Deck the Halls with Knitted Joy
I’m not one of those homekeepers who decorates for each holiday. I just can’t be bothered. But when it comes to Christmas, watch out, because I am all in.
Our boxes of carefully packed Christmas decorations include three trees, a Christmas village, about 30 tree candles that adorn my mantle each year, and an embarrassing amount of Old World Christmas ornaments. (Old World Christmas is based in Spokane, where I live, and they have an outlet store here. How can I resist? Seriously, I need to know how to resist.)
In the past couple years, I’ve started adding knitted decor to the mix, and this year it’s got to be Jesie Ostermiller’s Snowman Family from Interweave Knits Holiday 2016.
This little family will look so cute as a centerpiece or on the coffee table. We have an antique secretary in our hallway, and I love filling the hutch side of it with holiday items; maybe the snowman family will find a home there.
My wife loves her some snowmen, so I think I’ll surprise her with this little brood. They’re all knit in the round from various weights of white yarn (depending on the size of the snowman), and then their faces are created with easy embroidery. The Snowman Family is totally doable in time for this year’s holiday season. Add yarn loops to the tops of the smallest snowmen to turn them into ornaments, and you have the perfect holiday hostess gift.
It’s time to deck the halls with knitted decor!
Pattern Details
FINISHED SIZE Version 1: 5” tall and 7¾“ circumference. Version 2: 6” tall and 9” circumference. Version 3: 10” tall and 15” circumference. Version 4: 16” tall and 25” circumference.
YARN Version 1: Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport (100% wool; 184 yd 168 m/1¾ oz 50 g): #740S snow (white; MC), #135S hurricane seas (teal; A), and #136S chocolate kisses (brown; B), 1 ball each. Version 2: Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted (100% wool; 245 yd 224 m/ 3½ oz 100 g): #740W snow (white; MC), #112W elf green (A), and #136W chocolate kisses (brown; B), 1 ball each. Version 3 (Version 4): Brown Sheep Nature Spun Chunky (100% wool: 155 yd 142 m/7 oz 200 g): #740C snow (white; MC), 1 (3) skeins; #N910 cherries jubilee (red; A), and #136C chocolate kisses (brown; B), 1 skein each.
NEEDLES Version 1: Size 3 (3.25 mm): set of double-pointed (dpn). Version 2: Size 5 (3.75 mm): set of dpn. Version 3: Size 10 (6 mm): set of dpn. Version 4: Size 15 (10 mm): set of dpn. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
NOTIONS Yarn needle; stitch marker (m); 8″ long zipper, 1; sewing needle and coordinating-color thread; 3″ cardboard square, 1.
GAUGE Marker (m); black scrap yarn for eyes; polyester fiberfill; tapestry needle; one ½ (½, 1, 1½)“ button.
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