Mushroom tunic

So many of you are posting tutorials and tips. My projects are mainly from patterns, so I only have projects to share, no tutorials.

Anyway, for the kiddo's little cousin I made a tunic. She won't be matching in a purple jacket, since I didn't have enough fabric.

It's tunic with a keyhole neckline and drawstring, pleats at the waist. I just love the fabric and think that the tunic could also work for this season with a long sleeved t-shirt underneath. We need more bright colours for winter! And in the spring it will work with a regular t-shirt underneath.

Blog post.

Mushroom tunic

So many of you are posting tutorials and tips. My projects are mainly from patterns, so I only have projects to share, no tutorials.

Anyway, for the kiddo's little cousin I made a tunic. She won't be matching in a purple jacket, since I didn't have enough fabric.

It's tunic with a keyhole neckline and drawstring, pleats at the waist. I just love the fabric and think that the tunic could also work for this season with a long sleeved t-shirt underneath. We need more bright colours for winter! And in the spring it will work with a regular t-shirt underneath.

Blog post.

Oh Sarah O's Christmas To-Do List

Hello Everyone! My name is Sarah O of ohsaraho, blogger of all things artsy, crafty and fun. Christmas is less than two weeks away, which means that I am in full Christmas elf mode, knitting away on my last minute gifts, completing my last minute Christmas shopping, and wrapping up all of my Christmas gifts to place underneath the tree. Right now I have several projects on my knitting needles that I am hoping to complete. Here's a list of knitting pattern's that I'm hoping to complete this holiday season (note: if you have a Ravelry account you can click the link to view the patterns):

• To Eyre... by Carol Sunday. This shawl pattern is based off of one of the shawls worn in the new Jane Eyre movie (which I have yet to see). I picked up some skeins of Ella Rae Classic wool in a grey/navy blue color for this shawl and can't wait to knit this up and check out the film.

• Cambridge by Carol Sunday. I've had my eye on this shawl ever since I saw those paparazzi photos of Kate Middleton pushing her shopping cart. I've even caught myself thinking that I could shop like a princess, if only I had that shawl. I'm sure I could not afford the original, but thankfully there is a look-a-like pattern available on Ravelry. So this weekend I picked up some skeins of The Spectrum Collection Fluffy Stuff DK yarn in green and began casting-on this shawl. Check out my progress:

• Wurm by katushika. This floppy hat pattern is based off of the hat worn by Michael Cera in the film Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World. It looks like a fun, quick knit, but I'm not sure of what colors and what kind of yarn I'm going to use.
• Ribbed Watchman's Hat by Channah Koppel. This pattern was originally designed to create hats for Israeli (IDF) soldiers. I'm actually going to use this pattern to create a navy stocking hat for another soldier that I know whose a little closer to home.
• Winding River Cowl by Kathleen Cubley. I recently purchased some beautiful Lion Brand Amazing yarn in Mesa and hope to quickly knit this up for a family member who often ventures West.
  

Oh Sarah O's Christmas To-Do List

Hello Everyone! My name is Sarah O of ohsaraho, blogger of all things artsy, crafty and fun. Christmas is less than two weeks away, which means that I am in full Christmas elf mode, knitting away on my last minute gifts, completing my last minute Christmas shopping, and wrapping up all of my Christmas gifts to place underneath the tree. Right now I have several projects on my knitting needles that I am hoping to complete. Here's a list of knitting pattern's that I'm hoping to complete this holiday season (note: if you have a Ravelry account you can click the link to view the patterns):

• To Eyre... by Carol Sunday. This shawl pattern is based off of one of the shawls worn in the new Jane Eyre movie (which I have yet to see). I picked up some skeins of Ella Rae Classic wool in a grey/navy blue color for this shawl and can't wait to knit this up and check out the film.

• Cambridge by Carol Sunday. I've had my eye on this shawl ever since I saw those paparazzi photos of Kate Middleton pushing her shopping cart. I've even caught myself thinking that I could shop like a princess, if only I had that shawl. I'm sure I could not afford the original, but thankfully there is a look-a-like pattern available on Ravelry. So this weekend I picked up some skeins of The Spectrum Collection Fluffy Stuff DK yarn in green and began casting-on this shawl. Check out my progress:

• Wurm by katushika. This floppy hat pattern is based off of the hat worn by Michael Cera in the film Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World. It looks like a fun, quick knit, but I'm not sure of what colors and what kind of yarn I'm going to use.
• Ribbed Watchman's Hat by Channah Koppel. This pattern was originally designed to create hats for Israeli (IDF) soldiers. I'm actually going to use this pattern to create a navy stocking hat for another soldier that I know whose a little closer to home.
• Winding River Cowl by Kathleen Cubley. I recently purchased some beautiful Lion Brand Amazing yarn in Mesa and hope to quickly knit this up for a family member who often ventures West.
  

A -Slightly Psychedelic- Pompom Wreath

Only 2 weeks to go...!

Elisalex here, howdy!  With the majority of my presents done and ticked off the list, I'm now turning my attention to decorating...

For some reason, traditional Christmas Wreaths have always felt a little morbid and ominous to me.  Dark, spiky and somewhat reminiscent of funerals.  Beautiful, but depressing.  But then I saw this Pompom Wreath, and this tutorial from JCasa*Handmade, and I knew what I had to do.

For the wreath's structure I used some foam tubing from the hardware store and a coat hanger to create the shape -

Then made a bunch of pompoms in my favourite reds-dusty pinks-off whites colour combination and tied them securely onto the foam tubing.  To finish I wound around some woodland mushroom fairy lights I had (which I think look a little too acid-y when switched on, but perfectly cute -and innocent- left off) and attached a grosgrain ribbon loop so it can be hung. 

But no way is this wreath getting hung outside... I've become very fond of its sweet, not at all morbid or ominous, and very soft self.  I couldn't possibly risk it getting rained on or stolen, and most of all I want it inside where I can appreciate it.

A -Slightly Psychedelic- Pompom Wreath

Only 2 weeks to go...!

Elisalex here, howdy!  With the majority of my presents done and ticked off the list, I'm now turning my attention to decorating...

For some reason, traditional Christmas Wreaths have always felt a little morbid and ominous to me.  Dark, spiky and somewhat reminiscent of funerals.  Beautiful, but depressing.  But then I saw this Pompom Wreath, and this tutorial from JCasa*Handmade, and I knew what I had to do.

For the wreath's structure I used some foam tubing from the hardware store and a coat hanger to create the shape -

Then made a bunch of pompoms in my favourite reds-dusty pinks-off whites colour combination and tied them securely onto the foam tubing.  To finish I wound around some woodland mushroom fairy lights I had (which I think look a little too acid-y when switched on, but perfectly cute -and innocent- left off) and attached a grosgrain ribbon loop so it can be hung. 

But no way is this wreath getting hung outside... I've become very fond of its sweet, not at all morbid or ominous, and very soft self.  I couldn't possibly risk it getting rained on or stolen, and most of all I want it inside where I can appreciate it.

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?

Hi, I'm Carly, I blog (somewhat sporadically) here.

Wow, Christmas has snuck up a bit this year, or is it just me? Looking back at my blog it seems I was feeling a lot more festive this time last year!

I have some crafty Christmas plans up my sleeve though, time willing:

Snoods! I have knocked up a pink flowery snood for some lucky person who shall remain nameless, here is me modelling it for now (doesn't it look pretty with my dress? I like looking like an explosion in a paint factory):

The pattern is available on my blog if you fancy making one yourself. I may whip up a few more of these, they're quick to make and make great gifts - who doesn't want to stay cosy?

I have also got a few cross stitch ideas in the pipeline - I want to make little necklaces and/or Christmas decorations. Here is a slightly larger one I made last year (bit frayed having been in and out of the frame rather a lot of times!), it's for the wall rather than round your neck but it gives you the idea:

And I'm also planning to give knitted headband/earwarmers, which look like this (I can't seem to rotate the photo for some reason):

They are made using a free Ravelry pattern. I love the colour of this wool, I bought it in John Lewis last year and never managed to use it as I only had one ball, but it was the perfect amount for this headband. Not good if you react badly to wool though - itchy ears are not a good look!

Aside from these projects I don't have any other firm plans, but I'm loving seeing everyone elses ideas here. Blogland seems so inspired in the months coming up to Christmas, I love it.

Speaking of crafty stuff, I take it we've all seen Pip's list of 307 handmade christmas gift tutorials? Inspirational!

Happy crafting ladies

Cx

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!

Christmas Wallpapers

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