If you’re on Facebook then you’ll know about that feature where they show you things that you posted on this date however many years ago, and then give you the option of making a nostalgic repost of your drunken shenanigans or baby photos or heartfelt plea for the rights of narwhals. Well apparently, this exact time last year I was grudgingly acknowledging that I would need to begin thinking about Christmas at some point this month. Plus ça change. (No, I didn’t accept the repost option today: it was a rubbish post the first time round, and I like my friends too much to inflict it on them again.)
I would dearly, dearly love to say that I’ve been more ahead of the game this year, but that would be a lie so enormous that you’d be able to view the moon through its middle. The moon is very pretty though, so there’s that.
It is definitely time to begin thinking about Christmas. But what on earth to give everybody? Please don’t say knitting, because there is Not Enough Time.
Round here, we have just about started today with the easy stuff: decorations (although the Stoic Spouse did bake a Christmas cake several weeks ago). There is a Christmas tree propped up against our front door, waiting to be brought in and adorned tomorrow. And some details have begun to appear:-
After my flurry of festive design ideas from last year, I had a little ponder over things I could design this year. I’m busy on a garland of tassled stars of varying sizes – a little more fiddly than last year and hence s-l-o-w. Progress:-
And the reverse:-
And I’m working on some smaller stars to be hung between the big ones:-
I’m planning a string of tassled stars in various colours of Stylecraft Special DK. The finished fellow above is rocking ‘Lobelia’ from the recent limited edition collection that we judged.
Would you like the pattern? I’ll be honest: it’s a bit of a fiddly faff, but you’re welcome to it if you’d like it. ‘Tis up to you, my fine fibrous friends.
PS: Oh, and if you’re in the UK, look at the latest edition of Simply Knitting magazine! Man, I’m embarrassed about those photos, now…
You’re not alone in being a bit behind. I’ve got boxes for mailing. No decorations up (except some foil stars). Perhaps tomorrow…
The weeks are slipping past too fast, aren’t they? December should come with a ‘pause’ button.
All through November I think there’s plenty of time, then, wham, something needs doing every week.
Yes, and a thousand times yes. You’re not alone.
How exciting to see you in a magazine! What fun.
I like your purple and cream stars. Will you hang them on your tree or in front of the mantel?
I love the view from here. You look cozy in your chair and the fire looks warm and comforting.
Thank you. I’m thinking the stars could be a garland across the mantelpiece… that’s if they get finished before Christmas…
There’s always next Christmas…or New Year’s Eve. Who says it has to be done by December 25th?
Good point. January can be so dreary: it needs jazzing up a little.
I don’t mind a fiddly faff star so I really would like the pattern but don’t expect me to knit it for this year. Already working on two scaves, two nerkerchiefs and a pair of socks. I sound like the twelve days of Christmas.
Right, I’ll try and write up the instructions at some point in time for next Christmas! Yikes to your Christmas knitting list – I hope it’s going well? I should probably end this reply here so that you don’t waste precious knitting time reading it…
The work in progress on the dpns with the little bit of knitting in the middle? At first glance I thought that was a completed Christmas star and I loved it! If you had enough sets of dpns you could just knit a teeny centre and leave the needles in and hang the whole caboodle up as decoration.
That’s true, and it would be rather cool. But round these ‘ere parts it would also end badly with small twins sneaking the DPNs away to hide.
Wish I could read that article!
Executive summary: I am that weirdo who follows people around to stare in fascination at their knitwear, especially if they’re wearing gorgeous fairisle. 🙂
I’ve managed to stop facebook from showing me any of those things, by telling it that I don’t want any from a date before I started, to a date several years in the future 🙂 Ahh, peace
Now THAT is a cunning idea. 🙂
Don’t panic about it being only three weeks til the big day as I’m not and I’ve done less than you. So far just an advent calendar!
I don’t know, I reckon we could have a pretty good competition for person-who’s-done-the-least. May the next three weeks go blissfully smoothly in your preparation. 🙂
“5”?! 5 knitting needles?! And none of them have ends on them so that your tongue-stuck-out-concentration work can fall off any/either end should it see fit (mine would ALWAYS see fit)? At this time of year? Surely you jest Ms Twisted. I think I might make a crochet star with a hold in the middle big enough to see the moon and be done with it 😉
The dreaded DPNs? They’ll never be my favourite tools, but I’m getting used to them. I’ve heard them referred to as ‘Ninja knitting’ on Ravelry, which I think is perfect.
Your article is exuberant and unique! Sadly not in the UK to read it though… I am already way out of time for holiday knitting, but I look forward to the finished star garland!
Executive summary: I stalk people who are wearing interesting knitwear. There: you’ve read it! Hope you’re having fun.
Congrats on the magazine article!
Thank you. They’ve given me a column to write every 4 months or so. All good fun.