Homemade Christmas

This year it's a homemade Christmas.  All of the ladies will receive a super luxurious Honey Almond Sugar scrub thanks to the wonderful ladies at Prudent Baby and their super easy 'recipe'. The sugar scrub also comes with a hand knit Bath Puff and an adorable mini mitten to top it off.

Last Minute Christmas projects

I can't stand giving gifts without some cute adornment on top. This year it's going to be these adorable mittens thanks to Emily Ivey's super simple pattern on Ravelry.com (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/smitten-a-holiday-garland)  I started out making single mittens but then decided to make pairs of mittens connected with a crochet chain. I figured it would make putting them on the tree easier for little ones.

ABC's and 123's Bag

Ok I've MySpaced and Facebooked for so long I can't believe I haven't blogged until now!!

I made some alphabet and number blocks for my daughter for Christmas this year and I needed a bag to keep them in so this is what I came up with.  I hope you like it!!

ABC’s and 123’s Bag

Size: One Size

Materials: 1 6oz. skien each of Red Heart Super Saver Yarn
in Lavender and White

Needles:
Susan Bates Quicksilver Circular Knitting Needles 16 Inch - Size 8

7 Inch Double Point Knitting Needle- Size 8

Silvalume Aluminum Crochet Hook 5-1/2" - Size H 8 -Turquoise

Gauge: not terribly important really. You’ll have plenty of yarn left over so if your gauge is alittle larger than mine you’ll get a larger bag.

Cast On: Cast on 121 stitches onto your 16” circular US 8 needle using you Lavender yarn.

Rnd 1: Pass the last stitch cast on onto the left hand needle (right hand needle if your left handed), place stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round then knit the first and last stitches together making sure your stitches aren’t twisted before beginning.  Knit all the way around (120 st).

Rnd 2: Purl all the way around.

Rnd 3: Knit around

Rnds 4 & 5: Repeat Rnds 2 & 3

Rnds 7-9: Repeat Rnd 3

Rnds 10-12: Change color to white and Knit all Rnds.

Rnd 13: *Knit 15 st, yo, k2t. Knit the next stitch, yo, k2t. Repeat from * around.

Rnds 14-16: Knit around

Rnds 17-37: Change back to lavender and Knit all Rnds.

Rnds 38-58: Change back to white and Knit all Rnds.

Rnds 59-65: Change back to lavender and Knit all Rnds.

Rnds 66-68: Change back to white and Knit all Rnds.

Rnds 69-73: Repeat Rnds 2 & 3

Rnd 74: Change back to lavender. Knit around.

Rnd 75: *Knit 18 st, k2t. Repeat from * around.

Rnd 76: *Knit 17 st, k2t. Repeat from * around.

Rnd 77: *Knit 16 st, k2t. Repeat from * around.

Rnd 78: *Knit 15 st, k2t. Repeat from * around.

When the stitches get too tight to work on the circular needles switch over to double points. I divided my stitches evenly over 3 needles at about this point.

Rnd 79: *Knit 14 st, k2t. Repeat from * around.

Rnd 80: *Knit 13 st, k2t. Repeat from * around.

Rnd 81: *Knit 12 st, k2t. Repeat from * around.

Rnd 82: *Knit 11 st, k2t. Repeat from * around.

Rnd 83: *Knit 10 st, k2t. Repeat from * around.

Rnd 84: *Knit 9 st, k2t. Repeat from * around.

Rnd 85: *Knit 8 st, k2t. Repeat from * around.

Rnd 86: *Knit 7 st, k2t. Repeat from * around.

Rnd 87: *Knit 6 st, k2t. Repeat from * around.

Rnd 88: *Knit 5 st, k2t. Repeat from * around.

Rnd 89: *Knit 4 st, k2t. Repeat from * around.

Rnd 90: *Knit 3 st, k2t. Repeat from * around.

Rnd 91: k2t around. Cut yarn leaving enough to sew in. Run the needle through the remaining stitches on the needles and pull to close the hole. Sew in all ends.

Crochet Handle: Holding Lavender and White together chain 120 Sts. Finish off leaving about 4” of tail. Weave in and out of the holes in Rnd 13. Tie ends together.

I-Cord Handle If you’re not comfortable with crochet you could make an i-cord instead. Make it long enough to go around your bag then add about 4 more inches.

Red Heart Super Saver Yarn