Have a Handmade Holiday
November 19, 2008|Comments (33)
We decided not to buy anyone gifts this year — everyone will receive handmade items or canned/dried goods from our garden. This meant that I would be working overtime on dishcloths, homemade soap, and little rounds of fabric (with lace edging) to top canned goods like shower caps. Is it worth it? Absolutely.
First up: Basketweave Dishcloth
This sweet and easy to knit design was an adaptation of a scarf pattern that I came across and declared perfect for a dishcloth. You know how I love all things woven so this pattern really spoke to my inner pioneer. It also doesn’t contain any tricky knitting moves — all straight knitting and purling.
Second: Canning Jar Fabric Lid Covers
A classic way to make a gift of garden goodies a little more glamorous, these scrap fabric jar covers say: “gift” to me. I love the snazzy little bit o’ lace (not real lace… the cheapo stuff) on the edge and the bright festive colors.
Third: Barley Soup Mix
Just dried beans, veggies, and spices — this simple but useful gift may be decorated with the canning jar fabric lid covers or with a bow. I like to add an ornament and I dress up my labels (printed from the computer with cooking directions) with festive clip art.
Last but not least: Drawstring Soap Sack
Having made a small ton of soap this year, I have quite a few bars to give out to our friends and family. Wrapping soap seems like a very silly idea so a plush drawstring bag seems appropriate. Don’t you think? These are made with two fleecy washcloths sewn together with some string. So much better than wrapping paper… useful, too!
A Handmade Holiday is my favorite part of simple living. The act of trading costly gifts during the holidays may be open for debate but the act of giving gifts that are from the heart, full of love, and made by hand — there’s nothing trite or commercial in that. No one ever went into debt with a Handmade Holiday.
Basketweave Dishcloth Pattern
November 19, 2008|Comments (9)
So easy a caveman could do it.
MATERIALS:
- 100% Cotton Worsted Weight Yarn:
- 120 yards
- knitting needles (I used 2.25 mm - 40.5 cm, 1 US - 16 in circular)
DIRECTIONS:
Cast on 40 sts.
- ROW 1-6: Knit all stitches
- ROWS 7-12: K4, (P4, K4 four times) K4
- ROWS 13-19: K4, (K4, P4 four times) K4
- REPEAT until you almost have a square dishcloth
- Now, KNIT six rows
- Bind off all sts.
Your dishcloth should be square with a knitted border that goes all the way around and has a basketweave center.
Canning Jar Fabric Lid Covers
November 19, 2008|Comments (3)
This is a great way to use up scrap fabric and makes for a lovely personalized gift.
MATERIALS:
- Fabric Scraps - 7″ circles for wide mouth jars, 6″ circles for regular mouth jars (I used bowls and traced them)
- 1/4″ wide elastic scraps 6-8″ long (optional)
- Thread
- Ribbon and narrow lace or edging trim.
DIRECTIONS:
- Trace the circles on to the fabric and cut the circles.
- Zigzag the edge of the circle and add narrow lace or trim to the edges.
Either tie the jar cover onto the jar with ribbon, rubber band or use screw lid on over it OR sew an elastic band on following these directions:
- Fold the elastic in quarters and mark the fold lines.
- Fold the fabric circle in quarters and mark the fold lines.
- Match the elastic and fabric fold lines, attaching the elastic 2″ in from the original edge of the fabric. Use a zigzag stitch to attach the elastic, gently stretching the elastic as you sew it.
- Now you have a showercap looking thing for your canning jars. Too easy.
-
The VERY Latest from Twitter
