tiny happy

I set aside some time this year to make a few Christmas gifts for family and friends. Here are some of the things I've made for people who (I'm pretty sure) don't read my blog.

Both Tom and I come from quite large families and both sets do a kind of 'secret santa' present arrangement where everyone draws one name and buys a gift for that person at Christmas. But I like to give small handmade things to other family members if I can because it's fun and I love present making and wrapping. Though of course I completely understand that many of us would rather not be hanging around the sewing machine and ironing board right now!

 Anyway, this year I made quite a few 'project bags' for the crafty people in my life, but also for the kids' school and music teachers. The one in the first photo above was made with beautiful sturdy linen with a painterly print designed by the Rifle Paper Company. You can see more of their fabrics here. I saved a bit of the 'birch floral' to make a knitting case for myself in the new year. 🙂

The little booties were knit up in green alpaca yarn, along with a few other things, for a friend having a baby soon. The pattern is called 'Hodge' and is a free one on Ravelry – I was really impressed with the clever design. The cuff of each slipper folds over and underneath is a tighter ribbed section to help keep them snug around a baby's ankle.

I had quite a bit of dried lavender from Marlborough and used it to make some sets of lavender sachets. In the photo above you can see some made from vintage linen with finely-worked cross-stitch – for an aunt who loves daffodils. 

And I had some beautiful Liberty Tana lawn that I felt must become pillowcases – I made them from this pattern. The Liberty design is called 'Daniel DJ' which is a bit of a strange name but it features suns and clouds in grey and pale red and has an old-fashioned illustration feel I think.

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And while I've been working away, I've been listening to this album which I think is my making-music of the moment: Malibu by Anderson Paak.

Hope you are enjoying this time of year too! What are you working on?

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