Merry Christmas!!

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  :) 

See ya in 2012!  :)



Santa Eli



A New Member of the Family and Some Christmas Ornaments

First of all, let me introduce Olivia, the newest member of our family! Olivia is about 6 months old, and was a stray kitten in our neighborhood. She actually adopted us, instead of the other way around. She decided she wanted to live here, and since the first time she walked in the front door, she has made herself completely at home and she acts like she owns the place. That hasn't exactly endeared her to Gus and Grace, however, and it's been a big adjustment for them. Things are finally starting to smooth out and although I wouldn't exactly call them BFF's yet, the growls and hisses are minimal now, and just yesterday I saw them all sleeping on our bed. So hopefully one day soon, they will all be best buds. :)


                                  
 
Besides being a kitty referee, I have also been busy making a few Christmas ornaments.  My nephew Eli was born in March, and since this is his first Christmas, I wanted to make him a special ornament.  I found the idea for this onsie ornament on Pinterest, but put my own spin on it.


Eli's First Christmas Ornament

I also tried my hand at modpodge for the first time and made some ornaments for our niece's new baby, Alex, and also for my godchildren, Sarah and RJ.  I used this tutorial that I found on Brown Paper Packages, and put their names on the front and the year on the back.  I loved doing modpodge and can't wait to do another project!  :)

My ring ornament series came to an end last week, but Barbara from Made in K-town designed a really adorable ring ornament called Bobble Wheel Ornament, and I just had to give it a try.  It was easy and fun to make, and I love how it turned out.

This next ornament isn't one I made, but one that was made for me!  I got a wonderful suprise in the mail yesterday from my Dutch blogging friend Annette.  She hand-stitched this adorable little heart ornament.
Thank you Annette, I love it!  :)

I have lots of Christmas projects to share (some I'm still working on!), and I'll show those after Christmas.

Christmas Ball Ring Ornament

Christmas Ball Ring Ornament is the 7th and last ornament in my "Ringing In Christmas" Ornament Series.  Each ornament is made by crocheting around a 2" plastic ring.

I've had a lot of fun doing this series, and I hope you all have had fun as well!  I still have some more ideas that I would love to try, so maybe I'll do another ornament series next year, and you may even see some for other holidays show up throughout the year.   But for now, I have to stop designing ring ornaments and get busy finishing up all my Christmas projects.  :)

Abbreviations/Stitches Used:
ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
st = stitch
beg = beginning

Materials:
Caron's Simply Soft Worsted Weight Acrylic Yarn:
  - Red
  - White
2" Plastic Ring
Size G (4.25mm) Crochet Hook
Yarn Needle

Christmas Ball Ring Ornament:

Round 1) With Red, join with a sl st around plastic ring, ch 1, 36 sc around ring, join with a sl st to beg sc. Do not turn.  (36 sc)

Round 2) Ch 1, sc in same st and sc in each st around, join with a sl st to beg sc.  (36 sc)
End off, weave in ends.

Top of Ball:
Row 1) With white, join with a sl st in any st, ch 1, sc in same st and sc in next 3 sts, ch 1, turn. (4 sc)

Row 2) sc in each st across (4 sc).  End off, weave in ends.

Stripes:
1) Center Stripe: Thread a long piece of white yarn onto a yarn needle and bring needle up midway on the right side of the ball, then take needle across ring to the left side and insert, as shown in photo below.

2) Top Stripe: Next, bring needle up right above the stitch you just made, then bring across ring and insert needle back down into the right side just above the center stripe, as shown in photo below.

3) Bottom Stripe:  Bring needle up on the right side just below the center stripe, and bring across ring, and insert into the left side just below the center stripe.  Weave in ends.

Also See:

Week 1: Lacy Snowflake Ring Ornament

Week 2: Peppermint Candy Ring Ornament

Week 3: Christmas Wreath Ring Ornament

Week 4: Snowman Ring Ornament

Week 5: Rudolph The Red Nose Ring Ornament

Week 6: Six Point Snowflake Ring Ornament





Six Point Snowflake Ring Ornament

Six Point Snowflake Ring Ornament is the 6th in my "Ringing In Christmas" ornament series.  Each ornament is made by crocheting around a 2" plastic ring. 

A few have left comments saying they are having a hard time finding these 2" plastic rings.  I usually get mine at Joann's or Hobby Lobby, and they are usually in the same area as the crochet hooks and knitting needles, although I have also found them in the sewing dept.  They are also called "cabone rings". 

And Cathy left this helpful comment:  "Instead of buying 2" rings, I use drapery rings. They already have a hole on them in which to add an ornament hook, ribbon or other type of hanger. Plus, if you go to the thrift store, they are really cheap! I just purchased a bag of 25 for a quarter!"

And thank you for all the nice comments, I love hearing from you!  Many of the comments are coming thru as a "no reply-comment", which means I can't reply to you.  So even if I haven't been able to reply, please know I appreciate your comments very much.  But if you have a question or comment that you would like a response to, please make sure to change your user profile to show your email address, or include an email address in your comment.  :)

Stitches Used/Abbreviations:
ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
st = stitch
sk = skip
beg = beginning
mp = make picot (see instructions below)
mst = make snowflake tip (see instructions below)

Pattern Notes:
Make Picot (mp) = ch 2, sl st in 2nd ch from hook
Make Snowflake Tip (mst) = ch 3, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and sl st in next ch st.

Materials:
Caron Simply Soft Worsted Yarn:
  - White
2" Plastic Ring
Size G (4.25mm) Crochet Hook
Yarn Needle

Six Pointed Snowflake Ring Ornament:
Round 1) With white, join with a sl st around 2” plastic ring, ch 1, 36 sc around ring, join with a sl st to beg sc. Do not turn. (36 sc)

Round 2) Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next st, *ch 5, sk next 3 sts, sc in next 3 sts*, repeat from * to * 4 more times, ch 5, sk next 3 sts, sc in last st. Join with a sl st to beg sc. Do not turn. (18 sc, 6 ch-5 loops)

Round 3) Ch 1, (sc, mp, sc) in same st as the beg ch 1, sk next sc st, and in 1st ch-5 loop work (sc, hdc, dc, mst, dc, hdc, sc), *sk next sc st, (sc, mp, sc) in next sc st, sk next sc st, and in next ch-5 loop work (sc, hdc, dc, mst, dc, hdc, sc)*, repeat from * to * around, sk last st, join with a sl st to beg sc. End off, weave in ends.


Ringing In Christmas Ornament Series:
Week 1: Lacy Snowflake Ring Ornament
Week 2: Peppermint Candy Ring Ornament
Week 3: Christmas Wreath Ring Ornament
Week 4: Snowman Ring Ornament
Week 5: Rudolph The Red Nose Ring Ornament