Swatchless

It was a crafty Friday!

A group of us got together and made porcelain snowflake Christmas ornaments.  It’s a wonderful thing to know a potter who is generous in their time and materials.  If you have access to clay and a kiln, and want to know what we did, here are the steps.

1.  Make a paper snowflake.  Fold paper into quarters or sixths and cut out along the edge and the middle.

2.  Unfold the snowflake and use a damp sponge to adhere it to a thin rolled slab of porcelain.

3. Using a scalpel blade/exacto knife, cut out the snowflake.

4.  Peel back the paper, and let the snowflake dry and harden.

5.  Fire the snowflake in a kiln.

Some of us were not really into the whole snowflake thing.  They thought that making guns ornaments would be more manly.

I look forward to seeing what the finished products look like.

It seems like Christmas was ages ago.  Trees are now being thrown out, decorations have been carefully put away, and gifts are now being put to good use.

This year I was surprised and very happy to receive this beautiful ornament made by Candra.  I’ve examined the construction, and it appears to be a glass ball ornament, painted to represent the globe, suspended from a pair of painted chopstick knitting needles.  The world is decorated with “Knit The World” written in many languages.  Such a thoughtful, handmade gift will be treasured for years to come.

This ornament came with a gorgeous skein of Cascade 220 hand-dyed to a shade of pale green, and a story of a chance encounter in Wool-Tyme when Candra and I were both there, secretly buying gifts for each other at the same time.  We both recently had a good giggle when we realized what went on that day.

Did you get any great knitting gifts?

I am enjoying my new knitting journal given to me by a colleague.  Between the covers of the notebook are sheets of paper/graph paper, and reference materials that are proving very useful for sketching my new pattern ideas, and keeping track of my current projects.

A used copy of the book, Glorious Colour by Kaffe Fassett, has been a good resource for interesting colour combinations.  I’m sure I’ll continue to flip through it from time to time when looking for design inspiration.

Knitting bobbins are another thing that I’m thanking Santa for.  These will save me hours of frustrating untangling time when I’m knitting with several colours.  Contrast colours are wound onto the bobbins, and can hang inside/behind the work-in-progress until they are used.  Anything that saves me time and frustration is very welcome!

What knitting toys did Santa bring you?

Happy Holidays Everyone!

I have been looking for a project that could be finished quickly.

Something that with minimum effort would give maximum results….

And it has to be festive.

I decided that it would have to be a TINY project.

One that is small enough to fit in a little glass ball, and hang from my Christmas tree.

Instructions….Just in case you are in the mood for some tiny festive knitting

Mini Striped Sock (toe-up)

With 2.0mm needles and laceweight red yarn cast on 8 sts (figure of 8 method)

Knit in round increasing at either side of the toe every round until 16 sts in round

Knit in alternating red and white stripes (I did it so there were 5 white stripes)

Make a short row heel in red

Continue knitting up the leg of the sock (16 sts in round) in alternating red and white stripes (I did it so there were 7 white stripes)

Knit 4 rounds of K1P1 ribbing. Cast off in ribbing.

Mini Mittens (make 2 and put on string)

Cast on 10 sts in the round with white

Knit 3 rounds white

Knit 1 round red

K1 red K1 white around

K1 round red

K1 round white

put two stitches on spare yarn for thumb

Cast on 2 sts over thumb hole

Knit 5 rounds.

K1 K2tog until 2 or 3 sts remain. Draw yarn through remaining sts and pull tight.

THUMB: pick up 2 sts from scrap yarn, and 2 sts from above thumb.

Knit 3 rows on those 4 sts.

K2tog twice

Pull yarn through sts, and pull tight.

Santa Hat:

Cast on 20 sts in white.

Purl 3 rounds white

Knit 6 rounds red

Decrease. K3 K2tog until 3 sts. remain.

Knit remaining 3 sts in white for 3 rounds.

Cast off. Tie tail yarn around where the white joined the red to make it look like a pompom.

Festive Knitting: (sticks and strings)

Cast on 10 sts in white. Knit 4 rows. Knit 4 rows green. Knit 4 rows white.

Transfer stitches to round toothpicks that have been cut in two.

Wrap up the ends into small balls of wool (use a half hitch to secure the ball so it wont unwind)

suspend from both ends of needles.

What should come next???

Note: Glass balls were purchased from Michael’s Craft Store.

Have you seen my pattern for Olympic Red Mittens yet?