Crochet Christmas Star

Just sat down this morning and wanted to crochet another ornament but wanted something different. I started wanting a poinsettia flower. I tried a few things, frogged a bit and came up with this star that would look pretty in any window or on any tree or as a coaster.

Materials:

Scraps of Worsted weight yarn - I used a red Christmas yarn with a silver thread in it
G crochet hook. A smaller hook will make a smaller star, a larger hook will make a larger star for a potholder
The G hook makes it about 4 1/2 inches across.

Ch 6, join to form a ring.
Round 1: Ch 4, 19 tc in ring, join in top of ch 4.

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in joining, skip 1 st, *5 dc in next st, skip next st, sc in next st, skip next st* repeat around ending with a sl st in top of 1st sc.

Round 3: Sl st in next st, ch 1, sc in same st, hdc in next st, (2 dc, 1 tc, 2 dc) in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, skip 1 st (located between points), *sc in next st, hdc in next st, (2 dc, 1 tc, 2 dc) in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, skip 1 st (located between points), repeat around for a total of 5 points.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Simple Ball Ornaments in Knit and Crochet

These ball ornaments are very simple but can be snazzier up by using the pretty Christmas yarns or adding some lace or dried flowers. Fixed the knitted ball as it refered to repeating rows 2 and 3 but is repeat rows 1 and 2.

Crocheted Ornament

Materials:
Worsted weight Christmas yarn
Small amount of polyester fiber-fil
E crochet hook

Chain 22 leaving a 12" tail, sc in 2nd chain from hook and in each ch across. Turn.
Row 2 - 21: ch 1, sc in each stitch across.
Fasten off leaving another 12" tail.

Use this tail to sew side seam and gather bottom. Fasten off and weave in end. Turn piece inside out (seam inside).

Lightly stuff ball and gather top with other tail. Use remaining tail after top is gathered to crochet a loop for hanging.



Knit Ornament

Materials:
Worsted weight Christmas yarn
Small amount polyester fiber-fil
Size 5 or 6 knitting needles
Small crochet hook or yarn needle

Cast on 21 sts and turn.
Row 1: Knit across. Turn.
Row 2: Purl across, Turn.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 for a total of 17 rows. Do not bind off.
Cut your yarn leaving a 12 - 16" tail.

Using the crochet hook or yarn needle weave the tail through the stitches on the needle and pull tight. Then sew the seam along the side making sure to have the knit side facing itself.

Turn right side out and lightly stuff with fiber-fil.

Gather top and sew tight. Now use crochet hook and remaining tail to crochet a loop for hanging and fasten off. Weave in end.

Sparkling Snowflake

This is a simple yet pretty snowflake that can be used as an ornament, package tie or even a coaster. I love the Christmas yarns so used that for this snowflake.

Materials:
Worsted Weight Yarn. I used the white with a silver thread.
G crochet hook

Notes:
dc cluster - Keeping last loop of each dc on hook, 2 dc in space or
stitch indicated; yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook.

Ch 4; join to form a ring.
Rnd 1: (right side) Ch 2 dc in ring; ch 3; * dc cluster in ring; ch 3; repeat from * 4 more times; ch 3; join in first dc.

Rnd 2: Ch 2, dc in same space as joining; in dc just made work a picot (ch 3, slip stitch in top of dc)3 times; * ch 3, sc in next ch 3 space, ch 3, dc cluster in next dc cluster; in dc cluster just made work (ch 3, sc) 3 times; repeat from * 4 more times; ch 3, sc in next ch 3 space, ch 3; join in first dc.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Steven's Comfy Toes 2007 Donations so far

Yahoo! I totalled the donations we have received for this year so far. Drum roll please x x x x x x x x x x x:
130 pair of slippers/socks/booties
44 hats
19 pair of mittens/gloves
5 scarves
4 hat/bootee sets

I have a few pair of mittens almost finished. I also have several hats on my needles and hooks that are almost finished. Might get some scarves started as we only have 5 so far. Scarves are nice to put with the hats.

Steven's Comfy Toes has been going since 1999. The first few years we only donated to the Head Start Program. We then realized that there are children in need that are not in the Head Start Program so we branched out into the community and gave ourselves a name. If you go to my website you can read the story of the name and my younger brother, whom this charity in named after. We collect these donations year round and give them out in December, just when it begins to get cold here. It's sad to see a child waiting at a bus stop with just a coat on and no hat or mittens, or to know that a child has a cold because they have no slippers to keep their feet warm when it gets cold at home. If you or your group wants to know more or wants to help here is the URL for our website:

http://www.geocities.com/lindaslists/steve4nscomfytoes.htm

Christmas Yarn

I was in an organizing/cleaning mood today and went through several rooms. In the room my grandkids call the toy room I found 2 bags of yarn, opened them and there was my Christmas Yarn from last year. Some of it used to belong to my daughter-in-law before she passed away last year. Look at this festive yarn. There are some with gold threads and some with silver threads. Some are red, some are green, some are red and green. Some are an off white. One is black with a silver thread that looks like new years. The circle is a piece Aurora made so I don't have a pattern to make more. I am so happy to find this yarn. Now to knit and crochet away. YAHOO!!!!
I'm going to try making some knitted ornaments. I plan on knitting them in the round with double pointed needles but they can also be done with singles going back and forth. I plan on knitting a rectangle (if using single pointed needles) or a wide tube with double pointed. Then gather the bottom, stuff and gather the top. If they look pretty enough I might make a bunch. I can even get some gathered lace and put on the top for a ruffle and put a small tassel on the bottom. Hmmmm.......
Just for reference I will be using size 6 needles. When I have a few done I will post a few pics.

If anyone knows the pattern for the poinsettia circle shown in the photo I would be incredibly happy if you can point the way.