Have you started any 🎄crafts yet, and if so, would you like to share?

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

I’m about 1/4 of the way through yet another knitted Nativity Set (started in June) which will as usual be for the Gdcs’ school Christmas raffle - it always seems to go down well.
That’s in between non 🎄projects.

The first time I made one (for Gdcs) I only discovered the pattern in about mid September (courtesy of a MNer) so it was a bit of a rush to get it finished for the beginning of December.

I’ve knitted some bunting to use up scraps and a penguin in a woolly hat and scarf which toddler DD found so has gone to live in her bed rather than with the Xmas decs.

Both from last year’s simply knitting magazine. Just checked and my library app has issues going back to 2019 including the Christmas ones, so might look for more inspiration now whilst there’s time to do something about it!

I have started a knitted colour work hot water bottle cover for my Ds.

You've reminded me, @BeastOfBODMAS , if anybody else would like to make 🎄bunting, there’s a free (easy) pattern on the Jean Greenhowe website for mini Christmas stockings - about 10cm each - I used up some of my mega-stash of oddments last year to make a string of them.

Every year I have one little project that I focus one. Last year it was outside door garland. I'm currently awaiting an order of artificial foliage so I can start on the next one. I'm hoping to put together an over the dining table ceiling centrepiece. Not sure how it's going to turn out but I guess that's all part of the fun 🎄🎄

Thank you @GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER I have downloaded the stocking bunting pattern as well as the knitted cup and ball game, which looks like a great non-plastic stocking filler.

👍@BeastOfBODMAS .

A couple of years ago I made various things besides the Nativity Set from Jean Greenhowe’s Christmas Special booklet, inc. 3 of the Big Fat Father Christmases. I love her patterns - instructions always crystal clear and if you follow them exactly, the things do turn out just like the pics.

The N set donkey is in her Chr. Treasures booklet.

I had to replace my Christmas Special booklet recently - first one was falling to bits!

This is a good pattern, and quick to knit in chunky. Made them for Gdcs a couple of years ago, nice and warm and proved v popular. It’s in the King Cole Christmas Knits book 1. Comes in sizes from baby to adult.,

A knitted nativity?’ Omg if any one has a link to the patterns please do share!

@HyggeTyggeDotCom I use the pattern in Jean Greenhowe’s Christmas Special booklet - quite old now but still available online - I recently ordered a new one, precious was falling to bits!
Here it is. There’s also a donkey in her Christmas Treasures.
It’s all just fairly basic knitting and her instructions are very detailed and crystal clear - if you follow them exactly the items do turn out very much like the illustration.

I’ve made several now.

Previous!

Just to add, of course it’s pretty time consuming so best to start early - and you do need lots of different colours, but worth it.

That is amazing,I would love a set. Unfortunately I dont know how to knit😬
do you sell them? You should you would sell loads.

I don’t make them to sell, boobot1, only for the Gdcs’ school Chr, fair raffle, and previously for Gdcs and for their preschool.

They're a huge amount of work, not to mention so many different colours of yarn to buy, so I’d want to charge about £500, which obviously nobody would ever pay!

That looks lovely op!

I can't knit or anything but I did make a wreath last year.

I'd like to do something else this year and also make some edible gifts for friends. Thinking of doing nigellas chilli jam and some mini Christmas cakes, but maybe a bit too soon to start on edible things.

I have ordered some clear plastic baubles so I can make some new glitter ones for my hall. I made some glitter ones years ago to match my lounge decor colour, mainly the rug (heather.) You pour varnish into the bauble, coat it completely, drain, then pour in glitter. Far easier to buy glitter in the colour you want and make your own. Also with the glitter on the inside less falls off them.

Every year I try to introduce a new element, we always have the same things as we believe in tradition but add small elements every year to add a bit of magic. A few years ago I made a nativity set from peg dolls but I just dressed them with felt, I can crochet as you can make a lot of progress quickly, but knitting takes too long for me. I admire anyone who sticks at it.

I love having a Christmas board where other people are doing this sort of stuff in August too.

I started looking for stuff to use to make my Christmas cards, though I haven't decided for sure what I'm going to do.

I'm finding it surprisingly hard to find Christmas origami paper that is white on one side and a small red pattern on the other side (ideally, a variety of red patterns on different pieces). And preferably 10cm square. I though there would be a lot around! I can find some plain red. I can find stuff that has patterns on both sides. I can find pads of Christmas paper that are bigger or rectangular. I can find print-your-own origami paper. I can find quite large prints. I can find quite heavy paper. But hardly anything that is quite what I'm looking for - the white side is the most crucial bit and loads of paper packs are keen to advertise that they are double sided, as I'm sure for most applications that is better!

The best so far is The Works, who do a superstack of Christmas origami paper, but I can't see it in my local shop yet to really investigate it. They have the superstack of regular coloured origami paper, but it's quite thin and the pattern often shows through on the white side, so I suspect the Christmas one will be like that too. And it's 15cm square. And half the book is blue papers, though it looks like there are some OK red ones too. But I think this will probably have to do, even if it's a bit too big and too thin. They have some other 15cm square pads too but not quite right for the patterns and cost.

So I'm trying to redesign what I need for the larger size, as I definitely don't have time to be cutting the paper to the right size first!! But it just looks quite like a children's craft when I do it large format :)

I've just started on my cross stitch cards. I have 6 to do.

I've knitted some Christmas socks - a couple of pairs as gifts and a couple of pairs for the Woolly Hugs Christmas sale.

I'm using up the leftover Christmas sock yarn and making little pouches for an advent calendar. I need to work out what to do next. I'm fairly certain I'm going to attach a tab with a button hole on each pouch but it's the next bit that's making me think. My options are a knitted strip with buttons on - would one continuous strip be unwieldy - or attaching the pouches to covered plastic canvas so it stands up like a book 🤔

If it helps I have an old version of the superstack and haven't had an issue with it for making a variety of origami Christmas decorations.

I find the 15cm size quite good for origami stars if you cut it into a pentagon. I can dig it out and photograph it if it would help.

I like the look of the new on with the blue though I can see that doesn't help you if you don't!

Thanks, that's handy to know. So you can't see any of the pattern through on the white side of the sheets? Maybe it depends how dark the patterns are, as in the normal Superstack, some showed through and others didn't.

15cm square would be fine, except that I need to make several items to put on a card, and the whole thing just gets very big that way. I tried it out at 15cm last night to see, and the whole thing scaled up is just too big. So either I have to find 10cm paper, or I have to fold the 15cm stuff down to 10cm first - preferably without then cutting it, although that might mess up the patterned/plain aspect if I just leave it folded. I'll have to experiment.

I like the blue patterns as well, but they aren't so good for Santas!!

Pre-poncetastic thread?

I'll locate it tomorrow and see what it's like - it's not caused me any issues but my designs aren't particularly reliant on the contrast so I'll photograph it and you can see.

I'm in awe of everyone's creativity! You are amazing!

I didn't knit mine, but to attach little stockings to ribbon I used wooden pegs. I did put loops on but they all slid together so the pegs helped keep them separate. I was going to paint them but didn't actually get around to that part.

We had this set growing up! I'd love to make myself a version at some point when I've a bit more free time in a few years.

Just two crafts for me this year I think - a quilted advent calendar for 2 year old DS and a crocheted Paddington Bear for DM. I last worked on it when in labour with DD who is now 4 months so hoping I get a bit of time to continue with it soon!

If I find myself with time to fill around November I may be tempted to make us all tartan pyjamas for December but I feel that's unlikely...

I’m going to make a string of bunting using Christmas fabrics in reds and greens to hang up along a bare wall/beam 🎄