Deck the Halls :: Knitted Ornaments

This Pattern is from

Handknit Holidays: Knitting Year-Round for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Winter Solstice by Melanie Falick. This is one of my favorite books for holiday knitting. I've been using it for several years now & love every pattern I've used. The book is on sale right now on Amazon. You can click on the link to go directly to this book.

This pattern is available forfree 

Finished measurements
Small (Large): Approximately 3 (4-1/4)" [8 (11) cm] in diameter

Yarn
Harrisville Highland Style (100% wool; 200 yards / 100 grams): 1 skein each #4 gold, #17 Bermuda blue, #16 teal blue, #22 plum, #7 tundra (gold/green), #48 dove grey, #38 teak (brown)

Needles
One set of five double-pointed needles (dpn) size US 7 (4.5 mm)
Change needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

Notions
Crochet hook size F/5 (3.75 mm)
Polyester batting, yarn needle

Gauge
24 sts and 28 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch (St st)

Directions
Note: Work ornaments in solid colours or in stripes, as desired.

CO 12 (20) sts; distribute sts evenly over 4 needles -- 3 (5) sts each needle.
Join for working in the rnd, being careful not to twist sts; place marker (pm) for beginning of rnd.

Bottom
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: [K1-f/b, knit across to last st on needle, k1-f/b] 4 times -- 20 (28) sts.
Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until there are 11 (15) sts on each needle -- 44 (60) sts.
Work even for 5 (9) rnds.

Top
Rnd 1: [Skp, knit across to last 2 sts on needle, k2tog] 4 times -- 36 (52) sts remain.
Rnd 2: Knit.
Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until 3 (5) sts remain on each needle, end after completing Rnd 2 -- 12 (20) sts remain.
Break yarn, leaving an 18" tail. With tail threaded onto yarn needle, slip sts onto tail -- DO NOT gather at this point.

Finishing
Using CO tail threaded on yarn needle, weave yarn through CO edge; gently pull to gather closed. Weave in end securely on WS. Stuff ornament with batting. Gather live sts at BO edge and gently pull to close opening. Using BO tail and crochet hook, work a 4-1/2" (11 cm) chain; fasten off, leaving a tail for attaching chain to ball. Secure end of chain to top of ornament to form a loop. Embellish ornaments with embroidery if desired.

by kellylane6  Flickr

Rocking Yak Giveaway:: Winner

Congratulations to Angela Mobley  who said...

i love the softness of yak. I'd love some of this yarn and knowing it was spun to help.

Angela, send me an email so we connect.

Journal Your Christmas

This year I've signed up to participate in Journal Your Christmas. I first heard about this e-course last year during the Christmas season & loved the idea.

Every year, Journal your Christmas includes daily prompts from the 1st of December to the 6th of January, the twelfth day of Christmas. The 37 illustrated PDF files are delivered straight to your inbox so you can read them over your first cup of coffee and mull over each topic for a full day. And like every year, if you’re participated once, you can join us every Christmas for as long as you like at no extra cost.

For my journal, I decided to make my own. I used this instructional video posted by one of my favorite journal artists, Teesha Moore.  I actually make two of these signatures & then bound them together so that I'd have enough pages for all 37 prompts. I'm still short a few a pages, but chances are that I won't actually get to journal all 37 posts anyway. It is a work in progress, so I'll show pictures  as more work on it has been finished.

For now, I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends. 

Shh It's a secret

Our family is doing a completely handmade Christmas this year. I'm really excited about it. I started working on projects in September so I wouldn't feel too overwhelmed during this holiday season. 

I've just finished making a few of these dolls. They are going to be gifts for my nieces. I was really happy with how they turned out, & was surprised at how much fun it was to knit all the tiny accessories.

What are some of the things that you are working on for the holidays?

I'll be making up a few more of these over the next month for Christmas. If you would like one, hop on over to the shop to order one!

Lotus Hat Pattern

The lotus flower is one of the most ancient and deepest symbols of the planet. 
The lotus flower grows in miry waters. It rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty. At night the flower closes and sinks underwater, at dawn it rises and opens again. Untouched by the impurity, lotus symbolizes the purity of heart and mind. The lotus flower represents long life, health, honor and good luck.

This hat was born out of inspiration & necessity. Inspired by the yarn, the hands that spun it, and the unique tibetan culture.

The pattern for this hat is now available!

Thanksgiving Activities

This time of year always finds me thinking about creative ways I can teach our kids about thankfulness. I've compiled a list of some activities to do as a family to help kids think about the many blessings we have.

I am thankful for grandparents.

Write a letter or draw a picture for your grandparents.

Invite your grandparents over for a game night.

I am thankful for my toys.

Go through all the toys in your house and organize them. 

Donate toys you don't want anymore to your favorite organization.

Talk about favorite toys and what makes them special.

I am thankful for the Earth.

Recycle.

Go for a nature walk & pick up trash along the way.

Make bird feeders.

Collect some of your favorite things from outdoors and make a nature table.

I am thankful for the food we eat.

As a family help serve a meal at the local homeless shelter.

Donate food to a food pantry.

Make a donation to World Vision to give a family  clean water, farming equipment, or farm animals.

I am thankful for our home.

1 in 50 children in America are homeless

Donate some time at the local homeless shelter.

Help build a house for Habitat for Humanity.

Participate in or organize a Cardboard Box City Event to raise money for your local homeless shelter.

I am thankful for our firefighters/police/ems.

Bake a special treat to deliver to a local fire station.

I am thankful for my teacher.

Make a card telling your teacher how much you appreciate her.

The giveaway for The Rocking Yak Yarn is still going on.  Just leave a comment on 11/12/09 posts.

The Rocking Yak :: A Giveaway

As you & I both know, a beautiful thing happens when women sit down together to share in a common love of handicrafts. A connection is made, in a way that no other shared interest can match.  The connection goes beyond time, connecting us with women who have lived long before us and shared in the ancient art of knitting. The connection spans the globe, connecting us with our sisters who, like us, work every stitch in love. 

If you have been reading my blog for awhile, than you already know that The Rocking Yak is a project that is very dear to me. I have a lot of time and heart invested in this project.

I love having the ability to help another woman care for her family by the choice I make in the yarn I use.  I love that as I work each stitch to bring my family handmade warmth, I know that another woman's hands carefully & diligently worked to spin the yarn I use in an effort to bring warmth & shelter to her family. There is a connection there.   A bond between us, and I am Thankful to share in this experience. 

The Rocking Yak is working with Tibetan women whose families reside in impoverished communities in rural China.  Aiming to empower these women & their families in their choice to live a more traditional lifestyle, The Rocking Yak is brining economic value to the traditional skills of rearing yak and spinning wool.  In doing so, helping these families gain long-term employment and a greater sustainable income, while instilling self worth and pride in the celebration of their unique culture.

Yak down is a luxury fiber that is softer than cashmere and warmer than wool. It is this same down fiber that keep yak (and their owners) warm through the  Himalayan winters. 

It truly is the softest stuff on Earth!

But don't take my word for it - try it out for yourself.

The Rocking Yak has graciously offered one ball of this precious handspun yarn for a give away!

To enter, just leave a comment on this post. I will announce the winner on 11/29/09

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Also, when placing an order, mention Between Hitching Posts and you will receive 10% off your order!

The Man Hat

Along with the Giveaway from The Rocking Yak, I thought I would share with you the pattern for this "Man" hat. 

Why is it the "Man "hat you ask? 

Well, I'll tell you.   It's because the first hat I made like this was for my son. As I sat making the hat, I thought to myself  how much of a little "man" my guy was becoming. When I placed the hat on his head I said "here you go buddy - your Man hat!". The name stuck.

So without further adieu, I give to you ..... The Man Hat.

Materials:

set of size US9 double point needles

*1 ball of The Rocking Yak 100% yak down; bulky weight yarn (brown)

2 stitch markers

1 a darning needle

*this yarn is sure to please even the most picky of wool wearers. Even those who are allergic to sheep's wool can enjoy wearing yak. It is husband/kid approved!

Gauge:

12 sts = 4"

22 rows = 4"

Pattern

CO 75 sts, join to work in the round.

Knit in a 4x1 rib pattern for 4".

Decrease

K 37 sts, K2tog, place marker, K to the last 2 sts, K2tog, place marker.

{K to 2 sts before marker, slip marker, K2tog } Repeat until 39 sts remain.

K2tog every stitch until 10 sts remain.

Break yarn.

Using a darning needle pull remaining yarn through the last 10 sts and pull closed. Pull remaining yarn to the inside of the hat.

Weave in all loose ends and voila!

Two Awesome Giveaways!

The first giveaway I want to mentions is from Todays mama.  You should definitely take the time to go check out the loot!

To enter just cut & paste these questions to your next blog post (or in a facebook note), answer the questions, & give Todaysmama a link.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year? 

a.  Addi interchangeable circular knitting needles

b.  Copi markers

c.  SLR camera

d.  Get away with the hubby to nice B&B

e.  Hot rock massage
2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received? 

a painting from my dad
3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle? 

a journal to each of my kids
4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child? 

baby Heather
5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year? 

Jake REALLY wants a wooden axe/hatchet

Nona wants a felted wool doll
6. What is your favorite holiday food? 

Date Pudding - hands down!
7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays? 

Lots of things really but can't share them all here. Not yet anyhow. I can tell you this - I am making a felted wool doll.
8. What is your favorite holiday movie? 

Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase
9. Favorite holiday song? 

Little Drummer Boy
10. Favorite holiday pastime? 

knitting!

The second giveaway I want to mention is being held over at Gardenmama. She has this most amazing treasure box!

Good luck.

Indian Corn Jewelry:: A Tutorial

Fall has always been my favorite time of year, and as the years pass, and my children grow older, I have found a growing fondness for Thanksgiving.  This year we started turning our hearts towards Thanksgiving in October when we began learning more about the Native Americans. I thought I might share some of the projects that we enjoyed.

What you will need:

Indian corn, 2 or 3 cobs

strong thread

sewing needle

Step 1: Help your kids take the kernels of corn off the cobs.
Step 2: Soak the corn kernels overnight until they are soft enough to easily push your needle through.
Step 3: Thread the needle & begin pushing the kernels of corn onto the thread.
We just made simple bracelets. My kids didn't quite have the attention span to continue working this project much longer than that. You can look here for more ideas on making different Indian corn pieces.