Summer Knitting and crocheting, aka Getting Ready for the Holidays

Summer knitting and crocheting

Once the flip flops and beach apparel have been created, it’s still too hot to knit or crochet large items.   It's also probably too hot to think too hard for patterns.  Quick and simple to complete projects are great.  Now is the time to think of what you might want to gift to co workers for the upcoming holidays.  Now is the time to think of what you might want to craft for your decorations.

I offer the following ideas.  All are small and won’t make you much hotter.

1.       Decorations for a specific holiday or year round appeal.

          a.      Crochet wreaths

          b.      Snowflakes

          c.      Holly leaves, knit or crochet

          d.      Nativity figures

          e.      Mini mittens, hats, sweaters, socks

          f.       Ice skates
               g.      Easter Eggs
          h.      Butterflies
          I.       Acorns
          j.        Pinecones
          k.       Autumn leaves
          l.        flowers

2.       Amigurumi Christmas animals and people

3.       Hats mittens, cowls, mitts, socks

4.       mug rugs, mug hugs (keeps a  hot cup hot longer or cold drinks cold longer, depending.  The rug will also keep the sweat from running down to stain the tables or the heat from leaving a mark.)

All of the above ideas are available in knit or crochet ideas.  Patterns are available all over the internet.  Search for the item, either knit or crochet and free pattern.  You will be amazed at what you find.

I wrote this before the summer was much of a thought.  Summer was a hope at the end of the winter that never seemed to want to end.  At I type this update, today's high temperature was 80.  Yesterday it didn't make it above 74.  This is the end of June.  For the past 30 years or so, it gets HOT, as in 90+, and is very dry at this time of year.  So far we have had a very wet late spring and early summer.  I'm not minding the larger projects yet.  But be assured, these ideas will be needed soon.  I think.

Christmas in July day 24

Today is about nativities.  I know not everyone puts one up.  I know further that mothers and grandmothers who put up very old or very fragile ones don't want little hands touching and breaking.

Here are a couple of links to ones that can be handled and not broken.  They can also be easily washed when they become soiled.  Make sure to put them into a lingerie bag to prevent snags.

Nativity #1  This is crochet.  This pattern is from Red Heart.  

knitted-nativity-scene  You have to be a member (free to sign up) to access this pattern.

knit nativity #2  This uses Panda Disco yarn.  This yarn is not available in US that I have found, it's Austrailian.  An equivalent would be Caron International Simply Soft.  The Panda Disco is a sport/DK weight.  This pattern is worked at a gauge of 26 sts and 36 rows to 4 inches.  

For any of these you want a fairly firm fabric so the fiber fil doesn't show through.  Once you have the figures made, you can embellish as you wish.  That's half the fun.