| Archive for Crafty Threads 'n' Yarns The Friendly UK Board that invites Knitters, Crocheters, Dressmakers, Quilters, Patchworkers, Jewellery makers and Paper Crafters to join in our chat about Craft |
| loobyj |
Christmas alongWell. My word. It's only 57 knitting days until Christmas
So I think it's time to declare my christmas knitting target 
Ladies socks x 2 Mens socks x 1 Tea cosy x 2 Dog jumper x 1 Ladies cardi x 1 Not too bad is it? I've made a start on all of the socks - men's are plain ss in grey Trekking, ladies are Spring Forward in pink and blue Tofutsies. Yarn is bought for the cosies and the pattern is bought for the cardi. The dog needs to be measured before I buy the yarn for that 
But I'd hate to be enjoying myself all on my own - Christmas is for sharing - and so I wondered who'd like to join me in this Christmas KAL. What you're making doesn't need to be for present giving, it could just be something you fancy for yourself for the season. Or some decos (search Christmas on ravelry in the pattern tags - 500 pages of ideas )
So roll up, roll up - there's no entrance fee come along and join in
lj |
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| FatCat |
*resists the temptation to run away screaming with hands over ears* Oh go on then, I'll join you - it was the no entrance fee that swayed me   But I'm not really knitting much for Christmas this year so I'm only along to provide company I have to do a pair of socks for Mr FC (which I cast on yesterday) and a pair of socks, perhaps two pairs, for my sister, and I already have one sock finished of a pair that will probably be for her. So at the moment I'm not overly stressed about it
Intrigued about the dog jumper .... Rather you than me on that one! Is it a small dog ....?
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| pictish |
Dog coat??  I saw a dog hoodie the other day on Rav
I'm a bit stressed looking at that list lj Rather you than me but I'm sure you have it all planned out!!
I absolutely hate, loathe and detest knitting to deadlines and targets so no Christmas knitting for me after several sad and failed attempts leading to last minute dashes to find alternative presents
But I do like the idea of knitting someting special for Christmas (think I planned to do that last year though and it never happened ) so might join you you for that and cheer you and everyone else on from the sidelines
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| loobyj |
Ooo lovely. Two friends. Shall enjoy the company.
Sadly it's not a small dog. It's a 4 stone boxer who looks me in eye when she stands on her hind legs
I found the pattern on ravelry - it's one of those where you take the measurements of said dog and then calculate the number of stitches and so on. That will be the last thing to start I think. Ali - why don't you have a go at a little decoration or two for the tree? I've queued some great stuff over the last week - including some little elves made from corks.... lj |
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| FatCat |
Dog blankets? Elves made from corks? (Now I've got that Peter Kay thing in my head - Garlic? And bread? And sounding like a lunatic to anyone that hasn't seen that  )You sure you haven't started on the Christmas sherry already looby?
I know what you mean about knitting to deadlines Ali, I'm the same! Hency my very small and probably achievable list for this year  And if I don't get them finished then my sister and Mr FC will have socks for their birthdays instead
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| Nevisknitter |
I'll be knitting a nativity for christmas, needs to be done by start of December, my mum gave me a bag of wool from one of her friends. it belonged to the friends mum who had started the nativity, my mum wondered if I could finish it. | ||||||
| Auntie Noo |
Well I haven't even thought about it - but heck why not!!
i want to knit my grandmother a cowl in baby merino or something - It needs to be buttoned as she won't put anything like that over her head so I haven't even found a pattern yet, So that's one thing, and there will almost certainly be dishcloths and maybe socks....... gosh only 57 days and I don't even have the list ready!!!
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| pictish |
Noo there's a gorgeous buttoned cowl that turns into a scarf by Ysolda in the 2nd Whimsical Knits - it's here - Rav link though just looking it's more of a hood than a cowl
Lj I might do a bit of the nativity I keep saying I want to do!!
ETA Just found this one Noo as well. |
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| modelwidow |
I'll join you too.
I only knit for my 'Lace friends' ( the ladies who I meet with once a week to make bobbin lace) as they appreciate what goes into hand made gifts. We only give small gifts so this year I have decided to knit bookmarks and mount them on the greetings card so they can easily be removed and used after Christmas. So my target is just Bookmarks x 4 |
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| Auntie Noo |
ooh thanks Ali - those are both lovely (fancy ysolda's one for myself!!) | ||||||
| pictish |
Me too 
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| loobyj |
@ FC. Taste sensation Though I could blame it all on the rum fumes from the soaking fruit!
But honestly, I've not dreamed them up - look here I think they're great
Not sure that I shall get round to any this year though - nativity stuffing should come before elves! lj |
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| Anna |
I'm another who doesn't really do Christmas knitting. I did last year - I made my Dad a pair of socks as a thank you for nursing me after I came out of hospital, but that's it. Only special people need apply for knitted gifts from me
But I could try and make something for me, even if it's only some Christmas socks
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| knittingnanny |
For financial reasons, I had loads of gifts to make last year, so this year it's a lot less. I just ain't doing that again
I need to do a CPH for DD - yarn is in the stash, but not started yet
Plus a request for a chunky cardi - I made one for me, and my friend wants on like it for her daughter. Unfortunately she's an adult, not aged 2-3
I'd also like to make a few chrissy decs for someone who has just moved into a new flat - she's really excited about decorating for Christmas. And, as usual, I already have a few other WIPs otn
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| terri |
yes I'll join!!!!!!
I actually jotted a bit of a list in my notebook at the begining of the week
Two of "Mi escuelita" for my nieces, one is done and just needs the buttons sewn on. Two child size FLS , one is cast on Sharfik for one of my friends My so called scarf for another friend, already completed. Not too bad and if I run out of time I can gift a cardi each to my nieces, rather than two each. I might make some mitts or socks to add to peoples stockings too if I find I have time.................................. OOOOOOHHHH, almost forgot!!!!! I had planned to make a christmas stocking for Jackson too
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| franney |
I'm in! I've been Christmas knitting part-time since about June and haven't got very far!! Two Baktuses finished and one domino scarf half done, but i don't have anyone else that i MUST knit for, just if i want to, if that makes sense?
I love the idea of a bookmark mounted on a card, do you mind if i copy you MW? They'll make fab gifts for the ladies in my knitting group and won't take very long to do at all! |
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| GrannySmith |
GrannySmith is rolling up I am going to knit a scarf for DD's boyfriend, who has commented on the scarf I am knitting for DH, so that is one thing on the list.
If I can I will also do a shawl for DD's godmother, so that may be two things.
When you knit the coat for the mad mad boxer, I think you should knit in hair bobbles, she would just love it then
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| janice |
Need to finish a Baktus and aran hoodie for DGS, then there are
a partner for DH's sock a partner for my dad's sock
pair socks for mum, DS1, DS2, DD and maybe her DH. But I have also been asked by my auntie if I could knit a few things for a baby, my Italian cousin is about 6 months pregnant and apparently Italians love handknits for their babies So I have one wee cardie to finish, and I'm hoping to get another couple done, plus a couple wee hats and maybe wee bootees/socks. My auntie is hopefully coming over in December for a month so I need to finish for then She had hoped to be allowed over for longer but the doctor said no, a month is long enough . (my auntie has lung cancer)
Actually my list doesn't look too bad despite the men socks on it
Oh and I still have a sock for my secret swap partner, and if I have time, 2 wise men, 1 shepherd and baby Jesus
Silly list, it just got longer
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| modelwidow |
I don't mind at all Franney. Last year I made Mini sock decorations and attached them to cards too - they were very well received, so I thought I would try a variation on a theme this year - only trouble is 'cos I knit so loose I am having 'fun' with the tension atm - my smallest needles are 2mm and they are too big - just off to try and create some finer needles using a medal rod from DH's modellling stash and a couple of beads - will let you know how I get on. |
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| loobyj |
Well it's the end of week one - 50 knitting days left and Christmas Day is seven weeks tomorrow Time for our first confession/progress reports methinks
Have to say my progress has been very s l o w A wedding cake which has to be out of the house tonight has impeded me somewhat I managed a few rounds of a sock the other lunchtime, but that's it from me
But I'm not panicking yet - there's still plenty of time But, I think sock knitting on the train is the order of the day - that frees up the evening at home for the other bits and pieces. And Twist which I'd really like to finish for the end of November
How've you all done?
lj |
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| Auntie Noo |
eeerrrrrrr - still not made the list! - I am enjoying knitting a cardigan at the moment, and Christmas seems like such a long way off!!
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| craftylady |
I have done some Christmas knitting since the summer, A cardigan for DD2 and a snuggle blanket for DD1 which although is cast off and sewn in needs to be unpicked and finished off differently. I have 3 pairs of socks to do ( 1 man sized) but they won't really matter if they don't get done. I'm away on holiday for 10 days in the middle of November but I have a FCS scheduled for that.
Good luck everyone. |
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| terri |
I've sewn the buttons onto my nieces "mi escuelita" so thats all finished, and I've almost done the body of the child size Feb lady sweater for my other niece, so not too bad here 
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| Nevisknitter |
I have Mary and Jesus knit for the nativity, hoping to get the manger and Joseph done by the end of the week. Yet to sew anything up though. | ||||||
| FatCat |
LOL, I hadn't realised the Christmas Knitalong Police would be carrying out regular progress checks! But I think you can be excused lack of progress if you've been making a wedding cake looby 
I've finished the first sock of Mr FC's pair, and done the ribbing on the second. That's just a plain vanilla man-sized sock so nothing complicated. And I have dug out the yarn for the socks for my sister, just need to cast them on. They'll be a plain vanilla pair too so easy train/telly knitting
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| pictish |
I'm knitting a cardi too which might or might not turn out to be my Christmas one
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| loobyj |
Oooo I didn't mean to sound like the progress police
Trouble is, I really need to keep myself on a tight rein this year - and I think reporting back to you lot on a weekly basis might be the only way of doing it Whereas naturally I fall into Noo's camp - Christmas does seem like a long way off
lj |
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| malteser |
I have already knit two washcloths and am knitting DH a Cobblestone sweater. I want to knit my mum a scarf. She has arthritis and likes to keep her neck warm so I am looking at something that she can wear indoors. | ||||||
| FatCat |
isn't that where Barcelona play their football .....?
I'm the same though, Christmas seems like ages away! But it'll be over and done with before we know it. Which at least would stop me being grumpy about Christmas adverts 
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| Auntie Noo |
Too funny
Maybe they just put them on early to remind us knitters that there is actually a deadline approaching?! |
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| janice |
I've knitted a sock and am now on the hood of the aran hoodie I've just the second sleeve and sewing/borders to do on the first wee baby cardie as well. Plus I have finished one cross stitch picture and I have done 5 cross stitch pictures for Christmas cards I appear to be on a roll
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| loobyj |
I just choked on my lunch
Very funny
lj |
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| loobyj |
Well, well. 41 knitting days to Christmas. Six weeks tomorrow.
Anyway, I've made some progress this week
I bought the yarn for the chunky cardi I'm making for my sister and cast on Monday night - finished the back last night and am halfway up the first front. Ages since I've done anything on 10mm needles - I'd forgotten how quickly it growsn
Yarn is bought for the dog coat too - you'll laugh, but Click DK, this is going to be a well dressed dog! So all in all I'm feeling quite chipper
lj |
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| FatCat |
Good grief, it's time for the Weekly Check already? Doesn't seem like a week since the last one! Wow, you've made good progress though 
I, however, have not Was bogged down (no pun intended) with plumbing woes last week and away for the weekend and the first part of this week for work, all of which has seriously cut down on my knitting time But, at least I had a couple of long train journeys which meant I could make a serious start on my sister's socks, and have just turned the heel of the first one. And I've only got the foot to do of the second one for Mr FC. So it's all under control, 6 weeks should be enough time
Looking forward to seeing the dog coat ....
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| terri |
I'm no further forward than last week I've been getting my swap socks finished
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| Auntie Noo |
I'm still not really feeling the Christmas vibe - I need frost first!!
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| malteser |
I am still struggling with the Cobblestone jumper for dh. I seem to knit and knit and still make no progress. I cast on a scarf for my mum this morning to give me a change. | ||||||
| franney |
I've kind of geiven up on Christmas knitting, having started out with good intentions i got caught up in hat and shawl knitting
Still, there's always next year
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| Nevisknitter |
I've knit the crib for the nativity, and started Joseph. | ||||||
| loobyj |
I finished the first front of the cardi last night - so this is going to be a speedy knit Only trouble with knitting with 10mm needles - they make my wrists ache 
lj |
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| FatCat |
yay, well done! Sorry about the aching wrists though - but if it's a speedy knit then perhaps you can do a bit of it, and then leave it for a while and do a bit of something else.
I finished Mr FC's socks last night, so that's one thing crossed off my very short list. Just my sister's pair to do now
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| craftylady |
I might make astart on some socks after my holiday, I've looked out the yarn already. I think maybe 3 pairs in 4 weeks could be too much for me. We'll see. | ||||||
| FatCat |
Go for it! I reckon you can do it!
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| craftylady |
That sounds like a challenge FC?
I'll keep you informed! |
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| Wildpurl |
I don't do knitting for Christmas in the form of gifts - too stressful - but I would like to knit a nativity this year. So if I start it I'll report in here LOL | ||||||
| FatCat |
Well, I'm done with the Christmas knitting I only had the pair to do for my sister and they're finished, with pics in Look What I Made
It's only, what, 30 odd days or so to go, so how's everyone else doing? |
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| loobyj |
Well done FC - you're the first finisher this year
I've been working on Twist this week, so very little progress on the present knitting to report - but hey, there's still 33 days to go
lj |
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| loobyj |
If you listen very carefully, you'll hear just a hint of panic in my voice today
There are 28 days left before Christmas and this week I haven't done anything knitting for any of my presents I've got several things half done, but nothing completed.
So. I'm going to make myself a Plan of Action. I'll be back. lj |
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| franney |
Good luck Looby!!
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