Create some very special memories this holiday season with these hand knit projects inspired by holiday traditions from around the world. I bring you a wide selection with something for every family member, at all price points and skill levels that will put you in the spirit of the season.
In This Issue: Holiday Cheer / Cowls & Scarves for Every Style / Mom was Right, Wear a Hat / The Perfect Yarn / New Moose Lace Afghan /
Holiday Cheer
The Christmas tree as we know it began in Germany and you'll want to knit a bunch of HeartStrings' Bitty Beady Christmas Trees to have on hand as gifts. They work up fast in small amounts of yarn and make great ornaments, package decorations and even jewelry!
Annie's Woolens works magic with the old Dutch tradition of hanging a stocking by the fireplace in hopes that Sinterklaas will fill it with treats, not coal. Her Felted Christmas Stocking lets you play with color, whether solid or striped you'll have fun choosing a special color for each family member!
Cowls & Scarves for Every Style
Cowls & scarves are still the "it" accessories this season and its perfectly clear why, these easy to wear styles are versatile, warm and flattering on every shape and size and fast to knit! With Tiny Owl Knits two new designs you'll have a touch of an English Garden in the Spring on even the coldest Winter day, her Moss & Bluebells Pocket Scarf has little pockets hidden in the bluebell frills. Put your hands inside if they get chilly, or fill them with forest flowers.
And fairy tales do come true with the Sleeping Beauty Cowl, its knit in the round in one piece with crocheted roses and forget-me-nots added afterward.
If you love the idea of an extra pocket you'll love Freshstitches' December Pocket Cowl, this generous sized cowl is knit in the versatile, and on sale yarn, Malabrigo Merino Worsted.
Hats and scarves unite in Lisa Ellis Designs' Hooded Scarves and Cowls, 1 pattern, 4 designs: 2 hooded scarves and 2 cowls. Pick your style and skill level, nothing is too complicated and all look great! Each garment can be knit in either Malabrigo Merino Worsted or Sandrasingh.com 1 Ply Merino Worsted.
Mom was Right, Wear a Hat
Rain, sleet or snow, you're loved one will be warm while traveling over the river and through the woods in one of these wonderful woolly hats! You'll find more than just Sugar Plum fairies in Tchaikovsky's homeland, discover the very special shapka, a traditional Russian style hat that can handle the frigid winters. Knit one of your own with Lipp Holmfeld's faux-cabled Russian Hat or Lisa Ellis Designs' stranded colorwork Russian Hat and Purse.
Or one of these unisex designs, Woolly Wormheads' My Deer Stalker or Mt Hood by Gardiner Yarn Works.
And one of the beloved dances from the Nutcracker is the Arabian, give a nod to this sweet turban style with Army of Knitters' Chambord Truffle.
Travel south of the border this holiday season with Lisa Ellis Designs' Andean and Peruvian earflap hats, Schaefer's child sized Munchkin earflapped hat, Woolly Wormheads' Funky Flapper and Nelkin Designs' Choice Chullo with matching scarf. Make sure to arrive in Mexico by January 6th for Three Kings Day when children anxiously await treasures, not from Santa Claus, but from the visiting Three Wise Men.
And children are also awaiting the traditional lighting of the candles during the 8 nights of Chanukah, have 8 gifts ready beginning with Tiny Owl's Cupcake Kitten Hat and visit Children to see more hat, scarf and mitten knit & crochet projects.
No matter where you're headed this holiday season you can never go wrong with a classic cable! Knit in the round from the top down, the simple allover cable that makes up the main portion of Jennifer Hagen's Cabled Tam is anchored by a cable-and-rib brim. Pair this hat up with Tanis Gray's Cabled Arm Cozies and Elena Malo's Cabled Scarf.
The Perfect Yarn
Rejoice the cold weather, it means your favorite knitting publications are introducing new, knit worthy designs. I've previewed some of the most popular for you and I'm happy to report I've got the yarns you need. The free pattern site knitty has 3 projects worth knitting, the Alda scarf in 1 skein of Kauni Effektgarn 8/2, the Paper Moon Socks in 1-2 skeins of Madelinetosh Tosh Sock and the Apis Dorsata scarf in 2 skeins of Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light.
Interweave Knits Winter 2011 features the Holiday Lights Tam knit in 1 skein of Lorna's Laces Honor, the Leif Slipover Vest in 7-13 balls of Cascade Lana Grande and the child's pullover Petite Facile in 2-3 skeins of Malabrigo Merino Worsted. Also knit in only 1 skein Merino Worsted is the Day Brightener Ascot from Interweave Knits Accessories 2011, where you'll also find the Trousseau Wrap in 1 skein of Lorna's Lace Helen's Lace and the Wink Scarf knit in 168 yds of your favorite Fingering Weight yarn. And the premiere issue of knit.wear 2011, by Interweave, features the Cutaway Coat by Sandi Rosner knit in Lorna's Laces Grace and Glory yarns, as usual I'll be happy to special order Glory for you.
And if you're planning on knitting a new pair of socks the Cabled Knee Socks from Vogue Knitting Winter 2011 are knit in 1 skein of Claudia Hand Painted Yarns' Fingering, the Bird Socks from this issue are knit in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock as are the Knee Socks from Vogue Knitting Holiday 2011.
You can always find the yarn you need for an easy substitution visit Yarn by Weight and Yarn by Fiber and if you need help finding any of these publications please call or email.
New Moose Lace Afghan
I'll leave you dreaming of that larger project you have planned once the holiday rush is over, an Afghan. HeartStrings' new Moose Lace is an attractive, practical afghan and an example of "moose lace", i.e. lace knitted in a heavier yarn than usual. The lace makes this afghan lighter in weight for its size, yet pleasingly warm. Knit yours in your favorite "go to" worsted such as Cascade 220 Superwash.
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