Category Archives: Christmas

Still knitting, too!

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IMG_3846

Originally uploaded by kerner



In the midst of all the New Year’s Resolution fervor (which I’m much better at talking about than actually implementing, by the way) I have actually been doing quite a bit of knitting. My favorite kind of Christmas knitting is the no-deadline kind, so it makes sense that for the past two years I’ve made Christmas stocking in January. Last year I knit two – one for me and one for my husband. This year, it’s one for baby! Luckily the patterns calls for you to go back at the end and add in the name at the top in duplicate stitch, because we really haven’t decided 100% on that yet. Plus, I may have to go back and change it anyway, because if we end up naming the baby Jehosephat* but everyone ends up calling him “Jump,” I’ll switch it out to his nickname.

I’m also – FINALLY – making a black and gold brioche scarf for my husband to match a hat I finished almost exactly a year ago. I’ll try to snap a picture of that today, as well as an updated belly picture.

* I kid, Mom, I kid! You can stop hyperventilating now.

‘Tis better to give!

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I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!  I had a great time visiting with my family, getting totally spoiled in the present-department by my parents, and doing my best not to eat stuff I’m not supposed to with this stupid gall bladder problem.  (Just one of my grandma’s Christmas tree cookies, I couldn’t resist.)

I am a total bum and forgot to take any pictures while we were actually opening presents, but here’s a quick run-down of the presents I knitted this year!



Vintage Beaded Gloves

Originally uploaded by kerner




Alpaca Ribbon Scarf

Originally uploaded by kerner 

Gloves and a matching scarf for my mother in law!  Patterns are noted under the pictures; both are made out of Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca-Silk.




Noro Entrelac Scarf

Originally uploaded by kerner 

A basic entrelac scarf in Noro Kureyon for my sister.  Entrelac scaves in a yarn with long color repeats is definitely one of the most impressive things you can knit, at least as far as non-knitters are concerned.  And it’s really not that hard.  I promise – just follow the directions (even though they might seem wrong or confusing) and it will turn out really nice.




Odessa Hat – Manos SIlk Blend

Originally uploaded by kerner


An Odessa hat for my mom (actually I knit a second one for her in a different color of the same yarn – I’m keeping this one!!)



Fleece-Lined Hat

Originally uploaded by kerner


A nice warm hat for my Grandpa – just a basic rib in basic Cascade 220.  I lined it with fleece to keep his ears warm while he’s working outside on the farm.  



Snowboarder’s Hat

Originally uploaded by kerner


(I promise I finished this before Christmas!)  A cool cabled snowboarder’s hat for my brother-in-law.  He said he wanted earflaps!  It’s really warm alpaca yarn. 

Welcome Africankelli readers!

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Jars with red yarn bows

Originally uploaded by kerner



Kelli is doing Christmas crafting of heroic proportions this year, which she is documenting on her blog as “Adventathon.” After reading more than 2 weeks of her great ideas, it dawned on me that coming up with 25 days of fresh crafting ideas might be a bit difficult. To help a sista out, I volunteered some photos of jam jars (made this summer) that I had recently fancied up to give away as Christmas presents. If you want to make your own Holiday Jam, check out my contribution to Adventathon on Kelli’s latest post.

Holiday Home Tour

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Welcome

Originally uploaded by kerner

Welcome to my house!  It’s been a little crazy this year with the remodel, so I hope you’ll excuse my relative lack of decorations.  I usually don’t go too crazy anyway, although I do love a good Christmas ornament.  I think next year I may have to expand to multiple trees.    




Entryway Vignette

Originally uploaded by kerner


Here’s my “new” decoration for the year (using what I already had!)  A little Christmasy vignette on the entryway table.  It has random ornaments, a candle, a pinecone I found outside, and some cinnamon sticks.  It really does make the house smell fantastic when you walk in.



Christmas Cookies

Originally uploaded by kerner

Come into the kitchen and have a cookie!  You might as well enjoy them, since I can’t!  (Pregnancy-related gall bladder troubles = no Christmas goodies for Zarah this year.  Boo.)




Sparkly Ball

Originally uploaded by kerner

Step into the living room and see my pretty tree.  It’s white, which makes it nearly impossible to photograph, because all the ornaments show up dark against the bright white branches.  This photo was the best thing I could find to show how pretty it is in person.



Stockings on the Mantel

Originally uploaded by kerner

The stockings I knit earlier this year are making their debut on my mantle this Christmas!  Aren’t they cute?  They were probably the most difficult thing I’ve ever knit.  (For those of you that can appreciate these things, that argyle section is intarsia, and there is a fair-isle section in there, too. Yikes!)

I have a little nativity scene on my mantel, but it’s really too small for the space.  I’m going to check out the after-Christmas sales to see if I can find some larger-scale items to decorate with next year. 

Thanks for visiting!  To lure you back, tomorrow I’m going to post the much-anticipated pictures of my remodeled kitchen, dining room, and living room.

Christmas Tour of Homes with The Nester

Not a belly picture

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Vintage Beaded Gloves – Cuff

Originally uploaded by kerner



I loved my sister’s last comment on my blog:
A. I demand a belly picture
B. I demand finished house pictures!
C. Your sister is very demanding.

I took a belly picture, but the internet connection at my house is messed up so I can’t upload. My house isn’t quite “finished” (as in, it’s currently covered in bits of blue tape marking where the contractors need to come back through and fix things). So, she and my other less-demanding readers will have to be satisfied with a picture of some knitting-in-progress for someone that I’m pretty sure doesn’t read this blog.

I’ve been planning on giving this person a scarf I finished this summer, but we all know that a knitter can’t really get into the holiday spirit unless you unreasonably load up on Christmas knitting. (Right?) Anyway, I had plenty of matching yarn left, so I decided I needed to knit a pair of gloves to match the scarf. On Size 1 needles. With decorative beading. Yeah… I’m a genius.

The good news is that I have managed to finish one of these gloves already. So, I just have to finish the other one, along with these other Christmas knitting projects:

A hat
A scarf (or three)
A baby item of some sort
Possibly another pair of gloves? (Probably not, though)

That list doesn’t look so bad… I will have to reassess after this wonderful Thanksgiving weekend which is always great for knitting. What do you think, am I crazy or are you in the same boat with your handmade gift list?

SOOPER SEEKRIT

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yip.111 i spun a rainbow

Originally uploaded by novamade



It’s the crafty blogger’s annual conundrum: how to continue blogging about my crafty adventures while not revealing holiday presents being made for family members and friends who read the blog? I really hate blogging without pictures, so that makes it even more difficult. This year, I think I’ll just post random pretty pictures and some ramblings to distract you from lack of craftiness.

I’ve got a fairly intimidating list of Christmas gifts I’m planning to make, but I think the fact that I’m already planning out how to get it all done is a positive sign – right? How about you – are you in total denial that Christmas is 6 weeks away? Are you one of those sickening people that already has every present done, wrapped, and stowed away in a specially designated Christmas closet?

Photo credit to novamade via flickr.