Handmade Christmas Gifts (Part 1, Knitting)

It seems like ages since I have come to my little corner here.  The rush of the holidays and ten very excited children kept me quite occupied.  I did miss you, and it feels so good to be back.  I do hope all of you were blessed with a very happy Christmas and are continuing to enjoy the holiday break. I always look forward to the days between Christmas and New Year's, when I can take a deep breath and savor the slower paced days. It has been nice being able to putter about the house drinking coffee in my pj's until, well, whenever I feel like getting dressed, stopping to play dolls with Little #9, fixing a train track for Little #8, and looking forward to the end of week when Hubby will be home with us.

I wasn't sure where to begin with catching up, so I decided to begin with sharing the knitting projects I worked on for Christmas.  I already shared bits and pieces, but now I can share the finished items. They were small, fun items, perfect for a beginner such as me, except for the Little Bud's Sweater. I am so relieved to have this project completed!  I have been calling it the "sweater of imperfections". I frogged and fixed and frogged and fixed and eventually stopped frogging and fixing and kept knitting.  It's done, and I am ever so glad!  Little #9 is pleased with it and doesn't care a bit that it buttons on the wrong side or that the eye cording is wavy in spots or that the underarms are bit wonky.  It's warm, it's her favorite color, and she is content.

On to the more fun projects...cabled boot cuffs. I used this lovely (free) pattern and Chroma Worsted in Vermont, Sugar Cookie, and Wildflower.  This was my first time working with something other than solid colors and I found it quite fun.  I would, however, like to make a few more boot cuffs in solid, neutral colors for a different look.  

Of course, the men needed warm hats.  Hubby wanted a replacement for the one I made for him last year since it shrunk after accidentally going through the washer and dryer, and both of the older boys were in need of warm head gear.  Hubby's hat is a Regular Guy Beanie, and the boys' hats are London Beanies that I sized up.  I am currently working on a smaller London Beanie for Little #7, using the left overs from his older brothers' hats, and hopefully I will move on to one for Little #8 soon.

Finally, there were headbands for the older girls...all made from left over wool.  I'm so pleased with the way they turned out and especially happy that the girls found them both stylish and warm.  

So, that is a wrap up of my Christmas knitting for 2014.  Like I said, they were mostly simple, small knits, but I am so excited to have learned enough over the past year to feel confident in giving my finished projects as gifts. I already have my eye on a few projects for next Christmas (some a bit more involved, so I better start early).

Wishing you all a very happy New Year!!!

Joining Ginny today.