Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Actually, I Knit Three Sweaters This Week...

I have received many requests for a pattern for the Playground Mittens. As it is more a modification than an actual pattern, I'll write up a simple tutorial over the next several days. It's a good thing, as there is a bit of Christmas knitting going on in the northern neck of the XRK woods, and the recipient(s) read this blog.

Thanks for all the wonderful feedback on the Malabrigo sweater. Truly, it knitted itself and I love love love it. I have also gotten a few requests for how I modified the sweater. I tried to e-mail individuals who asked, but I can do a more detailed post if readers would like one. Leave a comment and let me know.




Mini sweater ornaments from Last Minute Knitted Gifts, using scrap yarn

These tiny sweaters are for my nephews. Mr. S's brother and family live in San Diego, and we just don't get to see them as much as we'd like. My SIL and I decided last year that instead of adding yet another toy under the tree, we would try to establish a holiday tradition that would forge a connection between the two families, despite the distance.

She and I have started ornament collections for each child. Each year, the cousins exchange special ornaments, and when they are all grown up, they'll get their box of ornaments for their first Christmas trees of their own. And they'll know that each and every ornament was specially chosen or made just for them by their aunt, uncle and cousins.

We did spend this Thanksgiving with them, and I had the pleasure of teaching my SIL how to knit. She is an experienced crochet-er, but wanted to try her hand at knitting. She got the hang of it quickly, and is making the sweetest alpaca hats for her two sons for their upcoming visit to chilly Baltimore this January.

Thus, I thought mini-sweaters would be a perfect gift for their ornament boxes this year!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

The ornament tradition is really lovely. I have random boxes of ornaments given to me by family--no room for trees! Someday, however . . .

iSeL said...

What a great tradition. The mini sweaters are super cute. :D

Ashley said...

That is a great tradition. My sister and I still get one special ornament every year from our parents--I have all 32 on my tree!

Anonymous said...

a cute tradition - after all, how many toys can one kid have? and how many toys actually make it into adulthood?

the ornaments on my tree are either handmade (by me or someone else) or purchased by me.

I even have both ornaments from franklin (the panopticon)!

happy (insert holiday name here)!

Ann said...

Love the ornaments! I think I may talk to my SIL about doing a similar arrangement. What a great idea.

knittingphilistine said...

I agree with everyone else on the ornament tradition - it's a great idea. And the tiny sweaters are perfect ornaments!

PS: I'd love to hear about your sweater mods...malabrigo hourglass *just might* be on my list of things to knit, thanks to you!

carrie said...

i have been too busy to keep up with my bloglines and i can't beleive that i missed your beautiful malabrigo sweater! and why are you complaining about the photos? it looks perfect.

Anonymous said...

Cute! And that's a great tradition.