Christmas Crafts 2018

[smalex]

I might make rum truffles this year. My mum always made them for my nan, rolled in choc strands.

[emma_p]

I always make the chocolate and ginger squares from the Green & Black book. They’re so easy - no cooking, just melting (and I love eating all the trimmings from the squares myself )

[Ruby]

I once made Werther's vodka and it was foul.

[emma_p]

I can’t imagine it being nice! Do you just dissolve the sweets in vodka?

I have vague recolections of flavoured vodka made in the dishwasher? Or did I dream that?!

[smalex]

I can imagine. I've steeped fruit in vodka loads, it's usually nice. But Once I used the strawberries out of a strawberry vodka I made in a crumble and it made my mouth go numb

Never used a dishwasher though?

[Morganna]

The skittles stuff was just sweets dissolved in vodka, then strained through a tea towel, I think. I separated the colours out, so the vodka wasn't that grotty colour that play doh goes when the colours get mixed up.

I don't like vodka, so I gave it all as presents. I tasted one of them with a friend, and it was a bit like those alcopop things (far too sweet for me),but it was fun to make, looked pretty, and went down well with the recipients.

I can't imagine Werthers working very well

[Ruby]

I have vague recolections of flavoured vodka made in the dishwasher? Or did I dream that?!

That sounds familiar.

Flavoured vodkas were a thing for a while, but I didn't really like any of them. That Skittles vodka always goes a sort of khaki colour.

[smalex]

Wasn't there a commercial toffee vodka? Doolies?

[emma_p]

I didn’t dream it! https://www.idealhome.co.uk/news/dishwa ... tion-42831 it sounds awful though.

I’ve made cassis and limoncello (not in a dishwasher ;) ) and they were both nice.

[Kleio]

Wasn't there a commercial toffee vodka? Doolies?

Dooley’s. I drank a whole bottle of that (via shots) in an hour and spent the night vomiting it. It was horrible, nasty stuff.

[Kenickie]

That dishwasher vodka sounds quite good.

The stocking looks brilliant, as does the calendar..

[H1ppychick]

I'm having a go at this, I want to learn how to do proper Fair Isle with two colours and well-managed floats.

https://www.deramores.com/products/the- ... 1096894546

[Morganna]

I've got back into Fair Isle, H1ppy. It's not as difficult as it looks. It is easier with 'sticky' yarn, as the floats aren't as loose, but then you have the problem of washing it, as it will felt if you aren't careful.

I have ordered this book with a view to maybe making felted Fair Isle slippers between this Christmas and next (as presents). Arne and Carlos have a lot of books (all good), and they also make videos on their blog, to demonstrate various techniques. My slippers book should arrive today, but apparently you knit them with 2 strands of wool, alternating one strand with the other. I hope that's easier in practice than in theory .

I like your cushion - do you have any pics to show us?

[H1ppychick]

The KAL pattern is being released in 3 parts and they've only issued the bunting pattern so far. I had a go at the first design and got about 1/3 way, but that was before I looked up how I should be carrying the yarn and tying in floats on Youtube, so it's quite puckered and messy. I'm going to rip it back and start again.

[wendy james]

I'm having a go at this, I want to learn how to do proper Fair Isle with two colours and well-managed floats.

https://www.deramores.com/products/the- ... 1096894546

How are you getting on?

I'm not doing much this year. I made 4 fleece blankets (which was just edging 4 rectangles on the overlocker ) - 2 smaller ones for the Rotary shoeboxes and 2 slightly larger for babies born this year to P's friends. The girl is also getting a crochet hat.

[H1ppychick]

Thanks for asking wendy!

I've made one bunting flag and 2/3 of another, and I'm getting to grips with the Fair Isle technique OK. I am finding it a trifle unwieldy as I am physically chucking balls of yarn from one side of me to the other whilst sitting on the sofa, since I haven't mastered holding two threads at the same time. I've not done anything for a few days due to being out in the evenings, hence the slow progress.

[wendy james]

I’m a fan of ball chucking if you can get into a rhythm/reversing order. I reckon you can get the hang of holding two with practice.

[Kleio]

There’s a little thing you can get for your finger that holds 2 strands.

[Hamm]

I’m not a good yarn crafter but can I ask would that be useful for crochet? My mum has switched from knitting to crochet.

[smalex]

20181118_183636.jpg

Did this with my lino printing set today. Jabbed the tool into my finger twice and its still bleeding. I need to get rid of the (intentional) spots and the berries. I think I'll do the berry separately and do them in red. Or chuck the whole thing in the bin and give up