In the Wool #60 (free)
Crafting at Christmas
Hello there!
With Christmas exactly one week away, I’ve been doing lots of activities to get in the festive spirit. Even if you’re not a Christmassy person or you don’t celebrate it, winter is still a great season to try cosy things and lift your spirits when the weather makes you feel a bit gloomy. For crafters, this can be a lovely time of the year. Nothing beats curling up under a blanket with a cup of tea and your latest project, so that’s what I’ve been doing nearly every day! In this edition I’m going to share some of my festive experiences with you as we look towards the new year and get ready to bring in 2023. I’ve also got lots of handmade projects to show you as I’ve had crochet fever this December!
As always, I hope you enjoy this edition. I’d like to wish you all a wonderful Christmas holiday and I look forward to seeing you in the New Year as I have some *very* exciting things planned for In the Wool subscribers…
Since we became stockists of Rowan Yarns earlier this year, there is one range that has become very popular with our customers: Norwegian Wool. Gorgeous colours, incredibly soft, and perfect for handmade garments and accessories. This yarn is of excellent quality without a ridiculous price tag, and In the Wool premium subscribers can save 15% on this yarn in our online shop for the next 3 weeks. Keep reading to learn more about this wonderful yarn!
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CLICK HERE to read this article!
A Crafter at Christmas
Although Christmas is my favourite holiday, the last couple of years I haven’t been feeling very festive. As most of you know I’ve been stuck in America since the pandemic, and whilst I try to make the most of it, it can make me feel a bit homesick at this time of year. Being away from family and friends, missing out on my annual traditions, it’s easy to get lost in it. So this year I’ve made it my mission to have a very jolly December, filled with Christmassy activities and lots of craft projects to lift my spirits. I thought it would be fun to write a blog about the fun things I’ve been getting up to so you can get in the festive mood too!
Come along with me as I take my first trip to a Christmas tree farm, discover handmade decorations for the tree we brought home, and find a small business that is supporting local artists and charities with beautiful handmade gifts.
This is quite a long piece and I’ve included as many festive photos as possible so I hope you enjoy it!
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In the Wool : 2023
With the holidays looming, I’ve inevitably started thinking about next year and my plans for this newsletter. I’ve got some exciting ideas that I’m working on that I can’t wait to share with you. One of the main changes I’ll be making is the day the newsletter is published on. Currently we put out 2 editions a month on Sundays, but I’m going to change this to Mondays. This is just to give myself a little extra time to make great newsletters for you all; the time difference between the UK and US means I’m a few hours short on the weekend and, as I’m going to be getting busier this year, I just want to ensure I’m still making high quality content for our subscribers.
We have new subscribers joining our crafty community nearly every day and I want In the Wool to be a resource that helps all of you find inspiration, develop your skills, and stay motivated with your crafts. I have some new monthly segments planned that will be revealed in January but in the meantime, I’d really love some feedback from you so that I can…
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This month has been all about Christmas presents. In the last edition, I shared a crochet hat with you that I made for my father-in-law. Since then, I’ve finished a second hat using the same pattern but a different yarn. Take a look at both below!
Even though the hats look almost identical, they did turn out quite different. The first hat (light grey) was made with Hayfield Bonus Aran 20% wool so the yarn had a lot of structure to it. The second hat (dark grey) was made with King Cole’s Forest Recycled Aran. While this yarn was a lot softer and very nice to work with, the strand was thinner and the final hat doesn’t have the most structure to it. At times, the folded over cuff falls down. I made this hat for AJ and luckily he doesn’t mind wearing it without the cuff. As the weather turned colder, I did end up gifting this present early; he tried it on for size and didn’t want to take it off so how could I say no! Even though I wasn’t thrilled with how this hat turned out, it’s nice to know that AJ still loves it. He’s worn it pretty much everyday so I’d say this project was a success!
I finished the second hat faster than anticipated so that’s freed up some time to make another gift. I can’t say what it is just yet in case the recipient is reading this, but here’s a sneak peek…
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Community Creations
As always, I have more lovely customer makes to share with you. I’ve selected these projects for this edition as I think they may provide some inspiration if you’re looking for last minute gift ideas. First up we have some stunning crochet mandalas. These photos were sent to us by Kath, the maker of these marvellous pieces. I love the colour combinations that Kath has put together; the different shades really highlight the different stitches and techniques used in these projects. Mandalas make lovely wall hangings and great gifts, and they are fun for crocheters too as you can try a different style of crochet. These mandalas look fantastic - great job, Kath!
The next project is a crochet basket made by Sue. Sue has used Katia’s Ekos, a recycled yarn that is ideal for homeware. The blue and white shades look lovely together, very refreshing and complimentary. Baskets like this also make great gifts. Using a thicker yarn like Ekos means the project will build up in no time, and you can always fill it with little goodies to round out the gift!
Huge thank you to Kath and Sue for sharing your #babesinthewoolhull projects with us!☺️
Free Patterns!
With the temperature dropping and energy bills rising, now is the perfect time to start working on a blanket. It can keep you warm when it’s finished and as you’re making it!
Boho Puff Stripes Blanket by Daisy Farm Crafts (crochet)
The Aspen Throw by The Loophole Fox (crochet)
Vintage Style Blanket by Dada’s Place (crochet)
Moonstone Plaid Blanket by Two of Wands (knit)
Fall Cuddler Chunky Blanket by Mama in a Stitch (knit)
Modern Mountain Throw by Mama in a Stitch (knit)
Keep Reading…
In the Wool #59: Deck the Halls (click here)