Post Christmas Post

Hi, everyone! It's Jaimielee from hippopotamuslee.blogspot.com. I had such a great time reading the lovely posts you all wrote here. It was an awesome source of inspiration! I definitely didn't get everything done that I planned (what else is new?), but my holiday was great. I hope yours was too! I don't want to flood this page with my Christmas Photo Explosion! but be sure to check it out over at my blog :)



My 1st tree with tons o' gifts!!

Crocheted Cowl

Hello, everyone! I'm Jaimielee from hippopotamuslee.blogspot.com and I'm one heck of a procrasticrafter. I can't seem to help it, no matter how determined I try to trick myself into being...

Cowls, snoods, moebius scarves — whatever you call 'em, I love them! I made one using Lion Brand's Fishermen's Wool. Somehow a giant 8oz skein wasn't sufficient, so it's not quite finished yet.

100% Pure Virgin Wool with natural lanolin oil IS ITCHY!
I crocheted it based on this pattern from The Crimson Owl. I mean, to make these cowls, you don't really need a tutorial or pattern, it's just a series of HDC and DC till you reach the length you need. Super simple! It's for my lovely SO who is enjoying 88° weather right now in the Philippines while I freeze to death in Chicago!

Next up are Christmas cards. I'm so late!!

Snowflakes

I haven't used a crochet in something like 35 years, but when I saw those, I thought they were so cute, I had to make some! The Heart Handmade tutorial is so good, I figured it out all by myself and so can you. Each of them take about 15 minutes to complete once you get the hang of it, while watching a movie, you can whip up a half dozen. Which is what I did last night while Michelle Morgan and Jean Gabin smooched in Quai Des Brumes. Nice way to use leftover yarn!

Crocheted Bows

...sew 'em on everything!!

The pattern comes from creativeyarn, which you may already be familiar with. If not, check it out! The blog seems to be out of commission,  but is still a great resource!! Lots of free crochet patterns for gifty things. 

When I saw Emily's post about crocheted mittens, I immediately pictured them with these cute little bows. (Not that your embroidered bow isn't totally sweet!)

:-) 

- renee.

/toasty crocheted mittens

Hi again, it's Emily from seymour. Firstly, I need to say that I've been LOVING everyone's posts so far! Great tutorials and brilliant ideas, so thanks everyone!

It seems that this year, everyone is asking for mittens. I'm pretty sure this is because of the early snow we got last week, and my friends and relatives were confronted with the strange colours their hands turn without the proper bundling accessories. Anyhow, this is good because mittens are a very do-able project!

While I'm not totally done with either pair yet, I thought I'd share this pattern sooner than later if anyone would like to get started on some crochet mittens. They're the Basic Crocheted Mittens from allfreecrochet.com.

I'm a big fan of making these, because they go super fast and take under one skein of worsted yarn for one pair! It's also easy to alter for different sized hands. 

My plan is to stitch bows at all the wrists with embroidery thread, but the first attempt looks like a crazy person did it. Pretty sure this was done at 1 or 2 am... I can't be sure if it's even 'cutesy homemade' or just insane. Either way, this bow must go because I doubt this craziness could be replicated on its twin... how did I even do that? Oops.

Regardless, I definitely recommend this pattern for all your cold-limbed friends and relatives!

small presents

because i havent got a lot of time

i'm making my friends this

and for everyone a home made stamp

this one is for my friend that loves tea

Christmas hearts and bunting

This week, amongst other crafty endeavours, I've been making some Christmas decorations.

I used this tutorial to make these heart decorations:

I'd already made a tiny string of them in pink just because, but using this chunky wool and a size 8 hook makes really cute big hearts. I think I'll make a lot of them and string them by the window.

I've also made this 'ho ho ho' bunting.

I used red and white felt and a checked ribbon I found in my stash. I think it's quite cute, I'm going to put it underneath my wreath (when I finally manage to make one - I may just cave and buy this one from Paperchase). I haven't decided what to put on the blank pieces yet - thinking snowflakes on the red, but what on the white? A stocking? I think it should stick to the red and white colour scheme. What do you think? 

Carly xo

Snuggly snoods!

Hello again! As I said in an earlier post, I am officially in LOVE with snoods this year. I've crocheted two so far and am working on my third which will be a Christmas gift. They are really quick to make so I may make a few for different people. Everyone wants to snuggle up warm, surely! I didn't follow any pattern, just played about and this was the outcome.

This blue one was my first attempt - I stopped when I ran out of blue wool, but I don't really use it much as I think it needs to be bigger. The cherries motif is just a series of crocheted circles, I think it turned out quite nicely.

I am re-creating the one I'm wearing in the photograph above as a Christmas gift as I love mine so much. I can't decide whether to decorate it with a bow, or with cherries or with crocheted flowers...or something else?

If anyone's interested in how I made the snoods I've just put a tutorial on my blog. They are easy peasy!

Sweet Little Slippers

Made this pair of baby booties last night for a baby shower this afternoon, and was remembering all the slippers I made from this pattern (mostly the larger sizes) last Christmas.

As much as I love freebies, I felt these patterns are well worth their download price. Very well written, and quick to make.

This style comes in all sizes, from baby to adult, in four patterns, which can be purchased in a group for a discount, or separately. Go here for more info.

The more boyish booties are every bit as cute, but these only come in baby sizes. If you're adept at crochet, you may be able to adapt the style for larger sizes.

Most of her slippers have a double sole, which you can do in the same yarn, but I used hemp for the outer soles to make them a little more durable, almost like shoes.

This time last year, I was madly crocheting away, making hemp soles for 10+ pairs of slippers, in a variety of sizes. One of these days, I may even make some for myself.
(I got my hemp yarn from LanaKnits)

Speaking of yarn, and freebies, and quick projects, you may want to check out all the free patterns I've linked to as I've worked through my Year of Ami challenge over at House Full of Monkeys. Every week, I choose one crochet and one knit pattern, found free online. Then I make one of each, and post about pattern issues (if any) as I go. It's been a fun challenge for me, and I've learned a lot about how to shape things in both knit and crochet, to the point that I'm starting to design toys and write up patterns.
If you're looking for something quick and easy, you might want to check it out.

A Christmas Crafter

Posies Tea Cosy (image via Ravelry)

Hello! My name is Sarah and I blog over at Rhinestones and Telephones. I love handmade and every year I try to make or bake as many gifts as possible. My family loves my homemade peppermint bark and this year I'm going to give Ina Garten's French Chocolate Bark a whirl, just to shake things up a bit.

I've recently started to crochet again and I'm really enjoying it. I've made a hat for myself and I'm going to give the tea cosy above a try. I was thinking of making up gift baskets for my family with the tea cosy, a new tea pot, a selection of teas, and my handmade barks and cookies.

Reading everyone's posts on here is very inspiring and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your creations. Thank you to Tilly for having me on board!