6 Knitted Christmas Decoration Ideas

I cannot believe that we are already in December – especially because when I look out the window all I see is brilliant sunshine, green trees and birds happily picking around in our garden. Clearly I’m not the only one having trouble tuning in to things that are topically considered Christmassy in other parts, though. Air New Zealand has just released their version of a Southern Hemisphere Christmas song, Summer Wonderland, with a cool video starring none other than Ronan Keating and the young kiwi actor Julian Dennison. There you have it dear Northern Hemisphere readers, Christmas is not all snow balls and sleigh bells!

With that said, I still couldn’t stop myself from going through the Christmas-themed projects I’d favourited on Ravelry over the past years. Only to conclude that, yet another year, I’ll most likely not be knitting any Christmas decorations. I mean, who doesn’t dream of having all sorts of beautiful, although sometimes kitsch, handmade things in their home this time around? But, there is the downside being that most of this stuff actually takes a lot of time to make – hence requires… ehm… planning ahead.

Take for instance Christmas stockings. These would be the knitted Christmas item par excellence in my dictionary, but they are pretty time intensive colourwork projects. Of course, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t some relatively quick Christmassy options available for us with less foresight / enthusiasm / both.

Eventually, I ended up with two lists: 1. Kind of cool Christmas things I definitely won’t knit this year, or maybe never, 2. Christmas items I could potentially knit in the following few weeks, but probably won’t. The fact that I’m not (yet) possessed by the Christmas spirit should, of course, in no ways hold you back from making your pick and getting inspired by the projects in each list. That is the whole point!

Kinda cool, but definitely not this year – maybe never

1. Knitted christmas stockings

As I said above, these seem to me as the knitted Christmas item par excellence – well, after really kitsch Christmas sweaters, but I won’t even go there. Whether you opt for solely decorative stockings to be stuffed with presents or a more practical pair of wearable Christmas-themed socks, you are in for some serious stranded knitting. For me, the ultimate Christmas stockings would look like the ones proposed by Dorene Delaney Giordano. I mean, some traditional motives and your name on it, hanging above the fire place! How cool is that?! Never mind the fact that we haven’t got anything remotely resembling a fire place. It is still cool! A wearable alternative for practical minded knitters is this pair of socks by Drops design.

Three Christmas Stockings. Photo credit: Dorene Delaney Giordano

Christmas socks. Photo credit: Drops desin

2. Mitten Garland Advent Calendar

One thing I particularly loved about Christmas as a kid were those advent calendars with a cardboard cover having a “window” for each day of December. Behind each window you would find a piece of chocolate. The chocolate was not the best quality, but the fun of finding the window with the right number – they were scattered around in no particular order – and seeing what shape the day’s chocolate would be were something to look forward to on each gloomy winter morning! I also always thought it would be kind of fun to have an advent calendar where the “gift” of each day was a real surprise, as opposed to yet another piece of chocolate. This is far from impossible to create, but I’ve always been too lazy to do it. So, imagine knitting 24 different tiny mittens to hold these gifts! I would have to start today to be ready for next Christmas! It is kind of cute though; just have a look at Kat Lewinski’s Mitten Garland Advent Calendar.

Mitten Garland Advent Calendar. Photo credit: Kathy Lewinski

Mitten Garland Advent Calendar. Photo credit: Kathy Lewinski

3. Christmas Mice

A Christmas round-up wouldn’t be complete without Alan Dart’s Dickensian Mice – the outdoors and indoors Christmas party edition. This must be the future old lady me speaking, but aren’t they adorable? If you are into mice, but low on time, the designer has a free pattern called Furry Fairies, which, as you might have guessed, are tiny mouse fairies to be used as Christmas ornaments.

“Quickies” that I could potentially knit, but probably won’t

All of the “quicker” projects I’ve found are of course Christmas ornaments. If you have some time on your hands, they seem like a good way to get rid of all those leftovers in your stash. Also, they can make cute and inexpensive gifts.

4. Stjärna

Stjärna by Karolina Eckerdal is by far the most appealing to me. I can see these cute stars made in some roustic natural colour wool as well as red / purple. Oh wait, I even have that in my stash! Maybe, maybe…

5. Balls Up !

There are a lot of Christmas ball patterns out there, the reason why Balls up! by General Hogbuffer caught my eyes is the Nordic-style motives on the newer in blue, white and red versions. I’m not sure what’s the point in knitting Christmas balls when you can buy nice sparkly and shiny ones, but again, they are handmade and CUTE!

6. Gingerbread Boy

Of course there is no Christmas without gingerbread! Be it star-shaped, house-shaped, man-shaped, gingerbread is a must! Gingerbread Boy by Sara Elizabeth Kellner is just what you need to produce a non-edible, hence permanent version.

Balls Up! Photo credit: General Hogbuffer

Stjärna. Photo credit: Karolina Eckerdal

Gingerbread Boy. Photo credit: Sara Elizabeth Kellner

P.S.: If interested, I have collected a few more ideas on my Christmas knitting + crochet Pinterest board.

Favourites from Making No. 2 – Fauna

I clearly have a thing for craft books and magazines. I remember being a little girl, when there wasn’t really an abundance of resources available in Hungary, and so often I would hold a book in your hands with its lovely projects, wondering where on earth I could get the necessary materials and tools from. In particular, my mother owned a red book called the “Big book of handcrafts”, which I would never get tired of. I would leaf through the book over and over again, choosing new favourite projects each time, and feeling amazed at the same time as utterly overwhelmed. I wanted to make EVERYTHING that was in there, only, for the most part, I didn’t know how or I did’t dare to ask for money to buy threads or yarns or whatnot.

Holding the Making magazine in my hands evokes a similar feeling. I wish I had all the time in the world and access to all the supplies, ingredients and tools I can imagine – as well as the combined skills of a regiment of lovely grannies, to be able to make everything from cover to cover. Carrie Bostick Hoge’s editorial project is so well thought through and executed, featuring a collection of gorgeous fiber projects, accompanied by lovely photography, inspiring articles and mouthwatering recipes. It really is a great display of what a pair of able crafty hands are capable of, from making garments to crafting toys and homeware.

It is so so so hard to pick favourites, even if I restrain myself to knitting projects (there are 17 of them!) – since realistically I’m not going to be transitioning to sewing or embroidery anytime soon. I’ll still attempt a top 3 of items I see myself highly likely to cast on at some point in the future:

Arctic Cardigan – Photo credit: Carrie Bostick Hodge

Open Water Cowl – Photo credit: Carrie Bostick Hodge

Byssus Cocoon – Photo credit: Carrie Bostick Hodge

 

1. Open Waters Cowl by Melanie Berg. I’ve already mentioned in an earlier post how much I loved this design. Such a special-looking stitch and such an exceptionally unique cowl.
2.  Arctic Cardigan by Carrie Bostick Hoge. This cardigan promises to be a fast(ish) knit and it’s so simple and wearable. I’m definitely sold.
3. Byssus Cocoon by Bristol Ivy. I’ve declared my love for shrugs before, which I find far more practical and easier to wear than shawls. This looks like the perfect thin layer to throw on in a cool summer evening.

On a final note, Making is only available in paper format, meaning no digital copies. I’ve been fortunate to find it in the lovely Minerva store here in Wellington, but I’ve seen it’s sold out already in so many places. In case you miss out and really fancy some of the projects, as far as I can see, patterns from the previous issue (but not the current one) are now available for purchase through digital download on Ravelry.

Textures. Full stop. – 3 Gorgeous textured knitting patterns

I have a confession to make. Knitting (and I like to think it wasn’t age…) has considerably changed my taste in, well, knitwear. In general, I’ve been known for wearing bold colours, like, all the time, as well as for consciously avoiding plain white, grey, and especially black. Man, I used to hate black with a passion – this, after going through a brief period of wearing nothing else but black during my teenage years.

I remember when I picked up the needles a few years ago, my ultimate goal was to be able to knit those funky colourwork patterns. Then one day I decided to have a go at a cable cardigan: Aidez, a free pattern created by Cirilia Rose for Berroco. Although I quite liked the cardigan, I think the main reason I wanted to knit it was to try my hands at all those fancy looking cable stitches; plus the pattern was free.

Now, that was over two years ago, and by now 1) I’ve learnt to appreciate both the practicality and the beauty of more subdued and natural colours. Beige and the different shades of grey are so easy to wear with literally anything. I’m still not convinced about plain black though. 2) I’ve become completely addicted to the different textures one can create with knit fabric. They are both gorgeous and exciting. I guess, I will in no way go for plain and simple. Even if the colours are subdued, there has to be something “special” or “different” about my clothes. I don’t think I’ll be knitting plain stockinette sweaters anytime soon – and not that there’s anything wrong with them.

In accordance with the above, it was no wonder I wanted my top-down knitalong sweater to have an all-over stitch pattern on the body. But it goes without saying that I’m no professional designer. Mental note: I really really have to invest in a few good stitch dictionaries – recommendations welcome.

All this prelude was necessary to create enough “suspense” before I show you my newest finds: three patterns that so blow me away. All three of them were written for Woolfolk’s new yarn quality, TOV, and two are in fact found in the TOV Collection (on Ravelry). The whole collection is exceptional, but these days I mostly seem to be into repetitive geometrical stuff, so my absolute favourites are Bue by Nele Redweik and Rille by Olga Buraya-Kefelian.

Bue is a cool vest/sleeveless sweater that I can see myself layering over blouses and thinner long sleeve tops. I don’t think I ever wore anything like this, but I have to say I quite like the idea. But the main thing is the cable pattern. Isn’t it just so dreamy-flowy and mesmerizing? I might prefer the west in a more drapy and slightly more fluffy-cuddly yarn though.

Photo credit: Woolfolk

Rille is the simplest of beanies that in a way reminds me of Gudrun Johnston’s Hermaness Worsted. It seems to have a similar wave pattern, without the lacey bit. I have absolutely loved knitting the Hermaness, and I really like the clean and simple wave stitch in Rille.

The third design I’m absolutely in love with is the Open Waters cowl by Melanie Berg, which was incidentally also created for the TOV yarn. Just how cool is it? The pattern is published in No.2 of the Making magazine, which I hope will make its way to one of the shops here in Wellington.

Photo credit: Melanie Berg

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P.S.: I thought I’d add some árbore·do·fogo shop news here. I’ve been busy working on new designs as well as taking photos, posting on Instagram and developing some sort of a work routine. With respect to last time, now I have three new items in the shop: the Mighty Fox necklace, the Banana Love necklace and a new colour version of Golden Star. Click through to have a look if you fancy.

Might Fox

Banana Love

Golden Star