Quick Holiday Projects

Just in time for the holiday season...

Louisa Harding's Quick Holiday Projects!

My favorite designer, Louisa Harding has just released Quick Holiday Projects which contains three stunning patterns:  Spiced Punch, Frosted Leaves and The Holly & The Ivy.  Louisa designed these patterns to be quick knits and they are perfect for yourself or as a last minute holiday gift.  All three designs use just one ball of Louisa's new Amitola Grande yarn which is part of her new autumn/winter collection.  

Louisa has made theses patterns available as a free download however you can (and, I hope you will) make a donation for them which goes directly to cancer research on her Just Giving page.  Why cancer research?  Well it was just five years ago that Louisa's dear husband Steve (also her photographer) was diagnosed with lymphoma.  She raised funds back then for Macmillan Cancer Support with her Himalayan Hiking Hat patterns. These new patterns will raise funds now for Cancer Research UK who pioneer life-saving cancer research.

 I've selected Spiced Punch to knit for myself and for some last minute Christmas gifts.  Which pattern will you choose?


(Photography credit:  Stephen Jessup, Louisa's husband.)

Baby, it's Cold Outside

Holiday Gift Set

I love knitting gifts.  I recently gave this holiday gift set to Kaitlin who is a grad student at the University of Nevada, Reno.  Thank goodness it is cold in Reno so she can wear it this winter.  Here in Northern California where I live, temps have been in the 60's and even 70's so my own hand-knits have not even seen the light of day.  

I loved putting this gift set together using Classic Elite's Fresco yarn in color Cinder.  This was my first time knitting with Fresco and I loved knitting with it.  Fresco is a lovely combo of wool, baby alpaca and a bit of angora.  It works up beautifully on the needles and creates such a soft and luxurious knit fabric.

 Climbing Cables Hat

As for the gift set details, I chose Hannah Fettig's Climbing Cables Hat for the hat.  I found and purchased Hannah's PDF pattern on Ravelry.  The pattern is in chart form and is an easy pattern to follow.  You can view my project on Ravelry with my personal notes and height alteration I made to it.

Fresco Lace Cowl

For the cowl, I chose Cecily Glowik's Fresco Lace Cowl .  Kaitlin is very fashionable and I love the style of this cowl which is like an infinity scarf then doubled up into a cowl size.  You can find my personal notes for it on Ravelry.  Kaitlin loved it and said "it's perfect to wear on cold mornings around campus". 

I highly recommend both patterns and thank both designers for their beautiful designs.  I look forward to knitting a set like this for me....

maybe to wear next winter!


(Baby, it's cold outside gift tag by Knitterella.)