Knitting: Christmas Sweaters for the Girls

I knew I would run out of time if I tried knitting sweaters for both Audrey and Scarlett this Christmas. Not to mention my original idea of a gorgeous Debbie Bliss coat knit on size 5 needles. I should have started that in June! I wanted to use some skirts we received as a gift a couple years ago (one for Audrey and and a couple for her cousins, including older cousin Grace, which now fit Audrey and Scarlett!). There are darling dark red with brown polka dots and tulle underslips from Gap Kids. I wanted to do brown sweaters and use this great plaid ribbon I found in brown, dark red and off white.


So I found this quick and easy (that's my speed!) cardigan pattern from one of my favorite sources, LionBrand, and cranked out a sweater for Audrey on size 13 needles! Thank you very much! This pattern actually calls for knitting two worsted weight yarns together.

For Scarlett, I pulled out a sweater I had knit for Audrey her first Christmas. This cute green asymetrical cardigan. Looks great with the skirt.

I found the blouses at Janie and Jack during last year's sale. They are beautiful with silk collars

and embroidery.

I love Audrey's boots with this ensemble. All in all the outfits turned out great, and not too fussy, which is more fun for the girls, without a crazy amount of effort.

Merry Christmas!

Knitting: The First Sweater

I dressed Scarlett today in the first sweater I ever knitted (completely--I'm not counting the one I started in highschool and never finished). I made this little pink cardigan for Audrey using a pattern my mother had been using to make baby gifts (she made so many cute ones for her friends grandbabies!). I love the seed stitch. A pretty ambitious stitch actually for one's first sweater. It's so nice to have a second little girl to wear it!

Gifts: Kitchen Tools for my Girlfriends

One of my favorite Christmas events is a lunch with my girlfriends to celebrate two of their birthdays (on the same day in December) and exchange small Christmas gifts. It's always fun to try and come up with something high on style but low on budget. Lately I have been leaning toward the utilitarian.

A couple years ago I gave Method handsoap dispensers in a great bright green color tied with red ribbon. Last year it was a Crate&Barrel white with snowflake diecut napkin holder with red napkins. This year it's more Crate&Barrel: Red silicone and stainless steel spatula and snowflake diecut pancake turner wrapped in an IKEA dishtowel. I was happy to find this snowflake ribbon at Target to match.

I feel like Santa with my bag full of gifts! And how great is this vinyl Santa bag! Got it at the grocery store and I love it. Not only do I have Christmas gifts and birthday gifts but a baby gift too. Very fun.

Craft: Personalized Stationery Gifts

My good friend, and daughters' nanny, Sue, shared this cute idea for a personalized gift. These cards, made by ..., come with white inserts. I picked the papers for the covers at my local scrapbooking store and punched out the initials there too.

Making handmade gifts is one of my favorite parts of Christmas so I couldn't let this one go by without doing something. I am going to give them to my sisters and use them for teachers' gifts too. Plus I made some for myself.

(So funny! I was just thinking, "what's wrong with that picture?" I pasted on the "j" backwards! Ooops!)

Sewing: Camo Splat Mat for a Boy

I don't know what it is, but I've always loved camouflage, even had a camo bathing suit when I was in jr. high and I still think it's great.

I found this great oilcloth at Denver Fabrics and thought it would be great for a baby boy--splat mat, bib, bag, wipe holder, etc. A good friend of mine, Jenni, just had a baby boy so I thought: splat mat!

I took some red seam binding and used it to finish the edges. I love the look! I've used oversized rick rack on oil cloth for tablecloths and I may prefer this, and it's all the better for a boy. Plus I love the red and blue contrast.

More seam binding for the "bow."

Hope they get good use out of it.