time to decorate!

I've been so busy thinking about baby things lately, I've barely given a thought to that big holiday coming up soon! Yesterday I had a brief idea of offering you something special today, but couldn't come up with anything on such short notice. At least there is my contest next week to look forward to! I've been putting off the decorating until December 1st too, trying to keep myself from getting overwhelmed too soon. We might even get our own little tree this year! Although, I suspect my cats will think it's a treat for them (they've tried to eat every plant I've had in the house).

I don't even know what I'm sending my family for gifts, and I believe I'll have to pump my mom for some ideas of what they'd like (for many reasons we're staying out here for the holidays, rather than seeing my family in BC). I've knit up some of the felted stars, and have plans to make more (I have a big family). But many of the special things about where I live would be a little tricky to send: maple syrup and local alcoholic brews being two good examples. Most years I manage to think of something just right for each member of my family, but maybe this year they will have to be content with a new grandson/nephew to spoil!

festive knits kits

This is just a quick note to let you know I listed three Festive Knits kits in my Etsy shop. I wanted to make more, but sewing has become a little difficult with such a big belly to get in the way! There's a kit to make an Owl and Baby, a Fuzzy Farm set, and a Baby Penguin. Each is a little special and different.

It seems people like the Felted Stars pattern I posted! I can't believe how many copies have been downloaded from Ravelry already (you can find it through the Ravelry Shop link there on the right). I wish I could have taken better photos of them, since they are super cute and fuzzy (just like the other things I knit!). But, I didn't want to put up holiday decorations yet, and we just had our first snow today. Which, by the way, is nasty and wet and not at all nice to be out in. Anyway, this left few options for cute holiday photos. I've knit bunches of the stars myself, since they will most likely be gifts for my family this year, and there's something addictive about their simplicity, pretty colours, and playing in a sink of hot water when it's cold out.

felted stars

Here's a new free pattern for you! I came up with this idea in the middle of the night (no kidding, but I did wait until morning to start on it) and after a few false starts, I hit on a simple and fast method of knitting them. They also need very little yarn, so I've been using up odd ends of hand-dyed yarn to make them. The felting makes them flat, and look lovely and soft from both sides. Make sure you use 100% wool yarn or they will not felt properly. You could try knitting them with a different weight yarn (with appropriate sized needles) to achieve larger or smaller stars. I think they will look lovely on a tree, added to a garland, or just hung up wherever you like!

Felted Stars

Materials
Tools: set of four 4mm dpns, tapestry needle, crochet hook (optional)
Large: 14 m or yards (about 7 g) of worsted weight wool in colour A, same amount of worsted weight wool in colour B
Medium: 10 m or yards (about 5 g) of worsted weight wool in colour A, same amount of worsted weight wool in colour B
Small: 8 m or yards (about 4 g) of worsted weight wool in colour A, same amount of worsted weight wool in colour B

Measurements
Large: 12 cm (4.75") diameter
Medium: 10 cm (4") diameter
Small: 8 cm (3.25") diameter
(note: finished size of star will depend on amount of felting and blocking you do)

Large Star

Cast on 72 sts with yarn A. Distribute 24 sts to each of 3 needles. P 1 round.
Work round 2 with yarn B. For rest of star, purl odd number rows with yarn A, and work even number rows in yarn B.
Rnd 2: [k2tog, k4, yo, k4, skpo] 6 times. (66 sts)
Rnd 4: [k2tog, k3, yo, k4, skpo] 6 times. (60 sts)
Rnd 6: [k2tog, k3, yo, k3, skpo] 6 times. (54 sts)
Rnd 8: [k2tog, k2, yo, k3, skpo] 6 times. (48 sts)
Rnd 10: [k2tog, k2, yo, k2, skpo] 6 times. (42 sts)
Rnd 12: [k2tog, k1, yo, k2, skpo] 6 times. (36 sts)
Rnd 14: [k2tog, k1, yo, k1, skpo] 6 times. (30 sts)
Rnd 16: [k2tog, yo, k1, skpo] 6 times. (24 sts)
Rnd 18: [k2tog, yo, skpo] 6 times. (18 sts)
Rnd 20: [k2tog] 9 times. (9 sts)
Break off yarn B, thread end through remaining sts, and pull tight to gather.

Medium Star

Cast on 60 sts with yarn A. Distribute 20 sts to each of 3 needles. P 1 round.
Follow pattern for large star starting at Rnd 6, working even numbered rounds in yarn B.

Small Star

Cast on 48 sts with A. Distribute 16 sts to each of 3 needles. P 1 round.
Follow pattern for large star starting at Rnd 10, working even numbered rounds in yarn B.

Finishing
Weave in all yarn ends securely. Optional: crochet a loop on one of the star points. Hand-felt the star in hot water until it is flat and smooth (stars will be cup-shaped before felting). Gently remove as much water as possible, then pin to a flat surface, stretching out points and indenting between points. Leave until dry. If you didn't crochet a loop for hanging, you can add a length of yarn or ribbon.


Abbreviations
k = knit
k2tog = knit 2 sts together
p = purl
skpo = slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over knit stitch
yo = yarn over

awww

In case you're hesitating over participating in my hubbie's contest, I say go for it! He's really excited to draw the portrait, and we're both excited to read your stories. They don't have to be long or perfectly written, just tell us about how great or funny your kid was this one time... I think all moms are pretty good at that, right?

As for my contest, I've decided to give away a copy of Festive Knits! A shiny new printed copy to whomever wins. However, if the winner has already bought it (and lots have, thank you so much!) I will put together a package of goodies for you, probably involving some combination of yarn, fabric, buttons, and chocolate.

And to round off the week properly, here is an absolutely adorable bunny made by Kelli. I spotted this little treasure on Ravelry a few days ago, and she made even my husband say, "awww."

Mr. Mitten's holiday give-away!

Pensive, originally uploaded by mricon.

Hi, everyone -- Mr. Mitten here again. Usually it's Barbara who announces the giveaways, but I figured I shouldn't let her have all the fun. :)

I'm going to be giving away one custom-made portrait! I'm not a professionally trained artist, but I do enjoy putting pencil to paper every now and again.

Since we're getting ready to welcome our first child into the big wide world, I think that "kids" would be a good theme for the giveaway. If you would like to enter the contest, send a short funny story about your child and a portrait picture you would like done to konstantin@fuzzymitten.com. Drawing from photos can be a little tricky, so it's best if the picture is a studio portrait, or even just a high quality digital shot with good lighting. The deadline for submissions will be December 1st -- and I'll try to get the portrait done by December 10th so I can mail it in time.

I guarantee to be completely arbitrary in my selection of the winner, though I'm sure Barbara will have a say. :)

Cheers,
-Konstantin

give-away day

One of the blogs I read regularly is Sew-Mama-Sew. Even with so little time to sew things for myself, it's always fun to see what interesting ideas they've dug up, and they often post links to useful tutorials. They've decided to have a Give-Away Day on December 3, where they will list any blogs that want to host a give-away contest on that day. The items are all supposed to be hand-made themselves, or materials for making things. By visiting their site for the list of participating blogs, you can easily participate in a whole bunch of contests, and so increase your chance of winning a little gift for the holidays!

Since I haven't hosted a give-away in months, I think it's a great idea to join in! I have no idea yet what I might have as the prize, or if I will make it a contest or a draw. Whatever I decide, make sure to check in on that day for your chance to win! (don't worry, I will mention it again before that date for all of us forgetful people :)

busy weekend

I hope you all had an excellent weekend! I had a busy one. Saturday we went to town and spent lots of money - babies require so many things! Good thing we've been saving up for a while. Just one quick trip to Ikea, and our spare room will be all ready for our little boy. I've had to give up my sewing room, but we had empty space in our living room for the sewing table, and I don't mind, given the reason! Yesterday I spent the whole afternoon making curtains for his room. I wanted to do them well, with lining because of the street-light outside the window. I didn't expect all that fabric to be such a big job to haul around, from pinning on the floor, to sewing machine, to lap for the final hem. It's all done now, though, and looks great!

I also found time to work on something new for the holidays! A free pattern for little decorations, a bit like I did last year. I need to knit a few more to double check everything, and take photos, but it should be all ready by this time next week!