Sooner than you’d think (plus giveaway)
I think yesterday may have been the last really hot day of summer. Which is actually rather excellent timing, as I am well and truly sick of hot weather. Now, that doesn’t quite mean I’m ready for woolly sweaters (actually no, that’s a lie, I’m totally ready for snow and wool and thick socks and blankets, but I know everyone will throw things if I say it too loudly). But it does mean it may just possibly be time to start thinking about winter knitting.
I’m actually something of a rarity among knitters. I don’t do Christmas knitting. None at all. Scandalous but true. But, while I absolutely will not under any circumstances knit you a Christmas present, every now and then I do fall under the sway of Christmas-y knitting…like maybe some tiny adorable ornaments.
These are pretty much cute enough to make it past even my impressively strict ‘no Christmas stuff’ filter. I have a soft spot for small projects (these take about 30 yards each, not counting the tassel), and love using them to play with fiddly techniques (yes, teeny tiny twisted cables, no I’m not even a little bit sorry).
Because really, how could you be sorry for that.
I’m pretty sure you should actually be pleased with that.
I’m also pretty sure I’m going to give in and need human-sized versions of these somewhere down the road, but that’s not the sort of thing I’m sorry for, either! In the meantime, if you find you might just possibly need to make one for yourself, they’re in Adorn, the new book of ornaments out from the good folks over at Knit Picks.
It comes in both electronic and paper versions, and it’s full of all sorts of adorable things. I’ve got two of the paper books to share with you guys, just in case you might want to make something of your own! Just leave a comment telling me your stance on Christmas knitting (no way? every year? there’s no wrong answer).
Comments left between now and the end of the day (eastern time) Friday, September 11, 2015 will be entered to win. I’ll pick winners, contact them to get their addresses, and arrange to send books their way. Be sure to use a real email address so I can contact you if you’ve won (I won’t do anything with those email addresses besides notify the winner). If I do email you, I need to hear back from you within 72 hours or I will pick a new winner and contact them. Sorry, but I can only ship physical prizes to US addresses.
No hard fast rule for me when it comes to Christmas knitting — Some years I make a few gifts, some years I don’t. For the past two years, though, I have knit ornaments for my “favorite” brother and his girlfriend (now fiancé!), and I’d like to continue that tradition. This book is perfect! Yes, you little fair isle mittens, I’m looking at you…
P.S. Didn’t I just see grey knitted frosting here a few minutes ago? Looking forward to more of that!
Sometimes I knit for Christmas but not always. I don’t like the pressure of it. I’d rather knit something for someone when the mood strikes. I certainly enjoy the knitting more that way.
Sometimes I do Christmas knitting – last year family got handknit market bags. And I do Christmas knitting for myself. I’m slowly building up my collection of handknit tree ornaments and have a hand-knit tree skirt. This book would be fantastic for adding to that ornament collection.
I usually knit or crochet lots of Christmas stuff, but I decided I’m going to abstain this year. At least, that’s what I’m saying now, hopefully I’ll stick to it!
When it comes to Christmas knitting I mostly just yell at all those lovely and hard working folks that “IT’S NOT EVEN HALLOWEEN YET, NOT TO MENTION THANKSGIVING!! HOW CAN YOU BE THINKING ABOUT CHRISTMAS ALREADY???” (I maintain that my logic on this matter in infallible.) And then, of course, by the time I start my Christmas knitting I don’t have nearly enough time to get anything done… Sometimes I do have the time for some ornaments though, so a book like this would be good for me. 🙂
I don’t do Christmas knitting very often. I actually think I have only done it one year (and that was only for 2 people). I don’t do well with deadlines….even when they are the same day every year. 🙂
I don’t wait for Christmas to knit for others – though to be honest, most of my knitting is for myself.
Christmas knitting happens on a strict ‘when I feel like it’ schedule. *Sometimes* it even coincides with the holiday season.
Adorable. I’m Jewish but, as a tradition, I always give my cousin (who is like my sister) something handmade for her tree. If I win the book, it could be handmade by me….:)
I knit gifts for whenever. If it’s done around Christmas, great! If it’s done in July, I give it away then.
I saw your post on Ravelry and had to check this out. Your hats are so wee and adorable!! I usually do very limited holiday knitting but I have some ambitious plans for this year. We’ll see how It goes. I was planning on making ornaments for some friends so this book would be right up my alley! ?
I have knitted ornaments before, but no gifts. Those hats are really adorable. I love that they are all white, too!
I tend to knit a lot of Christmas decorations, but they are mostly for me! Each year, most often in December because I procrastinate, I cross stitch a small design (fits in a 5 by 7 inch frame) for a Christmas gift exchange that usually goes over well. One of my goals is to get to a point where I have a bin full of ornaments that I can just hand out to people when I need a gift, so this would be a great book to have!
I have done Christmas knitting in the past, but now everyone has grown so BIG, that it would be a rather large task.
Do love the tree ornaments idea, though!
Oh my word; they’re adorable. I do Christmas knitting about every other year. Most of my family lives in warmer climes, however, which lessens my enthusiasm….
Very few knitted Christmas gifts come off my needles. I knit gifts, just not usually for Christmas. But I have done an ornament or two here and there…and, oh yes, a tiny elf I fell in love with. Would love to try some of these patterns!
No way! I will not put pressure upon myself to knit a zillion gifts for Christmas. For knitworthy recipients, I will knit something for their birthdays. Then I have only one thing per deadline.
I usually have grand plans to knit and crochet gifts for my loved ones’ Christmas. Some years I impress myself with what I accomplish and other years I don’t get much of anything done.
Not sure yet which way this year is going to be…
I do love the little cabled hats!
I’m much too slow at knitting to manage to knit everyone (or even anyone!) a Christmas present! I did, however, manage to crochet gifts last year that seemed to be pretty well received!
If there’s something that strikes me as really perfect for someone, I’ll knit that for the holidays, but as a rule I don’t go all out. There was one year when everyone in the family got a hat, but I’ve come to the conclusion that I prefer to knit things for people as the spirit moves me rather than for specific dates. Lots of random gifts, not so much with the holiday deadlines.
In the past, I have knit gifts for everyone, but it became such a chore…trying to find just the right project, yarn, color, etc. for everyone. So the last couple of years I did not knit gifts, but come Christmas Eve, when we all get together, I got to feeling guilty and gathered up all the various samples, test knits, just for the fun of it knitted things I made and had laying around and put them all in a basket and just let everyone pick what they wanted, and it was so much fun. Last year, I knit up a bunch of fingerless mitts, and cowls and did the same thing, and it was equally well received. I have not decided what I will do this year, but I’ m thinking about hats and headbands. Or maybe some little miniature hats……
I knit for Christmas every year. I tend to get a bit carried away but try to be careful in my selection of who is “knitworthy”. The hats are adorable and some of the other items on the cover look like fun as well.
Sue
I have not yet knitted for Christmas, but I have a plan to do so! I knit socks and lots of lace (Curls too). I have tons of leftovers that would be perfect for little hats, sweaters or whatnots! The patterns in the ornament book look perfect!
I knit small Christmasy items each year. One year it was Christmas balls for all the friends. One year, tiny gnome ornaments. This year…..I’m considering knitting myself a popcorn and cranberry garland, but these tiny hats are tempting! : )
Those are cute ! but no I do not do much Christmas knitting, I will maybe knit something for a few very good friends.. but we no longer do much at Christmas time. But those ornament’s look very cute and a quick knit !