Happy Crafting

As I think I have said previously, I am not normally a Christmas knitter - occasionally I will do one or two things, but this year everything I'm giving seems to be home-made.

I have made Christmas decorations to give away (from Simply Knitting's December issue):

These have now had their little silver hangers attached, and are ready to go - I used scraps of Louisa Harding Coquette in green, and Debbie Bliss Cathay in purple with silver lurex as the accent.  A great way to use up odds and ends, and they look great - better than in this rather naff photo!  And so much fun to do - instant gratification as they take about an hour, tops, each.

I have also been frugal and foraging - and made apple and rosehip jelly from windfall apples and rosehips, both from my autumn garden:

This was phase one - I had to reboil it to set it but it has come out beautifully now, and at least one friend will be getting a jar of this in a few weeks time!  I used a recipe from the River Cottage Community site.

Next to the jars in the photo are two home-made soaps, which I made from a kit bought in a charity shop.  I am a little anxious about soap making as I know how quickly it can catch fire, so I started slowly, and did these two bars as testers:

The kit came with moulds, fragrance and dye - these are fraganced, but not dyed and I used a fish and seashell mould.  They are ok, but not good enough for gifts - yet.

I have also (hallelujah!) completed Linda's sweater and stole, and will add in a shawl pin for her present - a pic will follow soon.

OTK: The annual husband sweater - this year in Jacob chunky pure wool, in a design of my own based on a rather nice sweater seen online, and Julia's hat trio, for her and her two girls.  Nothing for me!  But strangely ok with that at the moment.