yarn – and it looks much better on a person than it does on my deck post!
I didn’t quite get to everything on my “to make for Christmas list.” Next year I definitely need to start in September! And I still have a few things to whip up before the last family gathering on Jan. 1. (I always make Pjs for my nephews and I have another little something I want to try out – I’ll post pictures if it works!)
I also received some really wonderful handmade gifts. My husband surprised me with a Kayak he restored and a paddle he made himself! This was completely unexpected (I never would have dreamed of getting a kayak for Christmas!) My mother-in-law also made me a beautiful quilted and embroidered wall-hanging for my sewing room. And beyond the gifts I feel blessed to have been able to spend time with family and friends over the holidays – it’s been a wonderful Christmas!
Did you give or receive any handmade gifts this year?
