Has anyone started on Christmas yet??

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Has anyone started on Christmas yet??
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mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 05 10:49 am Post subject:
OK I'll spend the evening making the list: who will get what and how can I make it: while the old chap is at football practice. Last December was a bit of a rush... If anyone wants beaded brooches, necklaces etc. then talk to me!

chrisico

Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Posts: 23
Location: nottinghamshire

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 05 4:44 pm Post subject:
I have started collecting odd balls of wool from the charity shops to make into little stripey purses for presents for my daughter's friends' birthdays as they come up through the year. Scarfs and mittens and even knitted slippers have been known to make an appearance at Christmas, in wild and wacky colours.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 05 9:04 pm Post subject:
I've started practicing wash mitts and soap, which are going to be my main presents this year. As I haven't made them before, I am going to personally road test the first lot, and hopefully graduate to mittens and moiterizers before december. christmas food and jams and jellys went down really well this year, so I will definately do those again, too.

callas

Joined: 20 Jan 2005
Posts: 60
Location: east coast

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 05 9:01 am Post subject:

I was looking for a pattern or an idea on recycling plastic bags and found this 'how to' on making a bag which I thought looked really nice. I am now collecting plastic bags which are colourful from around the house and will have a go when I finished my hats. If it looks as good as the picture, several people will be getting them next Christmas.

https://www.diynet.com/diy/cr_needle_arts/article/0,2025,DIY_13768_3059465,00.html

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 05 9:09 am Post subject:
Womble: do you use sisal for the mits? What size? Do you have a pattern? My ancient Body Shop mit is on its way to the big shower cubicle in the sky, and if I can make my own, well... And the plastic bag bag sounds good, too!

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 05 11:11 am Post subject:
I have just posted about plastic bag patterns on another site. I am looking for a rug or mat one, if anyone has seen anything like that.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 05 1:21 pm Post subject:

I did use sisal for the mitts (although I didn't know it came in sizes, and bought it in my local hardware store!) I do have a pattern, but it looked a bit complicated for what it was, and I just knitted a rectangle in plain knit 10 stitches wide and until i could fold it over my hand comfortabley on 1.0cm needles. If you have normal sized hands that should do fine (I'm going to make mine smaller, as i have child sized hands!)

It is a bit bulky though, so I would go for a finer string if you have a choice. then you just sew up the sides (I just did that with string too) and turn it inside out. I used the short end where I started knitting for the hanging loop. It works just fine, although I suppose it could be prettier. It is hard work to knit though, and I could only do a few rows at a time, cos it made my hands ache!

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 05 8:32 pm Post subject:
I have some nice recipies for cookies in a jar, or bean soup in a jar, if anyone is interested. They are really colourful and can be made ages in advance.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 05 8:34 pm Post subject:
I like the idea of the bean soup one.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 05 8:39 pm Post subject:
I'm assuming everyone's got their sprouts simmering already. More seriously, the earlier you make your Christmas pudding the better, and they make good presents.

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 05 9:46 pm Post subject:

Bean Soup Mix

1/4 cup white kidney beans
1/4 cup kidney beans
1/4 cup split peas
1/4 cup pinto beans
2 TBSP pot barley

Layer these beans in a jar with a lid.

2 TBSP parsley
2 TBSP dried onion
1 bayleaf
2 TBSP powdered beef broth

Wrap these in a little bag or cling film and place on top of the beans.

cooking instructions

Wash and soak beans overnight.
Drain and top with 6 cups of water and simmer until soft. add a can of tomatoes,
do not add any salt until the last 5 minutes as it can double the cooking time and make the beans tough.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 05 9:47 pm Post subject:
Ta.

sugarplumhalle

Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 50
Location: E. Yorkshire

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 05 6:04 pm Post subject: have also started xmas pressies
I have already started but im not as organised as all you by the sounds of it! Have started knitting a few bags which I will be felting and doing some kind of embroidary on top but thats pretty much it. Found a really good recipe for Chilli Vodka which I will definetly be using if my own chillies turn out well!! Halle x

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 05 6:12 pm Post subject:

alison wrote:

I have just posted about plastic bag patterns on another site. I am looking for a rug or mat one, if anyone has seen anything like that.

My peg loom will make rugs from plastic bags - I've just made the front of a cushion cover with mine and hope to try cut up bags next.

In fact my peg loom is my new bestest toy and I'm keen to try out different wools and fabrics to see what pressy ideas come to mind.

*Fluffykitten*

Joined: 03 Dec 2004
Posts: 74
Location: Merthyr Tydfil

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 05 7:51 pm Post subject:
Ive almost finished cross stitching my christmas cards for next year. Would love to give home made pressies this year too but havnt thought about that yet cos im preoccupied by all the seeds ive bought Sounds like a great idea to get things sorted early - but i say this every year and always leave it til last minute. Thanks Alison for the bean soup recipe idea. Its fab!!

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