A Handmade Christmas

Very long story short, we are building a new house so trying to trim the budget to make sure we can afford any extras we want to add to the new house. After a bit of a freak out over interest rates, the cost of building and rising inflation that is causing everything to be so much more expensive then it once was, I decided that I was going to do a handmade Christmas. Presents to our 3 kids from us (my husband and I) are going to be handmade. The problem? I decided I was going to do this with only about 3 months until Christmas. Another problem? This time of the year is always flat out for us with both of us working, kids concerts, birthday parties, Christmas parties, an increase in things happening with this little business of mine and just all around daily routines getting packed.

So how is it going?

I have had to make some tough decisions as to what I will be working on and I have had to squeeze some time anywhere possible. I was trying to get it done without the kids knowing but with the toddler in the family not wanting to go to bed unless I am sitting in his room, and this often taking at least an hour, I have had to try and convince the kids that what I am making is for other little kids that like the same things as them.. I know, worst parenting ever!

I have made some secret beanies using the Mad as a Hatter pattern from Ruth at Orchard House Editing. This pattern is extremely addictive and I can work it up fairly quickly.

I have completed 2 jumpers from wool that I have had in my stash for a while. I used some numbers from different patterns that I have knitted before and just did a basic raglan pattern. I used a loose gauge which meant that they worked up really quick. When i say quick I mean quicker than my usual jumper projects that take me months. Both of these took about 2 weeks although I did hit sleeve island on the second and lose motivation so it took a bit longer to be finished but once I got back to the sleeves they went quick enough.

What do you make a dinosaur obsessed 2 year old? When you have a stash of yarn that you are trying to use more of to save for your new house the answer is an amigurumi dinosaur. I have used the pattern from the book Animal Friends of Pica Pau 3 by Yan Schenkel. I have been known to say that I would never really make an amigurumi but I loved. I can see some more in my future especially as gifts.

The next started project that I am trying to keep secret is a pair of socks for my 6 year old son. If you follow on instagram you might remember I posted a colourway that he helped me dye. If you are lucky there might still be some left in the shop. It is called Jacob’s Help. I thought it would be nice to make Jacob a pair of socks from a skein and being a 6 year old who also loves dinosaurs, I am going to attempt my first colour work socks. I will be starting small and just putting some dinosaur footprints around the cuff. I am sure that he will love them and the fact that he helped my dye the yarn and the time we spent together doing that just makes me heart sing. These however will be gifted after Christmas as I ran out of time. More on this in future posts.