November 22, 2015

Christmas - keeping it traditional

I managed to design five new Christmas projects this year. You've seen my apron and oven mitt/trivet set. Then there are some ornaments and a cutlery holder which I'll show you some time. For all of them I decided to stick with traditional red and green this year after diverting to something quite different last year. There is something just so right about the red and green combination.

"All the stockings were hung" is my first ever Christmas Stocking design. While I've made a number of stockings for grandchildren in the past, I've never come up with my own original design till now.


I wanted the embellishments to be three dimensional, and they ended up coming right "off the page". The angel and the gingerbread man are removable and wearable as a brooch or pinned to a bag or however you like to use them during the lead up to Christmas. 



Christmas Eve they can be pinned back onto the stocking ready for the big event!


They have been published in Patchwork & Stitching Magazine, Vol 17 No 1.


I do plan to put the pattern in my Craftsy store early December if you are unable to source the magazine and want to make these gorgeous stockings. The gingerbread man is just the cutest!

I've been trying to make a few more of my patterns available in the store, seeing so many of you tell me that you can't buy our wonderful Australian magazines where you live. Polly finds the Holly oven mitt and trivet set is now available here.


After not ever doing much Christmas sewing previously, I have a little collection of designs now. You can see them on my Christmas page.

My husband and I have been having a couple of small holidays this month. We spent a delightful week away in northern New South Wales pursuing our passion of bird-watching with members of our local club. They were all intrigued with this yarn-bombing which we discovered:


It had been very creatively put together.


Once we arrived back home, the number one focus has been to prepare kits for a workshop I will be teaching in early December. Sure takes time to cut all the fabric, batting, fusible web and package all the embellishments! 

Happy stitching!
Val


5 comments:

Melody said...

Great projects and love that yarn bombing

Kate said...

Val, your Christmas stockings are beautiful and it's such a good idea to make the 3D pieces removable. I had a look at your Christmas Store and am still 'drooling' over all the lovely patterns .....
I am a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas - having seen many different colours used for the occasion I cannot seem to make them work for me so I keep to the traditional ones - and at age 68 I'm not tired of them yet. ;)
The yarn bombing fascinates me. ^^

Anonymous said...

Val, love the Angel Stocking and what a great idea to be able to use on a coat or where ever else you might like. Just Love It!!
Carol O

Anonymous said...

I love the stockings and I'm so glad you're going to offer them. Thank you. I like the gingerbread man best, and I love the idea that these can be taken off and worn as a broach! That is quite an amazing yarn bombing. I've never seen one in person, and I would dearly love to.

Ondrea said...

Love the yarn bombing! Another lot of lovely Christmas projects you have created.