Every year since 2011, I participate in Knitmas, a thoughtful and fun gift exchange among a small group of knitters in Ireland (and those who’ve lived here and moved elsewhere). It is a chance to get to know each other and spoil each other with handmade gifts and supplies that lets our skills be appreciated by someone who is both knitworthy and understands what goes into such projects. The package is sent from a mystery elf, but then the recipient guesses and it is no longer a secret once guessed correctly. Guessing is half the fun, even if I’m horrible at it. You can read about all my previous parcels here.
This year, I mailed a gift to Niamh and received a gift from my mystery elf.
What I Gifted
This is what I sent to Niamh. Buttons (she loves red), ring stitch markers with a meal owl marker to mark the round, two owl patches (she loves owls) and a little ceramic owl from Søstrene Grene, a Christmas stocking keychain, a Christmas tree charm, ground roast coffee from Loose Leaf, a coffee tin, a skein of hand-dyed yarn from Mothy and the Squid, a notebook from Flying Tiger and two pencils, a hand sewn wristlet project bag, a hand knit KeepCup cosy, and a handknit capelet.
I sewed her a wristlet project bag, which I had seen on her wish list, in her favourite color – teal. Yes, gusseted.
It is reversible.
I knit a KeepCup cosy with Sirdar Crofter Chunky. I used crocheted eyes from a hat kit because my circular crochet tension still needs much work. The knitting is my own design and not complicated. There are many patterns available, but the addition of the eyes meant only half the cosy would have full stretch so I made something up myself.
The back is plain ribbing for stretch
I designed and knit a super chunky capelet with LionBrand Hometown USA in Napa Valley Pinot colorway. It took 1.5 balls. I would have made it bigger, but kept reminding myself that this was for her at the office. Which means it has to adapt to many outfits, so the crewneck accommodates any collar or even a cowl neckline, while the ending is just at the armpits, allowing space for her to wear a cardigan or blazer over it. I kept thinking she would also then be able to keep it on and toss on her winter coat if she had to run to get a sandwich. I’ll release the pattern on Ravelry and update this post when it’s available.
I sent one skein of hand-dyed sock yarn from Mothy and the Squid (UK). The blue is rich and delicious with deeper tones throughout for a stunning semi-solid. Her colorways are named for moths and squid, as well as nature and sometimes gingerbread houses.
I included a beautiful notebook and two pencils
For a tasty treat, I chose freshly ground coffee from an independent place here in Cork City and a bag of roast peanuts (her favourite).
What I Received
This is what I received from my talented and generous elf. Seriously! She embroidered me a personalised pink and green pouch with my name and a bee. Nothing ever has my name on it! My amazing elf sent me hand knit fingerless mitts, an embroidered zippered pouch, cheerful Christmas napkins, little scissors, a small wood crochet hook needle tool, a little zippered pouch for such tools, a large printed project bag stating ‘Close Knit’ with three balls of yarn (cashmere blends and a cotton), dark chocolate covered cherries (my fave sweet treat), Christmas tea, pretzels (mmmm), an ornament kit, a beautiful porcelain Christmas tree ornament, embroidery tags with thread and a needle set, crafty ribbon, Hiya Hiya stitch markers, and a dark chocolate sea salt chocolate bar. Phew! Wow! I was speechless. LB helped me unbox my treats and he was beside himself with excitement.
Knitmas itself is such a fun idea, but also it is a chance to have my crafty skills appreciated by someone who knows what’s involved in making something by hand. And each year, inevitably, I am so wrapped up in being a thoughtful elf, I nearly forget there is a package coming to me too.
You can read about my previous Knitmas packages here.
This is my final post for 2018. I’ll be back on Tuesday with a new post revealing a little news about EvinOK in 2019.