A christmas Angel

Hi folks,

Last year I made white lacy stars to put inside my Christmas cards, this year I chose to make angels for my cards in both white and an icy pale blue.

I have a few favourite crochet books I return to again and again and this pattern comes from one of them, 75 Lace Crochet Motifs by Caitlin Sanio.

It's such a pleasant way to spend a dull winter afternoon and puts me in the mood for the festive season as we don't like to put our decorations up too early.  So on a miserable wet and grey day last week  I cheered up by lighting a few candles and settling down with a spicy chai and a slice of festive spiced honey cake to write my cards and choose an angel to suit each person.

A little crochet, some candles burning, a hot mulled drink or gingerbread latte, perhaps a mince pie or two.... how have you been enjoying advent?

Til next time,
Hx

Crafting Gifts

Hello,

Have you been crafting gifts for Christmas or like me left it a little late? I've been working on two gifts this week and can now share the first one, a crochet hook holder.

This is for someone who started to crochet a little while ago but doesn't have many hooks yet. It's quick to make so ideal when time is short as well as  being a pretty gift for a new crafter.

The pattern was from Cute and Easy Crochet, worked in double crochet stitch with a simple trim using chain stitches along two sides in a contrasting colour.

I chose a pretty cotton fabric to line the hook roll which I spotted in our local craft shop. This shop is an Aladdin's cave and is very friendly too.

A small piece from a fat quarter was plenty to line and make the pockets to hold the hooks.

I changed the ribbon tie used in the pattern to twin crocheted cords as the hooks seem to stay in the roll more securely, especially important as the person the gift is for will take it back and forth to work in her bag so she can crochet on her breaks.

I think it will look nice with a set of multi-coloured hooks inside, I used a few of my own just for the photos.  Have you made any gifts? Or perhaps you are still working on something?

Til next time,
Hx

Ooh Shoes!

Hello folks, recently someone asked me if I could make them a couple of pairs of baby shoes to be given as gifts, one for a boy and one for a girl. There are gorgeous baby bootees and shoes all over the internet but as the first pair were needed in a bit of a hurry I turned to my tried and trusted Nicki Trench book Cute and Easy Crochet to make these little shoes.

The original pattern was for slippers made using two colours on the upper however I wanted to change it up a little so I changed it to using one colour for the sole and a denim blue for the upper. The yarn is Sirdar Flirt, a bamboo and merino mix which is now discontinued but luckily I had a little left which I could use for a pair of baby shoes.

I added two crocheted laces to make them a little more fitted on the baby's feet and change the look of the shoes before nestling them in teddy bear printed tissue paper ready to go.

Just as I was thinking of starting a pair of Mary Janes for the baby girl, on a day out with N I spotted the Super Cute Crochet For Little Feet book by Vita Apala.

How could I resist? Once I saw the baby point shoes I just had to have this book so off home with me it went and I headed straight to my stash to find out what I could use.

I didn't have any pink cotton but did have some cream Wendy Supreme Luxury Cotton 4 ply yarn left over from a previous project.

I found the pattern clear and easy to follow and they worked up quickly. I'm not sure I don't prefer them in pink as they are so pretty, the cream contrasts nicely with the pink tissue paper though and the person who asked for them loved them.

So here they are, ballet point shoes for the tiniest of ballerinas, a girl is never too young to put on her dancing shoes is she? I think I'll be making more of the little shoes from this book, they are ideal for using up odds and ends of yarn left over from other projects.

Til next time,

Hx