dot pebbles: December 2010

Day twenty-three!

peace to your friends and your family...

Day twenty-one!

oh christmas tree, how lovely are your branches...

Easy last-minute-makes Christmas tree…

From felt or fabric cut circles as follows: (I simply drew the circles using varying sizes of cotton reels and coins)

1 x 4cm/ 1½in diameter

1 x 2½cm/ 1in diameter

1 x 2cm/ ¾in diameter

1 x 1½cm/ ½in diameter

Radiating around each circle make cuts about 6mm/ 1/4in apart and in length for the larger circle diminishing the distance and the length as the circles get smaller.

Secure a length of sewing thread into a button – the base of the tree. Before you carry on it’s important to make sure the thread is bang in the centre of the button. Sew the thread through the centre of the largest felt/ fabric circle. Next attach a bead and then sew through the centre of the next sized circle. Then another bead and another circle until you end with the smallest circle. Cut a star from felt and pass the needle and thread through the centre. Tie a knot above the star to stop it from sliding up the thread then knot the thread to form a hanging loop. Decorate the tree if or as you wish!

They’d make quite cute earrings actually!

Day twenty!

oh christmas tree...

Day nineteen!

oh christmas tree...

Day eighteen!

little donkey, carry Mary safely on her way...

Donkey

You will only need:

Set of 2mm (US size 0) double pointed needles

Tiny amounts 4-ply (fingering) weight or sock yarn (in two shades if you want a different colour muzzle)

Yarn needle, for weaving in ends

Pattern

Beg at the muzzle and with muzzle colour yarn (if opting for a different colour muzzle) cast on 7 sts.

Divide sts over three dpns. K 1 rnd.

Rnd 2 Kfb, k to last st, kfb. (9 sts)

Change colour here, if necessary, for head.

Rep last rnd once more. (11 sts)

Rnd 3 K11.

Rep last rnd twice more.

Shape sides of head

Rnd 6 [Kfb] twice, k7 [kfb] twice. (15 sts)

Rnd 7 K15.

Rep last rnd twice more.

Shape neck

Rnd 10 Kfb, k5, k3 tog, k5, kfb. You may need to rearrange the sts more evenly at this point.

Rnd 11 K15.

Rep last 2 rnds once more.

Shape body

Rnd 16 [Kfb] 3 times, k9, [kfb] 3 times. (21 sts)

Rnd 17 K21.

Rep last rnd 14 times more.

Shape back

Rnd 28 [K2 tog] 10 times, k1. (11 sts)

Rnd 29 K11.

Stuff your donkey with toy filling or spare yarn.

Tail

Cut the yarn, leaving a tail end of approx. 51cm/ 20in, thread end through yarn needle, thread needle through first 3 sts, leave next 5 sts onto a dpn, cont to thread rem 3 sts onto the yarn needle. Pull up tight to close hole, use the thread to work the tail as i cord until the yarn runs almost to the end, thread end through the rem sts, pull up and secure the end.

Legs

Fore legs make 2 alike. Cast on 5 sts, *work an i cord until the cord measures 2½cm/ 1in. Cut yarn, thread end through yarn needle, thread needle through 6 sts, pull up tight to close hole. Secure end. Weave in the end at the hoof end.**

Back legs make 2 alike. Cast on 6 sts, work as Fore Legs from * to **.

Sew legs to the sides of the body.

Ears make 2 alike

Cast on 5 sts, work as i cord as follows;

K5.

Rep last rnd twice.

K2 tog, k1, k2 tog.

K3.

Rep last rnd once.

Cut yarn, thread end through yarn needle, thread needle through 3 sts, pull up and secure end.

Sew onto the side of the head at the cast on end of ear.

Sew on eyes, a mane with sewing thread – on the white donkey I also sewed a band around the muzzle, in cotton thread to give shape to the muzzle.

Day seventeen!

little donkey, on a dusty road...

Day sixteen!

little donkey...

Day fifteen!

...and anticipation mounts!

our nativity scene...

Day fourteen!

Day thirteen! and image of the week...

for five years now my children have been collecting these little wooden toys from ostheimer (i get mine from here). every advent they each get one, here's the first of three more to join the sometimes curious band who every christmas gather around the crib in quiet anticipation... i'll show you our little crib on the 15th...

also, and sorry for quality of the picture, my daughter and i made this from this link for a little girl's birthday present - it was great fun to do and really rather easy and, although it's difficult to tell in this photo, really quite simple and beautiful when the light glistens and shines through the tiny beads and onto the tinsel branches... my image of the week because of its festive sparkliness!

Day twelve!

three little knitted stockings filled with chocolate & candy balls...

Christmas tree stocking

You will only need:

Set of 3mm (US size 2) double pointed needles

4-ply (fingering) or DK (light-worsted) weight yarn in two shades

Stitch marker

Yarn needle, for weaving in ends

Pattern

Leaving a long tail end cast on 18 sts.

Divide sts equally over 3 dpns. Place stitch marker and begin to knit in the round.

Rnd 1 [K1, p1] 9 times.

Rep last rnd three times more. Break yarn (leave a long tail end). Leaving a long tail end (these tail ends will eventually be plaited to create a hanging loop) change to a different colour for the main part of the stocking.

Rnd 5 K18.

Rep last rnd ten times or until stocking, so far, measures 4cm/ 1½in from CO.

Heel

K5, turn, p10 – work back and forth in st st across these 10 sts from Heel as follows:

Next row (RS) Sl1, k7, psso, turn. (9 sts)

Next row (WS) Sl1, p6, p2 tog, turn. (8 sts)

Next row (RS) Sl1, k5, psso, turn. (9 sts)

Next row (WS) Sl1, p4, p2 tog, turn. (8 sts)

Next row (RS) Sl1, k3, psso, (5 heel sts). Onto a new needle, pup&k 6 sts along decreases edge. K across 8 sts from Upper, pup&k 6 sts down other decreases edge, k across 5 heel sts. (25 sts) Place marker, cont in the rnd as follows:

Next rnd (dec) Psso, k16, k2 tog, k5 heel sts. (23 sts)

Next rnd K23.

Next rnd (dec) Psso, k14, k2 tog, k5. (21 sts)

Next rnd K21.

Next rnd (dec) Psso, k12, k2 tog, k5. (19 sts)

Next rnd K19.

Rep last rnd 5 times more.

Shape toe

Next rnd K1, psso, k8, k2 tog, k6. (17 sts)

Next rnd K1, psso, k6, k2 tog, k6. (15 sts)

Next rnd K1, psso, k4, k2 tog, k6. (13 sts)

Slip next 6 sts onto one needle, slip last 7 sts onto one needle. Cut yarn leaving 30cm/ 12in to sew up with.

Join toe with Kitchener stitch as follows:

Hold both needles parallel in your left hand with the needle with the least sts on the top.

1. Thread up a yarn needle with the tail end, insert the threaded needle purl-wise into the first stitch on the dpn closest to you, pull the yarn through, leave the st on the needle.

2. Insert the threaded needle into the first stitch on the back dpn, as if to knit, pull yarn through, leave that stitch on the dpn.

3. Insert the threaded needle into the same front stitch, this time knit-wise, then slip that stitch off the dpn then bring threaded needle through the next front stitch as if to purl it – leave this stitch on the dpn.

4. Pass the threaded needle through the same stitch on back dpn – this time purl-wise, slip that stitch off the dpn, then bring threaded needle through the next back stitch as if to knit it – leave this stitch on the needle.

Repeat steps 3 and 4 until there are two stitches left on the back dpn. Thread yarn needle through both sts at the same time, p-wise. Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Plait the three yarn ends at the stocking top together, then bend the plait into a loop and secure end.

Day eleven!

stuff it with what though?

Day ten!

day ten sack is filled with something you may fill?

Day nine!

yes, of course, three miniature, round, plump, plum puddings topped with knitted creamy brandy sauce - the fruits for my (edible) pudding are, at the moment, steeping in brandy - i've left it a bit late - as always - this year, i only hope it will be a good one! pattern for the puddings follow the pic...

Christmas pudding

You will only need:

Set of 2mm (US size 0) double pointed needles plus a 2¾ mm (C5) crochet hook

4-ply (fingering) weight yarn – in a colour for the pudding, DK (light-worsted) weight yarn in a colour for the white/ brandy sauce!

Stitch marker

Material for stuffing (yarn, toy filling, a Christmas bell…)

Yarn needle, for weaving in ends

Pattern

Beg with pudding colour, cast on 6 sts and knit one row as for I-cord.

Divide sts equally over 3 dpns. Place stitch marker and begin to knit in the round.

Rnd 1 Kfb all sts (12 sts)

Rnd 2 K12.

Rnd 3 [K1, kfb] six times. (18 sts)

Rnd 4 K18.

Rnd 5 [K2, kfb] six times. (24 sts)

Rnd 6 K24.

Rnd 7 [K3, kfb] six times. (30 sts)

Rnd 8 K30.

Rnd 9 [K4, kfb] six times. (36 sts)

Rnd 10 K36.

Rnd 11 [K8, kfb] four times. (40 sts)

Rnd 12 K40.

Rep last rnd once more.

Change to ‘white sauce’ colour.

Rnd 14 K40.

Rnd 15 [K8, psso] four times. (36 sts)

Rnd 16 Knit

Rnd 17 [K4, psso] six times. (30 sts)

Rnd 18 K30.

Rnd 19 [K3, psso] six times. (24 sts)

Rnd 20 K24

Rnd 21 [K2, psso] six times. (18 sts)

Rnd 22 K18

Stuff pudding with yarn scraps or toy filling (or a bell?).

Rnd 23 [K1, psso] six times. (12 sts)

Rnd 24 K12.

Rnd 25 [Psso] six times. (6 sts)

Cut yarn, thread end through yarn needle, pass needle through rem 6 sts, pull up tight to close hole then secure the end.

For the ‘drips’ from the sauce, make 36 chain using ‘sauce’ colour and crochet hook. Fasten off.

Securing one end of the chain into the top of the pudding, where sauce meets the pudding, work the remaining chain around the pudding securing with yarn or sewing thread as you go around.

Cut out a holly leaf or two from green felt and sew in place atop of the pudding with red yarn or sewing thread french knots.

Day eight!

round and fat, plump (or plum !), but this is more likely to be topped with something green and not a cherry!

Day seven...

a teaser for you: 'this is a fruity little number'... i'll reveal all on day nine - another clue tomorrow!

Day six...and image of the week...

i saw three ships come sailing in.... well nearly, paper boats really and their chocolate pennies booty!

we love origami here and these tiny boats are so easy to make, follow the link here - substituting the a4 paper mentioned with a tiny 2 x 31/2 in rectangle!
also - my image of the week is this gorgeous (and very delicious) cake made for me by my lovely friend lizzie black - thank you lizzie x