Better a belated holiday wrap-up than never! What with such a range of prices for gift wrap this year I got a few different designs for a little holiday splurge and wrapped up my gifts, handmade and otherwise.
When I knit a hat for my Dad last year from Lion Brand Vanna's Choice in Taupe Mist it only fit Guinness the dog, so I tried again for Christmas...it sorta fit, but quite snugly -- gee, a gauge swatch really is a good idea! Off to buy more yarn and a new pattern, here's to hoping 3rd time's a charm.
I made my sister Emily a lace applique tank very similar to mine.
And used the Heather Prime Alpaca I got back in October from ImagiKnit in San Francisco
t
o make her a fluffy pink Diamond Knit Cowl from a beautiful pattern by Susan St. Martin.
And THIS actually fit (much easier)! I whole-heartedly recommend Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off, a really nice finishing touch.
The tank and cowl got wrapped up in little, pink packages with Martha Stewart craft punch Icelandic snowflakes.
I liked that her gift to me was wrapped so the penguin was peeking out around the little gold bow.
Feeling a little chilly myself I started a cowl for me with 2 huge balls of heavy grey wool my Aunt Jean sent me as part of a big box of craft supplies donated to my blog!
It seemed the perfect yarn for the chunky seed stitch pattern of the GAP-tastic cowl by Jen Geigley. I got about 1/3 through before running out of yarn (mental note: this and the hat fiasco proving I must work on more accurate yarn-age estimates...) but no worries, it's quite wide.
I can drape it twice around my neck and hopefully stave off these cold, cold days we've been having in NYC.
Happy New Year crafting!
11 comments:
I'm so impressed with your cowl scarf! That's my favorite kind. Wow, I would love to learn how to knit! Resolution #1?
I'm so impressed by all your crafts! Honestly, the craftiest I get is cooking. It's a start, right? Maybe this year I'll discover a hidden talent.
You are too cool! I can't believe you knitted that pretty scarf! So jealous I don't have such talent!
Wish I paid more attention to my gift wrapping especially after all the hard work of making the gifts itself. Sydney doesn't get that cold to wear a cowl scarf but I think I might knit some for this winter as presents. What a great idea. Looking forward to see your dad's hat version 3.
Happy New Year.
thanks, Helen! i'm working on my resolutions post now ;-) i bought a friend this holiday present, it's how i taught myself:
http://www.amazon.com/Taught-Myself-Knitting-Beginners-Kit/dp/B000WV867Q
hi Brandi, cooking is MY new challenge! here's to new discoveries in '11.
hi Girlie Blog, u could totally do it, for sure!
haha, thanks, Vicky, the next hat just HAS TO work!! and yea, there are cowls all over nyc at the moment.
Jen, the cowl looks great! I love the airiness of the stitch pattern and the cozy slouchiness of the finished cowl. I'm so glad you enjoyed my pattern!
hi Susan! thanks for visiting and for your wonderful pattern. i tried to design my own, but i'm just not there yet ;-) i like the way your pic has it standing up, i'm going to tell emily.
My cousin-in-law made me a cowl scarf with a really similar stitching (i don't know knitting terms...) Mine looks a lot like yours!
That's impressive you made so many of your gifts!
thanks, milk tea + polkadots, would love to see your cowl! it's a seed stitch, so first you do a knit stitch, then a purl stitch and keep repeating around and around... :-)
u are so good at the knitting!! and your christmas craft stash is a lot neater than mine. Love the greyish cowl
thanks, Hearthandmade, i sorta neatened that craft stash a bit for the picture, haha...
Post a Comment