Every year I make items for the family for Christmas. To me this is as much about Christmas as the actual day itself. It gives me time to think about the recipient whilst I am making the gift. This last year Christmas was difficult and I couldn’t bring myself to even think about it without Luke, let alone make gifts. But as always I could hear his voice telling me “It is what it is, and we have to move forward and keep going” That gave me the push I needed, although rather too close to the actual date for much to be made.
I bought some sock yarn – Perfect by Arne & Carlos for Regia – which makes a perfect pair of patterned socks with with no worry about the row count. I didn’t read the instructions though, and started from the outside of the ball of yarn. I was quite a long way down the sock and thinking this doesn’t look like the pattern before I read the instructions. Only to find that I should have started with yarn from the centre of the ball. After unravelling the sock and starting again, everything was going great until the heel turn. My usual heel turn – the Strong heel, does not work with this yarn. It has been designed for a German short row heel or a boomerang (Bumerangferse) heel. It took several attempts to make a heel that I was satisfied with, but I still find that I am getting holes. This year I will master it as starting now gives me plenty of time before Christmas. It is one of this years challenges to myself.
As I started late on the Christmas makes, (mid way through November) I only managed to make 5 pairs of socks, I decided to make some simpler items as stocking fillers. One was a Christmas napkin basket. I found a fabric with a robin picture which I placed in the centre of the basket as a surprise when all the napkins have been used. Although a square of Christmas fabric works just as well and is less time consuming.
It is a smaller version of the fabric tray pattern. I have added a free pattern download to my website with the new measurements. Small Napkin Basket
I am now going to make another everyday napkin basket in the hope of being able to have friends to visit for BBQ’s and afternoon tea this summer. I think we all need something to look forward to.
Bev