In the Wool #59 (free)
Deck the Halls
Welcome back!
It’s officially December which means the crafting crunch has hit. Many makers are rushing to finish gifts (and in my case, start them) so it really is the busiest time of the year. This edition is called ‘Deck the Halls’; I thought it would be fun to take a closer look at handmade decorations and show how you can bring the festive spirit into your home with handmade touches- which of course means I’ve got lots of free knitting and crochet patterns to share with you!
So, get the kettle on, put your feet up, and settle in for this crafty edition of In the Wool. As always, I hope you enjoy it!
For this week’s Yarn Corner we’re bringing you a new winter classic: Croftland Aran. This is a new range we’re stocking from James C. Brett designed especially for big project lovers. The well-regarded Yorkshire brand’s new line Croftland Aran is 200g, delightfully warm, and comes in 12 classic garment/accessory shades. Perfect for all kinds of projects such as winter accessories, blankets, and garments.
For the next 2 weeks, premium subscribers can save 15% on Croftland yarn on our website!
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December Giveaway!
This month we’re giving one lucky subscriber a copy of both of our new Rowan Yarns pattern books by Norwegian designers, Arne & Carlos! They go hand in hand with the range of yarn Norwegian Wool, and both books are filled to the brim with gorgeous hand knit designs. If you have a premium subscription to this newsletter, you are automatically entered into our giveaway each month!
Deck the Halls: Handmade Decorations for your Christmas Tree
Decorating the tree, for many people, is one of the best parts of the Christmas season. Rediscovering your favourite ornaments, adding new ones to your collection, and creating a festive centrepiece for your home that everyone can enjoy. I love a classic Christmas tree look; red, green and gold decorations with lots of lights. The best thing about making your own tree ornaments is that you can customise them to suit your favourite colour scheme whilst adding some more unique and interesting designs. Another good thing when it comes to knitting and crochet is that you can make pretty much any motif you like, loop some thread or yarn through the top, and turn it into a hanging ornament. This list contains my favourite free pattern suggestions for making your own tree decorations this year. They also make lovely Christmas gifts for your family and friends to hang on their own trees!
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3 Things: Gifts for Makers
In our yarn shop, December is usually filled with the family members of our local customers. They know that their loved ones enjoy knitting or crochet, but have no idea what to get them for Christmas. For makers, this is also a time that most of us spend focused on others and what we can make for them. So, this article is all about you!
Here are my top gift suggestions you may like to put on your own Christmas wish list that would help you get the most enjoyment out of your craft, and that would help your family members find the perfect gift for you this season.
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December Hours + Workshops
As always, our yarn shop is going to be open Sundays in December leading up to Christmas. We’re also running one off craft workshops on these days so if you would like to book a place just send us an email at help@babesinthewool.co.uk - today we had a crochet gingerbread ornament workshop that was a lot of fun!
Here are our hours for the next 2 Sundays:
Sunday 11th / Open 10am-2pm / A Knit & Natter Session 11am-1pm: bring your current project along and connect with other local makers! (£5 includes drink + cake)
Sunday 18th / Open 10am-3pm / Workshop: Crochet Tree Decorations 11am-1:30pm - have your choice of making a gingerbread house, Christmas stocking, or snowman. Materials provided for your chosen project, you’ll just need to bring your crochet hook! (£15 includes drink, cake + project materials)
We hope these extended hours make your Christmas shopping a little easier and hope to see you throughout this month!😁
Good news! I’ve finished my first handmade Christmas gift for 2022. As I mentioned in the last edition, I’ve been crocheting a hat to give to my father-in-law. The yarn I’ve used is Hayfield Bonus Aran with 20% wool so it’ll be nice and warm throughout the winter. The stitch used is called Half Double Crochet-Slip Stitch (US terminology) and at first I did find this a bit tricky with my tension. My crochet tends to be on the tighter side and I found that my hook wasn’t gliding through the stitches easily at first, probably because my yarn over was held too tightly. I also had to add extra rows at the end to make the hat bigger but that wasn’t an issue and I like that this hat pattern can be made to size.
The hat is made as a rectangle piece that you join up and then gather at one end. The original design had a pompom on top but I wasn’t sure if my FIL is a pompom person so decided to leave it off. This meant that gathering the hat was a bit more of a challenge as there was a small gap but it all came together in the end and it has a nice pleated sort of top. As this hat was…
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Community Creations
Another edition, another fantastic collection of customer makes to share with you! First up we have a blanket made by Caroline from one of our crochet groups. Caroline has just finished Sirdar’s Day Tripper Picnic Blanket CAL which has been such a popular design this year. Crochet along projects like this are certainly a labour of love and Caroline has done a wonderful job with this make - it looks stunning!
Pictured right, we have a knitted rug that has been made by Alison using Katia’s Jarapa tape yarn. You may remember a bag we shared recently, that was also made by Alison, using this unique yarn. It has a lovely texture to it that really makes it stand out in the home. This is a fantastic homeware project that I’m sure will be enjoyed for a very long time!
The last project I have to share with you today is a very special Christmas piece! These photos were sent to us by Dawn, who is a member of a craft group in Hornsea. They collaborated with another local group, Men in Sheds, to create the beautiful Christmas tree you see below. The Men in Sheds made the wooden Christmas tree structure, and the craft group decorated it with crochet. This really is a show stopping decoration and we’re very grateful that the group used our yarns to make it! The yarn used is James C. Brett’s Crafter DK.
Thank you to Caroline, Alison and Dawn for sharing these wonderful photos of your #babesinthewoolhull projects with us!
Free Patterns!
It’s Chriiiiiiistmaaaaaas! Well, almost. If you’re looking to get in the festive spirit this month, check out these free patterns and cast on a Christmassy project today!
Christmas Tree Garland by Hooked On Patterns (crochet)
Christmas Tree Wall Hanging by Fresh Knack (crochet)
Forest Garland by Drops Design (knit)
Woollen Christmas Wreath by Drops Design (knit)
Keep Reading…
Handmade Gift Guide: Knitting Edition (click here)
In the Wool #58: Sleigh Bells Ring… (click here)