Crafty Christmas Ideas....anyone??? ***UPDATE***

[Susan_WW]

OK, I know Christmas is still 2 months away but I'm trying to get started so I won't be so rushed later on.

My mom, aunt, cousin, and I exchange small hand made gifts with each other at the holidays. The only requirement is that it has to be home made. We've been doing this for years and it seems like each year it gets harder and harder because we're always trying to come up with something "new". Last year I did wine charms, the year before I did crochted pot holders, the year before I did "stained glass" pictures, etc.

This year, I really don't want to have to buy any supplies. I need to use up stuff in my craft closet because I have waaay too much in there (besides the fact that our holiday budget is very tight this year). I have tons of yarn, lots of cotton print fabrics, a ton of white PUL, plastic canvas, and assorted beads and beading supplies. I have a sewing machine, a serger, and a bond sweater machine. I don't have lots of time for anything intricate (knitting has become very rare for me nowadays) so I would really prefer something that I can finish in a few hours that I can steal away from the baby (remember I need to make 3 of whatever we come up with).

I know you will come up with some great ideas, you ladies are so creative!! :kiss

[pmcgary]

Well I am planning to whip up some one skein wonders as gifts for school teachers....and such....

[cozystitches]

What about totes? Or some of the Lazy Girl designs...oh wait, no buying...

Umm... what about: A tote, with matching (or co-ordinating) book holder, book mark, glass cozy, and neck pillow? Add a few chocolates and maybe a book, and you're set! :D

Hugs,
tammy

[littleturtlemama]

these are my favorite "quick and dirty" Christmas gift, and they are ALWAYS well received. It's warm and natural batting stuffed with poly fill and primitive embroidered faces. That's rusted wired for arms, but I've also used twigs from outside. They're really quick, just trace a dinner plate (12" round minimum, you can go bigger but not really smaller) put stuffing in the center for the head, draw it around, tie around the neck, stuff the body, thread around hte bottom (I cover the bottom with a nother, smaller circle that's whipstitched on)

http://www.littleturtleknits.com/images/snowmen.jpg

[smillerky]

T, those are CUTE! I'll have to remember those when I need a quick gift.

:)

[whitecalx]

I saw something I want to try. You take kosher or epsom salt, put it in a jar and add about 20 drops of whatever essential oil you want to make bath salts.

You could use a canning jar and make it look country. Or perhaps some other recycled container that you can spruce up. One of the health food stores in our town sells these beautiful cobalt containers both glass and plastic for less than $2 each so I'm thinking of getting some of those for my project.

[pmcgary]

I saw something I want to try. You take kosher or epsom salt, put it in a jar and add about 20 drops of whatever essential oil you want to make bath salts.

You could use a canning jar and make it look country. Or perhaps some other recycled container that you can spruce up. One of the health food stores in our town sells these beautiful cobalt containers both glass and plastic for less than $2 each so I'm thinking of getting some of those for my project.

We had a girly spa party for my dd when she was 7 and we did this...The girls came up with their own fragrances.

We did peppermint for her teacher when she retired -along with a pair of 'pocketbook slippers' and a wooly wonder sack...
Oh those pocketbook slippers are cute- let me find the link
http://www.geocities.com/knitwits_heaven/pocketbookslippers.html

they knit up lickety split and limited finishing work!!!

[mamapez]

There is even a knitting machine version of the pocketbook slippers! I *think* I got this off of the mk yahoo group, but I can't remember - no web page - just a notebook file:


I have been playing around today & made the MK version of the pocketbook slippers. I wear a size 8 1/2-9 shoe & the slipper fits perfectly. I would think that decreasing the starting sts fromm 44 to 40 will make a medium sized slipper. You will have to experiment because my whole family is of the "Big-Foot" origon! LOL

Bond Pocketbook Slippers

4-ply yarn
Keyplate 3
Size- 8 to 9 shoe size

1. Pull forward 44 needles. Hang hem & ravel cord. Knit 6 rows of waste yarn.

2. With main yarn knit 28 rows.

3. Skip 1st stitch on carriage side, drop down & latch up next 2 sts to form a purl st, *skip 2 sts, drop down & latch up next 2*. Repeat between *'s across ending with 1 knit st. This will form a 2X2 Ribbing.

4. Knit 6 rows of waste yarn, remove work from the needles.

5. Pull forward 33 needles. Rehang the 44 sts on to the 33 needles. You will have to hang 2 sts on to some of the needles spaced out evenly across.

6. Knit 2 rows.

7. Knit 6 rows of waste yarn & remove work from the needles.

8. Pull forward 22 needles & rehang the 33 sts on to the 22 needles as stated above.

9. Knit 2 rows.

10. Decrease 1 stitch on the carriage side. Knit 1 row. (To decrease: using a 2-prong tool, remove the first 2 sts on to the 2-prong tool & move over one needle leaving the 1st needle empty, the second needle with one st & the 3rd needle with 2 sts. Push the 1st needle to non-working position & proceed.)

11. Repeat decreasing & knitting 1 row as stated in #10 above until you have 6 sts remaining.

12. Knit 2 rows. This is the strap.

13. Knit 6 rows of waste yarn & remove work from the needles.

Pull forward 33 needles & rehang the sts from the first row.
Repeat #5 through #13.

To finish, fold the slipper in half matching the 6 sts of the straps from each side. Sew the 6 sts together. Sew the heel area together. Sew the toe end together & sew together 2 more sts from the top side above the ribbed area. This will make the opening in the toe area smaller. Remove waste yarn.

Make a 2nd slipper.

[marnie]

http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter04/PATTwinecozy.html

these take very little time and use all manner of yarn scraps. always well received.

[mommomrebecca]

You could knit a gingerbread house out of different colored scraps, for the candy and everything. I was going to do this but I am getting some harassment about it at home so I think I'll pass this year.

None of the smilies work for me anymore. What's up with that?

[pmcgary]

There is even a knitting machine version of the pocketbook slippers! I *think* I got this off of the mk yahoo group, but I can't remember - no web page - just a notebook file:

Amy -
Are you talking to me again?

[eden/averymum]

rice bags with washable cases.

[jmo]

I love those snowmen, Theresa! Tres cute.

I have made some LTK Primitive Angels for gifts, too. I knit one up w/ wings over a weekend, no prob. Probably could have taken less time, too, if I had not kept putting it down.

[Susan_WW]

You all have some great ideas!!! I had thought of the rice bags too Kristen. Any idea of what size/shape to make them? My cousin has bad arthritis and my aunt and mom are getting to the age where they get lots of aches and pains, so I'm sure they would get used quite a bit :)

Keep 'em coming!!!

[littleturtlemama]

ohh, I made a rice bag for MIL a few years back, I did it in a up shape (but with the bottomfo the u squared off) to put over her shoulders around her neck. She still talks about how it is the best gift she's ever gotten. I added some dried lavender inside, so it smells great, too.

[KaliD]

cloth "trivets" filled with cloves and cinnamon (think hot mit crossed with rice bag but square).

I second or third rice bags! I actually got a request for replacements from my mom recently. Finished sized was about 3-4" by however long she wanted. If you don't stuff hard, and are making a long one, add a stitch line ever 4-6" or so, so that the rice doesn't slide all the way to one end!

My neighbor makes one that is 24-36" long by 8-10" wide with MANY rectangle compartments, she says its a big pain because she stuffs while she sews but they are fantastic for neck/shoulders or backs!

Or corrdinating hot mits, trivet, and those tubes for holding grocery bags?

Any of these things could be quilted, appliqued or kept simple.

[mamapez]

Amy -
Are you talking to me again?

:LOL Of course! And when I come over to your house next month, we are dusting that thing off, and setting her up! Maybe we can even whip out a pair of pocketbook slippers for ya. ;)

btw - We have purchased our plane tickets! We are coming Nov. 17-21st.

[Susan_WW]

I was going to make the rice bags, but then I thought of something easier :D

I made 5 different "gourmet" dip mixes (that you mix with sour cream and/or mayo): Spicy Garlic, Very Veggie, Delicious Dilly, Country Ranch, and Garlic & Herb. I created fancy labels on the computer for each bag, then I'm going to sew a little fabric bag to put them all into. I even made my own logo - "Susan's Gourmet" Dip Mixes :)

[smillerky]

What a great idea! I'll have to remember that when I need a cute little gift.

Care to share your recipes?

:)

[radish]

Oh those pocketbook slippers are cute- let me find the link
http://www.geocities.com/knitwits_heaven/pocketbookslippers.html

they knit up lickety split and limited finishing work!!!
Oh ive been looking for the link/pattern!! thanks!

[Susan_WW]

Sara, I'll get them together for you :)

[smillerky]

Thanks!

:thumb