Tuesday 22 December 2009

A very merry Christmas from me

Just a note to wish you all a very happy Christmas - I hope it's all you wish for and more - have a lovely holiday. I'll be back after Boxing Day, and in the meantime, have a listen to this:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f1VPUO96X8&feature=related

Monday 21 December 2009

Winter Solstice




Time to bring out more candles and decorate the house with greenery - now done, the sitting room looks very festive. The holly and ivy were cut fresh from the garden, the mistletoe bought a while back from the farmer's market. Every year I try to get it to grow in the apple trees by squashing in the berries; no luck yet, but I keep on trying! The Yule log is ready to come indoors.
It's very cold here today; the sky is heavy looking, and it could very well snow, which I would love. I've just turned the stove up for supper - beef stew and dumplings tonight I think - and the woodburner will be lit soon, the curtains drawn, and in for the evening, setled down with some knitting and a glass of something nice.

Blessings to all on this winter solstice.

Sunday 20 December 2009

Knitted mini festive bunting


I'm pleased with the way this turned out; it's for a forum swap, so I'll have to make another string for myself! It's a good way of using up little bits of leftovers - this one used some chunky red, handspun multi sparkly green and some really fun twinkly white, which I think give the whole thing a lift and a fun feel. The little triangles are knitted individually, then joined at the corners and across the tops with crochet; an alternative way would be to just take a couple of stitches at the corners. Add on a string to hang by at each end, and it's ready to hang up, or drape on the tree. Very adapatable - make the triangles any size you like, all different colours, all one colour, anything at all - can be adapted for seasons (eg browns and oranges for autumn), or occasions, eg baby colours for a newborn, pinks for a girlie bunting, etc.

I used 5.5 mm needles and chunky-ish wool, and knitted in garter (plain) stitch.

Cast on 12 stitches and knit 2 rows.
Next row: dec 1 st at each end of row
Next row: knit

Repeat last 2 rows until 1 stitch is left on needle, draw yarn through and fasten off. Darn/weave in ends.
Make as many as you need, then join in one of the ways described above.