Gifted knits 2016 Part 1

Posted on December 30, 2016 by Patti_is_knittinginflashes

Fingerless mitts were on the needles of knitted gifts for my granddaughters this year.

The twins wanted mitts just like the ones I knit for their mother. I used some stash yarn I purchased years ago for sweaters for them (that didn’t get made). The difference is the edging color so they can tell them apart. Easy care acrylic yarn that is machine washable and dryable.

Shirl’s Mitts. Using worsted weight yarn and dropped down to size US 5 needle so they would be smaller.

I understand that as soon as these were unwrapped on Christmas morning, the girls put them on and wore them all day!

My other granddaughter wanted fingerless mitts as well. I decided to use a more complicated pattern since I only had to make one pair.

Point Reyes Mitts from Classic Elite. The pattern called for a wool/bamboo yarn but once again, I shopped from my stash. The color was the important part along with easy care so I used Cleckheaton Country 8 ply yarn, 100% washable wool. I also went down one size needle to US 3 to make them smaller.

Fun pattern that is both written and charted.

They fit her perfectly.

Day 1 of Advent/Christmas Wishes

Posted on December 1, 2016 by Patti_is_knittinginflashes

The box of Christmas Wishes arrived at their destination.

Loops were added this year so the packages could hang from a banister, railing, mantle, tree, or whatever.

Day 24 contains some special things that wouldn’t fit inside those small packets.

I love how my daughter decorated her mantel this year.

Do you do anything special for Advent?

Christmas Wishes 2016

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Patti_is_knittinginflashes

Before we get to the meat of this post, I want to thank all our veterans for serving and defending the freedoms we enjoy each and every day. Thank you so much.

Well, I’m really going against MY rules about posting something about Christmas before Thanksgiving in the US but I’m posting this now those of you who wanted/needed a reminder early enough so you can do this, too, if you want.

Christmas Wishes or an Advent calendar of sorts. A small gift, Words of encouragement, activity suggestion, simple craft, or treat is opened each day before Christmas. For more details, read this.

In the beginning I used brown paper lunch-sized bags. Then one year I wrapped each “gift” and quickly learned that I wasn’t doing that again! Finally I made those sour cream packets since I was using small items and the lunch bags were just too large.

I used card stock this year and glue sticks. The double-sided tape works better but is more expensive. Plus I didn’t have much tape.

I printed out the numbers and cut them out with a large hole punch. Paper sizes were 4×5, 4×6, and 6×6. A paper cutter works great but so does a rotary cutter.

The mini ornaments and no candy.

The card stock was sturdier than what I used in the past so I held the ends together with spring clips until the glue dried. I won’t lie, this took longer than using the double-sided tape but I needed to take breaks anyway.