Crochet Comfort and Joy - Last Minute Christmas Gifts

The Christmas season always comes upon us and passes us by so quickly!

Do you still have some last-minute gift shopping that needs to be done? Or are you just starting all of your baking projects for the week?

I love to give handmade gifts but often run out of time every December - if you are like me and are low on time, then check out these quick last minute gift ideas for Christmas:

All of the instructions for these projects can be found in Crochet World's special issue -
CROCHET COMFORT and JOY.

This magazine can be downloaded instantly here and has more than 50 great Christmas designs inside!

Elegant Woven Cowl

This cowl is crocheted with a simple textured stitch and embellished with a bright flower and some bling!

Gold Ice Bracelet

This bracelet is made up of a few square motifs with beautiful glass beads sewn into each one - perfect to wear to this year's New Year's Eve party!

Snow Globe Ornament

I am thankful this cute little guy made the front cover - he was fun to create with a small amount of brightly colored crochet cotton thread.

Tablet Wedge

This also uses a simple texture stitch that helps this project work up in no time - a great gift for someone who loves to snuggle down by the fire and read during the holidays!

Check this blog again for a new Christmas Celtic Knot design later this week!

Last Minute Hostess and Kid Gifts!

 

Would you like to take something unique to the next Christmas party you go to for a hostess gift? Or do you need to make a cute little something for some special kids in your life?

Then I have two fun projects for you!

Back in July I wrote a guest blog post for Red Heart here titled, "Christmas Ruffle Tree".  It was part of their "Christmas in July" blog fun.  It is a different way to use their Sashay ruffle yarn - all you need is one skein of Sashay, a Styrofoam cone, your crochet hook and some sewing pins.  On the blog you'll see several photos with detailed steps of how to make your tree (including how to cover the cone with matching fabric). This tutorial is FREE!



The instructions for these Funny Finger Friends can be found on page 36 of the current issue of Crochet World (Dec. 2015) - which you can download here or purchase at your local craft store or bookstore.

            

These also use a Styrofoam insert to help give it the sphere shape along with basic amigurimi techniques.  They can be worked up in an afternoon and will provide hours of giggly fun.

 

 

 

Decadent Cookie Garland

 

Don't you love the look of a Christmas garland?  There is something whimsical and inviting about them and how they soften the sharp angles of a doorway or mantel.

 

This garland is made of cookies, candy canes, stars and pom-poms.  Each cookie and candy cane are 3-dimensional and stuffed with polyfil but are all calorie and sugar-free!  I crocheted them using Caron's Simply Soft Solids - this yarn has a wonderful sheen and comes in several vibrant colors.

 

This pattern is now available in the December issue of the digital crochet magazine:

I Like Crochet.

 

Click on the link below to check out the other projects in this issue and how you can order a subscription (which gives you digital and immediate access to all patterns from past issues!)

 www.ilikecrochet.com

 

 

Free Pattern - Great Last Minute Christmas Gift!

Merry Christmas!

Here is another very quick Christmas gift idea for you:



WOVEN NECKLACE


 

This necklace is a FREE pattern and can be found here at www.redheart.com.

This chunky style necklace is made with Metallic Sashay Ruffle yarn in a unique way - This yarn is usually used to make ruffley scarves but I decided to crochet with it coming right off the ball.  Then the long chains are woven together in a special pattern to make the attractive center piece.

All instructions and diagrams can be found in the pattern.

I think this could make a great Christmas gift in red and white or red and green using the beautiful Sashay yarns.

Christmas Holly Leaf Scarf

Here is another quick and easy Christmas gift that is one size fits all!

I created this design several years ago and wear it every Christmas season - I always get many compliments on it and it looks great in photos.

This pattern is available in my Ravelry store for $5.00 - Christmas Holly Leaf Scarf

I crocheted with Red Heart's Shimmer yarn in the colors Lime Green and Red - It is one of my favorite yarns since the metallic thread matches the yarn color.  It is also very soft and washes well.

The Holly Leaf is one of my favorite Christmas symbols.  If you do some research, you will find that the holly leaf and its berries have been used in all sorts of ways in a variety of cultures and religions.  I like the connection of the prickly points to Christ's crown of thorns and the red berries to the ultimate sacrifice he made for us - reminding us of the purpose and reason for Christmas.

But I probably like the holly so much because I have fond memories of watching my mom and her mom adding them to every Christmas card (and envelope) with a swift and graceful flourish of their colored (or gold) markers - a tradition that continues to this day!

Merry Mistletoe

Can you believe Thanksgiving has gone by and it's time to get ready for Christmas?

Our family loves to start decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving.  We have a great time going to cut our tree down at a local farm and spending the rest of the weekend putting up our Christmas décor.  Today I look forward to putting up this decoration I designed - Merry Mistletoe.

 

Its sprigs (made out of Red Heart Soft Yarn) will never wither or dry out. You can hang this mistletoe every year in hopes to create many kissable moments.  It also would make a great hostess gift for your next Christmas party.

 

This design can be found in the current December issue of Crochet World -

on newsstands now or at www.crochet-world.com

 

 

 

Coming up in the next few weeks - crocheted Christmas gift ideas!