princessdeia

When we were children the lead up to Christmas started with the store brought chocolate advent calendar, each day you would have to struggle with the perforated door to get to the tiny chocolate bar behind. Here at Chez Princessdeia we have never really grown up and every November we buy two advent calendars (one each as we never did learn to share). Last year Jason was extremely disappointed to learn that whilst he makes do with this bite sized chocolate every day his niece and nephew where having fun sized mars bars. As at there house, they have a wooden advent calendar with mini drawers to hold treats (some days they might get a toy instead of chocolates).

Whilst on ravelry last year, I found a pattern for advent calendar made of mini knitted hats, I just loved this idea but thought all along I would prefer to make mini stocking (after all knitters love making socks!) My original plan was to use Carissaknits holiday stockings pattern, in fact I had the pattern in my ravelry queue for nearly a year. Last month, I figured it would be quicker and easier to make the baby booties from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts.

Yarn: Cascade 220 Paints (Maple Leaf) and Quarto (Purple)
Pattern:BAWK Hot Water Bottle Cozy by Yarngogo.
Notes:I added a flap so the bottle could be removed.

Alterations:
CO 31sts
Rows 1-4: Stocking Stitch
Button Hole Row 1: K7, BO2, K13, BO2, K7
Button Hole Row 2: P7, CO2, P13, CO2, P7
Next 3 Rows: Stocking Stitch
CO 31sts and join.

I spent most of the weekend working on my Hourglass sweater, I have to say this is knitting up so quickly, I have finished all the decreases and increases on the sides, I was thinking of knitting this as part of NaKniSweMo, but thought I would never knit that quickly now I am having second thoughts - maybe I could have who knows. I think part of the joy of knitting this sweater (apart from it being knitted on the round) is the yarn. Both wools are so soft, I just love the feel on the yarn in my hands and also the knitted fabric.

Recently my new obsession has become knitted things for the home, I have had Erika Knight’s New Knits for a while and love most the patterns, and she is about to publish another book Glamour at Home, which I can’t wait to see. After hours of searching I have found several things I want to knit (Mason-Dixon’s Absorba Bath Mat, Mug and French Press Jacket and Reverse-Bloom Flower Washcloths), but I started off with these lovely Flower Scrubbies. I adapted the pattern a little, to cover one side to protect your hands whilst washing.