Festive Crafting: How are you crafting this Christmas?
Christmas week is finally here…
With the final countdown underway, Christmas Day feels more like a sprint to the finish now than a stroll! As you read this post we’ve finished all our shopping and just have a few gifts left to wrap. One of my favourite moments at Christmas is the sense of calm that comes once the shops close on Christmas Eve. For me it’s the moment to take a breath, if we’ve forgotten anything, it’s too late! So it’s time to relax, and—of course—cast on a new project… and this year it is the Hiberknitalong pattern by Stephen West.
A Hiberknitalong Christmas
This year marks my first Hiberknitalong, and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve been saving up my weekly advent from The Little Grey Girl for this very project, unwrapping each skein and imagining how the colours will come together - the pattern calls for three colours but I’m planning five with mine, so lots of time to dream about colour placement. The pattern won’t be completely mindless knitting—it is Stephen West, after all!—but I’m looking forward to finding a rhythm over the next few days.
When everything is calm on Christmas Eve and the house is quiet, I’ll cast on. I love the idea of beginning a new project as the festive celebrations begin. My plan is to sneak in a few rows on Christmas morning before the family arrives, maybe even on Boxing Day morning while people are still waking up. The real goal is to see how much progress I can make between now and the New Year, knitting my way through the Christmas...
…although I also want to cast-on my Exploration Station shawl using the weekly advent by Anton of Raw Wool Company so its on the needles before the end of the year.
Finishing Festive WIPs
There’s more to Christmas crafting than starting new projects. Those Toft mini dolls I’ve been working on? They’ll be finished tomorrow as planned and as I write I still have no idea who, or what, we’re making.
Any ideas? My best guess is Hansel and Gretal but the bird (I think it’s a bird!) is confusing me…
The Joy of Crafting at Christmas
Crafting during Christmas isn’t just about the projects, though. It’s about carving out a little time amidst the hustle and bustle to slow down and create. Whether it’s a few quiet moments with my needles while people are still sleeping, or sharing simple projects with family like the hats I’ve made for the nieces and nephew, crafting brings its own kind of magic to Christmas. (three hats complete, just one to go…)
A Restful Christmas
Whatever your plans this Christmas—whether you’re hosting friends or family, travelling, or enjoying a quiet celebration at home—I hope you find a moment of peace and joy. Maybe it’s a few rows of knitting, a conversation over a cuppa, or simply admiring the decorations you’ve lovingly created.
Mark and I wish you a restful, HAPPY CHRISTMAS filled with creativity and warmth. Let me know how you’re planning to spend the festive week—are you crafting, celebrating, or simply taking it all in? Whatever it looks like, may it be wonderful. 🎄
As well as the Toft Advent (which I've managed to keep up to date with!) I'm trying to finish a few projects before starting a new Christmas cast on. I've finished a scarf in lovely Knitting for Olive silk yarn my husband bought me for our anniversary and am also trying to finish Toft's Junko Tabei doll! I then have The Corner of Craft's 2024 Muppet Christmas Carol advent that I want to caat on pn Christmas Day for a Sleigh All Day shawl ☺️ Wishing you and Mark a very Merry (and productive!) Christmas xx
I’m happy to say I very much enjoyed my first Toft crochet along and kept up with it each day.
Your colors from the little grey girl for the hiberknitalong are gorgeous and wish I could get my hands on a set of them for a future project maybe even a fall mkal.
It looks as though you may be joining us with a table top spinner?? Anxious to hear if my guess is correct. Also anxious to hear if your hats were a big hit on Boxing Day.