Whit's Knits: Felted Christmas Trees
We knitters don't really have the luxury of waiting until December to start thinking about Christmas. For many of us Christmas is practically a year round concern - a scarf for your best friend in March, socks for your mom in May, a hat for your brother in July, and a holiday decoration for yourself in September before the rush really starts!
This year I wanted to make something that my son would always associate with Christmas's approach; something that every year he would see me pull out of a box that would bring the smell of pine to his nose and the warmth of a fire to his feet; something that would get him giddy for Santa Claus and snowmen; something that would elevate itself to the level of treasured heirloom, not because it's fancy but because it is loved.
These trees are lots of fun to make. You get to knit them up on big needles, nice and loose, then you get to decorate them with lots of pretty French knots and, finally, you get to feel the surprise of pulling them out of the washing machine, transformed into fuzzy little trees!
To make these I used Cascade 220, a classic worsted weight felting yarn. And to make the French knots, I used Paternayan Needlepoint Yarn. It comes in small quantities, in a million colors, and it won't break the bank.
To make your own holiday heirlooms, please visit my Felted Christmas Trees Project Journal. Thanks! - Whitney
September 20, 2009 | Print | Email | Share | in Cascade Yarn, Christmas, Felting, Gifts, Holiday Projects, Knitting, Paternayan Yarn, Whit's Knits | 14 Comments
Reader Comments (14)
what a wonderful way to try the paternayan colors, too.
thanks whit for another great design.
it's always fun to see what you come up with.
I´m always a quiet reader of your blog and I´m always fascinated by the things you create. I wish to visit your shop so much! I´m from Germany so I am sad to say that this is really unrealistic... :o(
But now my husband had a wonderful birthday present for me in August. we will visit New York in October for one week!! That´s absolutely fantastic and I can´t wait. But it´s so wonderful that my dream come true and I have the possibility to visit your shop. I can´t believe it. So whenever you see a woman coming in your shop in the middle of October with eyes and mouth wide open, it´s me!!!!
See you!!!
Sabine
Unfortunately, I don't know how to knit, but I crochet all the time. For those like me, there's a free pattern on the Lion Brand website that is a similar idea. It isn't felted (it calls for a foam cone) but I think I'll alter it to use polyfil. That way you can tuck some stuff inside to make it smell like christmas :)
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/90149AD.html?noImages=0