Blogmas Day 14

 🎄🎄🎄 Day 14 🎄🎄🎄

If you've been lucky enough to have a yarn Advent calendar this year, you might well be wondering what to knit from your miniskeins. Sometimes the dyer might collaborate with a designer to create a special pattern for their yarn and there are also plenty of patterns on Ravelry for you to choose from. The photo of the miniskeins is from a previous yarn Advent that I bought from Ellie who is Craft House Magic. I thought I'd share some of my favourite patterns that I've spotted recently. You can also use up leftovers of yarn to make any of these patterns. All the links take you to Ravelry.

The Cassiopeia Mini Skein Shawl by Evin Bail O'Keeffe

Photo copyright Evin Bail O'Keeffe

Glad Tidings Wrap by Jane Crowfoot

Photo copyright Jane Crowfoot

The Dot Sweater by Pernille Larsen

Photo copyright Pernille Larsen

The Tool Box Cowl by Adventure du Jour Designs

Photo copyright Marcy Vandale

PEEP Show by Laura Rasmussen

Photo copyright The Yarnery

Advent Socks 2019 by Natalie Sheldon

Photo copyright Natalie Sheldon

Babbling Brook Wrap by Shannon Long

Photo copyright Shannon Long

The Triangulum Blanket by Ellie Jones

Photo copyright Ellie Jones

Brioche Adventure by Jonatan Tollow

Photo copyright Jonatan Tollow

The Anthology Throw by Helen Stewart

Photo copyright Helen Stewart

If you have any pattern recommendations of your own, please share them in the comments. xxx

Blogmas Day 13

 🎄🎄🎄 Day 13 🎄🎄🎄

I have a lovely free crocheted robin pattern for you today. I spotted it on Instagram on Just Pootling's grid. Kate very generously shared the pattern for it. You can also make a little bobble hat for it which I haven't done yet. The only thing I changed was crocheting the wings onto the robin as I worked the first round of the brown yarn. I used some DK weight cotton yarn and a 3.5mm hook. I love his little jingle bell feet! You can find the pattern on Kate's Instagram feed here if you'd like to make one for yourself. Just scroll down until you find the image of the robin sitting on a hand. Happy hooking! xxx

Blogmas Day 12

 🎄🎄🎄 Day 12 🎄🎄🎄

I'm sure that many of you will have this wonderful book, 'The Christmas Chronicles' by Nigel Slater on your bookshelves. I enjoy re-reading it each year. It's set out like a diary beginning on the first day of November and ending at the start of February and allows the reader to have almost a fly-on-the-wall experience of the author's Christmas preparations. He delights in traditions and folklore as well as sharing plenty of delicious recipes. It reminds me that I should slow down and enjoy all of the festive season and be more mindful of everything around me. It is a real treat and if you don't have a copy, put it on your Christmas list right now! xxx

Blogmas Day 11

 🎄🎄🎄 Day 11 🎄🎄🎄

Are you a fan of Christmas cake? My mum made one every year and when I was little, I always preferred the icing to the cake! My taste has changed as I've got older and now I find I prefer the fruit cake to the icing as I find it far too sweet! If you're looking for a delicious fruit cake, I can definitely recommend the Creole Christmas cake by Delia Smith. This is one that Mr JK and I made several years ago. All the fruit soaks in alcohol for a week before you actually bake it, but it is absolutely worth it (and I reckon you've just about got time to make it!) Do you have a favourite Christmas cake recipe? xx

Blogmas Day 10

 🎄🎄🎄 Day 10 🎄🎄🎄

It's my birthday today so I'm celebrating with a little sale over on Ravelry. If you buy one of my patterns on Ravelry, use the code 'birthday' to choose another pattern for free! You can find my Ravelry designs here! The offer finishes at midnight tomorrow. Enjoy! xxx

Blogmas Day 9

 🎄🎄🎄 Day 9 🎄🎄🎄

Continuing with my love of robins, I thought you might like to see this robin garden sculpture. It sits in the border closest to the kitchen window so I can see it easily when I'm washing up. They are so cleverly made and seem to balance, even in very strong winds. This little chap bobs up and down looking quite happy! xxx

Blogmas Day 8

 🎄🎄🎄 Day 8 🎄🎄🎄

Some wonderful festive socks to share with you today! These are all gift knits. I used the latest Christmas yarn from West Yorkshire Spinners, Gingerbread', and knitted the gorgeous Gretel pattern designed by Winwick Mum for the colourwork socks and plain vanilla socks using contrast heels and toes. You can find the pattern free to download here. I am pretty much a beginner when it comes to colourwork knitting. I went up a needle size to 2.75mm just on the colourwork sections and also swapped from using Magic Loop to knitting on a very short circular needle on those sections so that I made sure I wasn't carrying the yarn in the floats too tightly. I hope to knit myself a pair now! Have you tried knitting colourwork socks before? If so, please do share any tips! xxx