a Christmas Project ...

A little while ago I happened to spot the announcement of a new knitting design release via Social Media, and it really jumped out at me. I was totally reeled in! I love looking at anything a bit different when it comes to knitting and this little beauty fitted the bill nicely! It looked like a lot of fun and the fact that there are instructions for two different yarn thicknesses (4 ply/fingering and 8ply/DK) was a bonus in my book!

So without further ado, I present my very first, knitted Christmas Tree Wrap, a design from Handmade by Smine, a well known Kiwi Designer - and available for sale by download on Ravelry.

It is a very well thought out and carefully constructed design. My version is knitted in a 95% premium acrylic/5% polyester yarn, appropriately named Starlight and sold only in Spotlight. This yarn is a DK/8 ply. I used far less than I expected to, and that was with completing nine sections of the tree. I purchased 3 skeins of the main colour and two of the contrast, and have at least one skein of each left over. The yarn has 140 metres per 50 gms. Let me just say here, that before I bought this yarn I searched my LYS, where I hoped I would find something suitable, and even though the yarn selection there is amazing, this yarn was the only one I could find that I looked at and thought yes, it would really suit the design and the effect I was going for. I wanted sparkle, because I love a bit of sparkle in my life - and I got it! Sadly the sparkle does not show up in the photos, and the colours are not quite true either - but I hope you get the mind's eye picture I am trying to paint?!

There are 10 pages to the download, owing to the fact that instructions for the two different yarn weights are presented separately. They are essentially the same instructions, but there are of course a varying number of stitches, rows and needles sizes involved as a result of making this design available in two thicknesses. There are a number of photos included, as well as YouTube links and charts for those who wish to use them. The charts are included as an optional extra. I didn't use them.

One thing you will of course have to do when knitting this wrap, is make sure you are following the version appropriate to the yarn you are using. I say this because I know from my experience in the Retail Yarn Industry, that some people have actually made the mistake of following the wrong version in patterns with instructions for more than one yarn thickness - and sadly, to their absolute horror sometimes - only find this out after many hours of work have already been put in! Did you know - that highlighter pens are a marvelous knitting tool? Trust me - they are! Especially if you have a propensity for losing your place in a pattern. Personally, I wouldn't be without them!

I really love this design and and fully intend on knitting more. I think it is a lovely idea for gift knitting and eminently suitable attire for those privileged enough to experience a cosy white Christmas. Did I tell you I want to experience that one day?! If you haven't already done so, please - read my last blog post if you are at all curious about that.

Together with my Festive Fever Cowl design, introduced in my last blog post - this little number has to be up there for those who also love to decorate themselves at Christmas Time!

I believe you could have a lot of fun with this and that it could be very easily adapted according to your yarn stash. A knitter could go wild with creative use of colour and fibre! I really look forward to making my next Christmas Tree Wrap. It's now back on the bucket list, along with all the other 'I wanna make' items!

See you back here after Christmas everyone - may this Christmas be a meaningful time of celebration for us all. God bless and keep you all, in His care!