Snowflake Sequin Garland

I love sequins of all sizes, shapes, and colors. When I found these pretty snowflake spangles at the craft store, I just couldn't resist. There are a lot of sequins in those little packages, so I wanted to come up with a project that would let me use a bunch of them. A garland seemed like a great idea. And an even better idea was to use white baby rick-rack instead of ribbon or cord. I hope you agree!

This is another easy project--and it's a good thing, because Christmas is really getting close! I just used white embroidery floss, which has a nice sheen, to sew the snowflake sequins to the rick-rack, spacing them a few inches apart. I used tiny pearls on my garland to hold the snowflakes in place, but you could use seed beads or small buttons. Just keep stitching on snowflakes until your garland reaches the length you like. 

The finished garland is lightweight and delicate--just like a flurry of snowflakes. You can use it decorate your Christmas tree, a window, a mantel, or even a holiday table.

Knitted Snowdrift Scarf

If you're a crafter, you're probably not in in "last-minute gifts" territory yet. Christmas is still a few weeks away, so you have plenty of time to put the finishing touches on the handmade presents you've been working on. Maybe you'd even like to start something new. This knitted scarf is easy to make and requires absolutely no concentration. It's worked entirely in garter stitch, so once you cast on, you can just knit back and forth without counting. That's why it's a perfect project to keep your hands busy while you're watching Christmas movies and sipping hot cocoa. 

The secret to the scarf's fluffy look and feel is the yarn--Pipsqueak from Bernat. It's like knitting a cloud. I will give you one bit of advice about working with this yarn: be careful you don't drop any stitches while you're working. The yarn has a loopy texture that makes it hard to see individual stitches after you move them off your needles.

With that said, I'll share the directions for this super-simple scarf. Ready?

Cast on 30 stitches (or desired number). Work in garter stitch (knit every row) until the scarf reaches the length you like. Cast off all stitches.

That's it! No need to block; the garter stitch pattern keeps the edges from curling up. As soon as it comes off your needles--and you've woven in the beginning and ending strands of yarn--your snow scarf is ready for wearing or gift-giving.

Poinsettia Cross-Stitch

My Poinsettia Cross-Stitch picture was one of the Christmas projects featured in the 2014 Holiday issue of Craft Ideas magazine. This year, I'll be using the picture as part of my Christmas decor. If you'd like to make one of your own, click here for the link to the instructions and chart on the Craft Ideas website. You better start stitching soon--Christmas is just 23 days away!

Christmas Gift Roundup

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, the Christmas countdown can begin! If you're like me, you like to make as many gifts as you can--they're much more personal, and it's a much more pleasant experience than braving the crowds at the mall.

Since I began this blog almost two years ago, I've shared many projects that make great little gifts. I'm re-sharing nine of my favorites here that use a variety of techniques--sewing, crochet, embroidery, and paper crafts. Click on the name of the project below to visit its original blog post.

1. Tiny Tree Pins: These cute little Christmas tree pins require minimal sewing skills. They're a great way to use up felt, buttons, beads, and other baubles from your sewing basket.

2. Crocheted Bangle Bracelets: They look luxurious, but they're inexpensive and easy to make from metallic embroidery floss and thrift-store bangles.

3. Flowery Fabric Pendant: No fancy embroidery here. You just accent a pretty piece of fabric with back-stitch and beads, and then mount it in a pendant setting.

4. Crocheted Paillette Necklace: If you can crochet chain stitch, you can make this necklace. Just add pretty paillettes--which are oversize sequins--onto loops of chain stitch made from embroidery floss.

5. Felt Daisy Pillow: Probably the most challenging project of the bunch, but very much worth it if you like to sew. I keep this pillow out year-round because the color palette suits every season.

6. Crocheted Icicle Garland: Another easy-to-crochet project made from embroidery floss (probably my favorite craft supply). It's just a long rope of chain stitch embellished with "crystal" ice drops.

7. Upcycled Tablecloth Sachet: I made this lavender-filled sachet from a tablecloth my mother embroidered. You can make a similar design by upcycling any vintage linens you have on hand.

8. New Year's Inspiration Jar: I can't really call this a craft project, but it's a great gift for anyone of any age. It's a decorated mason jar filled with 52 printed quotes to offer a weekly does of inspiration in the new year.

9. Embroidered Pine Balsam Sachet: The tiny pine trees on this sachet are stitched on Aida fabric with wintry green embroidery floss. The pillow is easy to sew from felt (no fraying!). Pine balsam filling makes it smell like a fresh Christmas tree.

So there you have it--nine of my favorite gift-worthy projects. If you don't see something you like here, browse through the blog--there are dozens of ideas to choose from.