Embroidered Felt Advent Calendar
For children all over the world, the countdown to christmas is a favorite pastime. As early as 1851, advent calendars were used to make this countdown even more exciting. Traditional calendars were simple cardboard structures with little cut out doors, but slowly over time people have become increasingly creative with their advent calendars. When Joelle and I saw the arrival of our new wool felt in its beautiful spectrum of colors, we knew immediately that we wanted to use it to make an advent calendar. Ours is made with bold contrasting colored pockets that can be filled with anything from candy to jewelry, but we think it's even better to fill them with heaps of notions for the knitter or sewer in your life!
This contemporary yet timeless calendar can be handed down from generation to generation so we put in the time and effort to make it extra special. Embroidering each number might take a bit of time, but I embroidered these with my sister over a few evenings of chatting and wine and it made the whole project fun, fast and meaningful.
If you would like to make your own Embroidered Felt Advent Calendar visit our Project Journal, grab a friend or family member, get cozy, and have fun!
Enjoy --Page
Whit's Knits: Baby Mocs
Thanksgiving is time for pumpkin pie and Aunt Edna and loosened belt buckles, but it's also time to give thanks to America's native cultures for all the life-saving knowledge they shared with Plymouth's earliest settlers. In honor of that friendship, we bring you moccasin-inspired baby booties!
Just in time for chilly feet, these Blue Sky Alpaca mocs will keep tiny toes warm all winter long. They are simple enough for beginners, with an easy construction - no gussets, no turning of heels! - and fun enough for every level of knitter. Whip up a pair to enliven this year's Thanksgiving dinner, or make a set of three for a really charming present. I have to warn you, they're addictive!
For the pattern and step-by-step instructions, please visit our Baby Mocs Project Journal.
Thanks! - Whitney
November 14, 2008 purl bee Print Share in Knitting, Whit's Knits, Holiday Projects, Babies, Gifts, Blue Sky Alpaca, Socks | 23 Comments Thanksgiving Table Appliqued Quilted Runner + Fringed Napkins
We are so excited about our Thanksgiving project this year. Page, Molly and I decided to work on something together, quilting bee style, and what better occasion to do so than for Thanksgiving! It is such a pleasure to work side by side with friends or family to create something beautiful and timeless for such a special day. We got more quality time together than we’ve had in a long time and it left us wishing we could do all our projects like this.
The table runner is extra thick so although it looks pretty its true function is as a hot pad that runs the length of your table. Now you can have a piping hot turkey and all of those yummy side dishes within arms reach of your guests without the worries of burn marks on your dining table. Add Molly's beautiful oversized napkins to catch every drip and you’ll be able to relax during one of the more stressful meals of the year!
While Molly made the napkins Page and I tackled the runner. As I was cutting, Page was sewing and Molly was fringing. When it came time to hand applique the squares, we did so in tandem at opposites ends of the runner. We had a few tug-o wars, but we settled them in a mature fashion!
We wanted the whole ensemble to be warm, cozy and natural while also feeling happy, colorful and contemporary. We used Globalweave’s Linen Blend for the background of the runner and the napkins. For the appliqued squares and binding, we used a cheerful array of polka dots accented with Japanese florals.
If you'd like to make you own visit our Thanksgiving Table Appliqued + Quilted Runner and Fringed Thanksgiving Napkins Project Journals.
Happy Thanksgiving! --Joelle
November 7, 2008 purl bee Print Share in Patchwork, Sewing, Quilting, Molly's Sketchbook, Holiday Projects, Gifts, Linen, Globalweave, Yuwa Fabrics, Home, Applique | 30 Comments Whit's Knits: Cashmere Fingerless Gloves
I thought these fingerless gloves would make a great present, but now I'm not sure how I'll part with them! They are way too cozy to take off, let alone give away. I guess I'll have to keep making them until maybe I can let a pair or two go...
What makes these so special is Jade Sapphire's 100% mongolian cashmere. Nothing is softer, and no one dyes better colors. The employees at Purl are always talking about what Jade Sapphire color is our favorite (at least for that day!), what color looks good on whom, what shade of gray (or pink or green) is the most perfect. Someone's always pulling out a skein, saying, look at this one! Each skein is really a little piece of heaven.
So, be warned, you may need a back up present if you think you're making these for your sister! Ready to test your generosity? Visit my Cashmere Fingerless Gloves Project Journal. Thanks! - Whitney
November 2, 2008 purl bee Print Share in Knitting, Whit's Knits, Gifts, Jade Sapphire, Blue Sky Alpaca, Fingerless Gloves | 16 Comments Whit's Knits: Halloween Witch Doll
Halloween's got a lot going on. Trick or treating, apple bobbing, pumpkin carving, corn mazes. But the aspect that really captures my imagination is the cast of characters that accompany the holiday: ghosts and skeletons and black cats and witches and goblins...there's a whole mini series worth of them!
My number one favorite Halloween character has to be the witch. She's rich with history and lore, from witchcraft to witch trials. She's complex and powerful, working for good and evil, riding a broomstick, palling around with black cats, cackling at everybody. What's it all about? I'm not totally sure, but she's got my attention!
I had a lot of fun bringing this witch to life. She's a little roguish and a little beguiling. As long as she casts her spells elsewhere, I think we're going to have a great Halloween together!
If you'd like a witch in your life, visit my Halloween Witch Doll Project Journal. Thanks! - Whitney
October 23, 2008 purl bee Print Share in Knitting, Toys, Whit's Knits, Holiday Projects, Gifts | 16 Comments