Christmas Stockings

Well, I thought I was finished making Christmas projects, then my daughter bought some yarn, and there was a pattern on the wrapper.......

How cute is that? Only, I really don't like to work with novelty yarns. So, I pulled out some green and some white worsted weight yarns and followed the pattern.....

OK, it's really cute, but the gauge was about half what it should be.

Also, I don't like how picots turn out when I follow the pattern, so my version of these picots is: sl st in next st, ch 4, sl st in same st, ch 1, sk next st, repeat around.
Proof, if you needed it that checking your gauge is important.
Maybe I just needed bulkier yarn and a bigger hook....... Size N hook, multi strands of yarn. That might work! Red, green, and white yarns. Christmasy!!!

 I don't need more stockings for my mantle, but slipper socks? Sounds good! Of course I had to change the pattern to fit my feet. 30 stitches in a round was way too big. 24 was just right. I needed a longer foot, so I put the heel opening in round 11 instead of in round 9. And why make it so high on my leg when my pants cover the top? I only put 7 rounds after the heel opening instead of 11.

 Also, I didn't put on the cuff (or the hanger!).

It's only 25 degrees outside, but my feet are warm! Now, I just need a mug of hot chocolate.....

Christmas Projects - Finished!

 Yay! I finished my last big Christmas projects!
This table runner is beautiful, if I do say so myself. When I wash a multicolored project like this one, especially the first time, I add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to help set the colors. I know, the thread package says boilfast, but I just like to be sure. This pattern is at: freepatterns.com - pineapple rainbow runner.

I think the wreath turned out well, also. The angel pattern is at: priscillascrochet.net . It's called flat pineapple angel.
Here's what I was thinking as I was planning this wreath.....
Colors: white for Jesus' purity, gold because Jesus is King of kings, red for Jesus' blood, green for the new life He gives us.
There are 7 angels of silver metallic thread. 7 is the number of perfection and completion, and Jesus is perfect. These angels represent the angels who announced Jesus' birth.
The angels are sort of cross shaped. Jesus was born to die on the cross for our sins.
The 8th angel at the top is of gold metallic white thread and is holding a trumpet to represent the angel who will blow the trumpet to announce Jesus' return for His church.
8 is the number of resurrection and regeneration. 8 is 7 + 1 and since it comes right after 7, which means a completion, 8 means a new beginning.
Some examples from the Bible of 8 as a new beginning:
8 people in Noah's ark (new beginning after the flood)
God made 8 covenants with Abraham
Jesus called himself the "Son of Man". This term occurs 88 times.
Jesus rose on the first day of the week after He was crucified, an 8th day.
Jesus appeared 8 times to His followers between His Resurrection and his Ascension.
In Greek numerology, the numbers of Jesus' name add up to 888.
Revelation has 888 Greek words.

Merry Christmas!!

Time to Get Christmas Decorations Out!

 Yay! It's time to decorate for Christmas. Time to put out my pretties which have been hidden in a box for 11 months. Most of these patterns came from books I purchased in the days before I discovered free patterns online. The leaves and berries on this doily gave me the idea for a head warmer.

Remember? Patterns are suggestions.

 Some of these need to be blocked again after being folded so long.

 The center of the poinsettia is made with beads. I like that this doily is flat enough to set something on. Perhaps one of my Nativity sets.

 This one has a raised middle. For blocking, I use small wads of waxed paper under the petals. The center is made of French knots. I like how the yellow thread shows up so well.

 I remember working on this while waiting in the pediatrician's office. That's been quite a few years!!

 These 2 really need reblocked. I like to put small decorations (round glass tree ornaments or very small wrapped presents) in the sleigh.

One of the stockings for my mantle. I think the crocheted cuff is elegant.

And, of course, my December pineapple square.

I like having festive touches of color around my house. It only adds to my fun to be able to say, "Why, yes, I did make that"

Angels, Angels

 I think these angels make wonderful present decorations! I have enough for presents now, so of course, I had to get a great idea for another project! An angel door wreath! It's still in the planning stage. I have to get busy making angels for it and I still don't know how many my girls will want...... I'll post pictures when there's something to show.

I've been busy with this runner, also. I can't stand to waste time waiting for an appointment, so I always take some crocheting. White thread projects stay home where it's clean. Colored thread projects travel. The other evening, while I was visiting my daughter, my son called her. She told him, "Mom's here, crocheting." His answer? "Of course she is." Apparently, their childhood memories of me are that if I sat down, I was crocheting. I suppose that's better than some other things I could have been doing......

So, this is where I am on the runner now. 2 strips to go! I doubt my projects will be ready when I start Christmas decorating the Sunday after Thanksgiving, but I will have them out before I pack my decorations after Christmas.

Future Heirlooms

The white strip is nearly ready to fasten on. I have the second green strip started and I need another red strip and another white strip. Why does it seem to take me so long to finish a project? Partly because crocheting is time consuming, those stitches ARE small! Also partly because I'm a perfectionist. When I see a mistake, I will unravel back to it. When I spend so much time on a project, I want it to be perfect!!
I do hope my projects will be used and enjoyed for many years. I think of them as future heirlooms for my children and grandchildren.

 Let's look at how well some of my projects have aged. This afghan is 4 years old. I guess it doesn't get much wear on the back of the couch, although, I do pull it down if I get cold while reading or crocheting.

 This is one of my "month" doilies. The oldest of the set is 7 years old. This one is 2 years old. I finally started the 12th (and last) one this year.

 This afghan is 10 years old. Again, it doesn't get much wear on the back of the couch.

 Doily, 10 years. It usually sits under a lamp.

 Mom doesn't always have this out, but she's had it for 6 years.

 My daughter wore this frequently for several years. I'm saving it for a granddaughter-if I ever get one!

 Afghan, 1 year. It's warm.

 9 years. It went to my older daughter's apartment, where it perfectly matched the green paint in the living. Her landlady asked if the doily would stay. Well, no! I like it under a vase of flowers.

 Rug 20 years. When it's dirty, it goes in the washer. I expect lots more wear from it.

 15 years.

 15 years.

 11 years. Gold doily.

 8 years.

 5 years.

 3 years.

25 years.

 18 years.

My Grandma made this, Mom thinks in the late 1940's or early 1950's, so it's at least 60 years old.
Crocheted items will last a good many years, so I think the hours are well spent. (Plus, I enjoy it!)

Christmas Project Progress

I have a few angels made. Not nearly enough, though. I'll probably still be making these angels on Christmas Eve!

 The angel on the left has been stiffened, ready to use. It looks finished, polished, even. Proof, if you needed it, that these last finishing touches add so much to crocheted projects.

I'll blame my daughter for my slow progress. She asked me to make another grocery bag for her. I told her it's easy, just single crochet. "But I'm so busy!" Oh, well, there go any spare moments I had!

Working on Christmas Projects

It's not time to decorate for Christmas, yet. But, I need quite a few of these flat pineapple angels to tie onto presents, so I need to get started on them.
I found this pattern at priscillascrochet.net
She has lots of free patterns. This is the only one of hers that I've tried. It's easy. In fact, the hardest part was finding the rings for the head. On her web site, scroll down to the free patterns. It's called "flat pineapple angel ".

 I felt that I had looked all over town before I found the rings at Hobby Lobby. I bought all 4 bags they had out. I'm not going to run out for a while!

Then, I still have to finish my pineapple runner.
Unless I find something else I want to make for Christmas, THEN I can go back to working on all my unfinished projects!