Not a moment to spare, the Bitty Baby Christmas clothes are complete! So much fun to make…it was a lot to finish in these last weeks before the holiday, but well worth it. Their little owners will be delighted, I think! I know I am. 🙂
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I confess, I love Christmas. In fact, it would be hard to find anything about the holiday I don’t like…and I work retail!
And as much as our family strives to keep Christ at the center of our home, I confess to be an absolute Rankin-Bass groupee, too. Frosty, Rudolph, Kris Kringle…I can take only so much claymation cuteness and I start craving my yarn and iPod! Now that I have developed adequate amigurumi proficiency I can actually make those adorable creatures, and more. And if I can do it, so can you! Here are my favorite ELF patterns of the season:
1. Superb ELF socks
These socks are the best thing I’ve seen yet for Christmas novelty! LOVE the slightly aztec design, and bulky yarn means they make up quickly,soft and warm. Here’s the link:
http://crochetforfree.blogspot.com/2011/11/chunky-i-hook-adult-female-adult-male.html
2. Stripey ELF Hat Rage
Elf hats are all over the internet! And so cute. Here is a free pattern from which you can make just about any of the designs you find online…or can dream up!
http://alemondropplife.blogspot.com/2010/09/pattern-as-promised.html
3. Throwback Elfy-Darlings
I love spirals! I remember playing with something like this as a child and loving the feel. What a great idea to make elves! Also available: Santa, reindeer and a snowman…so cute!
http://www.craftelf.com/christmas-ornaments-crochet-curly-elf.html
4. Best Baby Dolly Elves
These darlings are so precious…and you don’t even have to be able to read Estonian, thanks to Google translate! What an amazing age we live in, that we can share creativity effortlessly across language barriers. This design would make a sweet spring dolly, too.
http://lilleliis.blogspot.com/2012/01/kaisu-mart-kaisu-kart-ja-oie-beebi.html
5. Best Classic Elf Cuteness
Love these guys! She has a great balance and color in the design, and several varieties with the same simple, elegant look.
If you are like me, and refuse to pay for patterns…at least not until giving it a go on my own and learning quite a bit in the process!…here is the link to a basic rounded-limb amigurami– I love this pattern, and have made an entire zoo of animals to give as gifts. Lengthening the limbs will give you the dimensions you need for elf-ishness. She also has some great tips for sewing and lots of helpful pictures.
Little Big Feet :
http://www.amigurumitogo.com/2012/06/hippo.html
http://www.amigurumitogo.com/2012/06/hippo.html
6. ELF Slippers! Or Are They Chili Peppers? 😀
So cute! Learning the crocodile stitch is on my to-do list for this winter. Can’t wait to give it a go. She provides a link for a good tutorial with this pattern:
http://jeereparip.blogspot.com/2012/09/tutorial-for-chilielf-crochet-baby-shoes.html
Happy Hooking! May you be blessed this busy season, and find time to rejoice in life, and family. More Christmas Cuteness next week…All About Nativities!
It’s TREES! Everywhere I look, I see Christmas trees. It started this weekend, when the entire community (except us, hee hee) came out en mass to purchase their spruce or fir. Nearly every car on the interstate sported a fuzzy green mo-hawk last Sunday. But not ours!
Don’t get me wrong, I am crazy about Christmas trees. The first year we were married, my husband disappeared for the opening weekend of deer hunting, and when he returned, out apartment looked like it had been shot with a Christmas glitter canon. Being the realist he is, this didn’t sit well with my honey. He pointed out that it wasn’t even Thanksgiving. And that decorating our home for Christmas was something he wanted to do TOGETHER. How could I argue with that? In short, I didn’t. I made a note that my new spouse was not a six-weeks-before-Christmas kind of guy, and he learned that it was unwise to leave me alone for too long; who knew what I might come up with? 🙂
Over the years… nearly twenty now… I have gravitated more to his preferences when it comes to the Christmas season. While I do have a wonderfully gaudy fiber-optic tree that we break out on Thanksgiving (my eleven year old put it up this year, such a treat, complete with several crocheted chains she made mid-process), WE  literally wait until days before to hunt down our evergreen. We look for soft needles, and avoid balsam (the eleven year old gets a rash). Sometimes all the local lots are sold out. But we get a great deal, and almost no needles all over the floor, since we keep it for, oh, five days?
To me, the Christmas tree is one of the prettiest parts of the season. The decorating schemes are endless, but always sparkle!
Here are some sweet and stunning patterns I love:
1. Pretty Tree Ornament
http://koalakidsfashion.blogspot.com/search/label/patterns%202011
This one (above) isn’t free, but I just love it. Looks like a single crochet and shell stitch combo to me, not too difficult to imitate. Then lots of beading and embroidery. My sewing skills have increased exponentially with learning to make amigurami and some of the more complex crochet items. Who knew?
Now onto those of us who have joined the Granny Square Craze:
2. Gorgeous Granny Square Tree
http://sewritzytitzy.blogspot.com/2012/12/i-spy-vintage-granny-square-christmas.html
I love the sweet story on her blog as to how this design came about. If you love grannies like I do, go for it! It will make up quickly and would be a wonderful gift.
3. Adorable Christmas Tree Hat
No tree collection is complete without a hat! This is my favorite hat this season: beads and all…
http://www.crochetspot.com/crochet-pattern-christmas-tree-hat-5-sizes/
Using a basic coned-shaped increase (like the unicorn horn from Repeat Crafter Me) add a row of sc, ch-3, sc around, every other row. To crochet in the beads (you can also sew them on after), you would slip them on the yarn before starting. An adventure, to be sure, but very cute! I have a lace-look infant hat sitting here with bead work worked in the stitches that has been staring at me for about a year, lol.
4. Pretty Paper Trees
http://krokotak.com/2013/11/fold-a-fir-tree/
Such a simple idea, but so pretty, and fun for the kids, too. Lots of different colors would be fun, and GLITTER!!! You can never have too much glitter, just too many two-year-olds…
5. Easy Country Garland
http://www.crochettoday.com/crochet-patterns/tree-garland
I love the possibilities! This simple garland could be made to match any decor or color scheme. Monochromatic, brights, earth tones…choose your own adventure! Add buttons, beads, bells…
6. Pretty Beaded Ornament
http://www.etsy.com/listing/61765650/christmas-ornament-beaded-christmas-tree
While I am not as artistic as this lovely piece, a less intricate version would make a wonderful craft for older children. I know we have plenty of beads in our collection, and quite a variety, too! I’m looking forward to having a go at it.
So there you are, lots of pretty trees on this chilly day. Off to make more reindeer hats here, just two more weeks to get those finished in time for delivery!
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