According to legend, during his imprisonment, Saint Valentine healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius, and before his execution, he wrote her a letter signed “Your Valentine” as a farewell.

The day first became associated with romantic love within the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. In 18th-century England, it evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionary, and sending greeting cards (known as “valentines“).

In our culture, everything from cards for school children, roses, chocolates, diamonds, you name it, Valentine’s Day is another reason to offer gifts to the people we love, including friends and family. Why not try a couple of these knitted items to give to one of your favorite people?

I made these felted hearts into a garland. Why? Because it is FUN!

Pattern “Little Hearts” by Teresa Fox on Ravelry

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-hearts

If you need help getting started on double point needles, go to my YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPqEfpZbz0A&t=1s

I used an “EmbellishKnits” Machine to make a very long I-cord.

https://www.amazon.com/Caron-20293-Embellish-Knit-Machine-Kit/dp/B003W0AUQ4

I attached the hearts to the cord with fishing line to make a beautiful garland!

Next, think about a festive heart washcloth! This can be used in the kitchen, in the bath, and is a perfect gift for a new mom. Children of all ages will enjoy this fun way to get clean in the tub!

This is “Double Heart Dishcloth” by Angie Chervenak on Ravelry.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/double-heart-dishcloth

For a quick and easy last minute “I Love You” whip up one of

of these hearts, “Love You Forever” by Tanis Lavallée on Ravelry.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/love-you-forever

Don’t Forget, “Jolly Wee Elves” are too cute for Valentine’s Day!

https://www.churchmouseyarns.com/products/jolly-wee-elf-elemental-affects-version

And… Last but not least, my Tiny Hershey Kisses!

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tiny-hershey-kiss-ornament-2

However you choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day,

knitting a fun item like one of these is a celebration in itself!

LOVE,

Martha

Knitting for Christmas

December 5, 2016December 6, 2016 Martha8 Comments

One of the pleasures of Christmas is creating items for the season. Whether you keep these knit items for yourself or give them to others, making them will surely bring a smile to your face.

One of the first Christmas knits that I am crazy about is the “Jolly Wee Elf” from Churchmouse Yarns and Teas.The pattern is available on Ravelry. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jolly-wee-elf

Initially, I made a couple of these elves.

I added eyes and a nose with embroidery floss because I felt they
deserved a face. After a couple of them, I became slightly obsessed. I made more and more and posted the pictures to Ravelry.

Someone on Ravelry commented that they looked like an Elf Choir, and I had to oblige. I made tiny choir folders for each of them with the music for “Stille Nacht.”

The elves seemed to enjoy their German heritage and of course “Stille Nacht” by German composer Hans Xaver Gruber and lyricist Joseph Mohr in 1818 is the carol they would sing.

I applied a toothpick between the music and the black folder so the elves can “hold” their choir folders.

This bit of fussing over some knit elves wasn’t finished. Unless I placed them in a huge semicircle or lined them up, you couldn’t see all of them. What to do? Why, make them choir risers, of course! I hunted down a couple of empty boxes of the appropriate size and arranged them nicely. They are lacking a choir director right now, I will think of them more as a Madrigal group until I have knit a conductor out of dark charcoal grey sock yarn. See? I still have ongoing plans for them!

Next, we have an easy project for anyone. Do you have “extra” yarn that you would like to “use up”? Make loads of pom poms and attach them with floral pins to a conical green Styrofoam base. What could be more fun for a side table or mantel? Add a knit star at the top for extra flair.

The topper is “Stars” by Squibbly Bups on Ravelry.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/stars-16

Finally, a favorite pattern I have designed is the “Tiny Yarn Basket.”

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tiny-yarn-basket-2

This item is not limited to Christmas, but can be worked up any time you need a little fun item to knit. I have a crochet ornament on my Christmas tree like this that I have had for years and I have no idea where it came from. I looked for a pattern that I liked, but none of the easy knit patterns was for a round shaped basket. So… I made one up!

The basket can be used as an ornament, or a resting decorative piece. Give them to your friends or attach them to a gift.

All of these Christmas knits are fairly quick and look just too sweet for words. I hope you like these as much as I do!

This video will help you see how to pick up stitches around the base of the Tiny Yarn Basket.