One last Christmas post -- with crochet directions

I know I'm running a little late on this,

since I am posting even after the Epiphany

but I don't think it can wait a whole year.

These are the Christmas-themed crochet projects

I worked on during the month of December.

For my son's kindergarten holiday party I made three hats

with the super-easy elf hat pattern from CrazySocks Crochet.

The other homeroom mom and I didn't dress up for Halloween

so we agreed to kind of get dressed up for Christmas.

The teacher and the two of us looked very festive!

The pointy crochet idea kind of stuck with me,
so  I started making decorations red and green too.

Specifically 75 Santa hats for immediate family members.

Yes, I said 75. I am one of 6 and my husband is one of 9.

Between our siblings, their spouses and their children

the numbers have really risen in the last few years.

Each red and white hat was packaged with a gold hook
for hanging as ornaments on the recipients' trees.
A nephew put his on a nutcracker from his collection.
(He's allergic to nuts, so how ironic is it
that he has a bunch of nutcrackers?)

Since I made quite a few of them while watching
"Gnomeo and Juliet," I want to make gnomes with beards.
I could also adapt my leprechaun hats this year!

As the holiday season wound down,
I used the same stitch pattern to make a few evergreens,
adorned with white buttons and glitter snow.
I simply stuffed them with polyfiber with unfinished bottoms
but felt or fabric could be sewn on as bases.

 CROCHET SANTA HATS OR TREES 

I used a H hook and worsted weight yarn in the appropriate colors. The ch 2 at the start of each round doesn't count as a stitch. At the end of a round, join to first stitch not the ch 2. (The best way of hiding your seam.)

Ch 4 and john in first ch to make a loop.

Round 1: Ch 2, 6 dc in loop, join with sl st to first dc. (6 dc)

Round 2: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 2 sts* twice, join. (8 dc) 

Round 3: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 3 sts* twice, join. (10 dc)  

Round 4: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 4 sts* twice, join. (12 dc)   

Round 5: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 5 sts* twice, join. (14 dc)   

Round 6: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 6 sts* twice, join. (16 dc)  

Round 7: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 7 sts* twice, join. (18 dc)  

Round 8: Ch 2, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 7 sts* twice, join. (20 dc)   

The Santa hats are 8 rounds tall, 7 in red and 1 in white trim. The trees were anywhere from 6-9 rows tall. If you prefer something taller, continue on with the increase pattern until it is the size you would like. 

Playing with my new toy

Ever since my Canon point-and-shoot broke a few months ago,

I'd been going through withdrawal.

My niece's even simpler camera did the trick when necessary,

but I wanted to get back to normal.

This is so much better than normal!

After Christmas I bought a Canon DSLR, the Rebel T3.

Just a step above a point-and-shoot but the options are amazing.

Particularly like the image stabilizer lenses and macro features.

Here are shots from my first few days with it.

Peace on Earth

My most recent hats

Winter is officially here and
here are some of the hats I've made recently.

Gotta love elf hats and my new pom pom maker!

And what do you think of the mohawk hat at the bottom?

 A few of them, and some others, are for sale on Facebook.
Let me know if you would like one!

Outtakes from our Christmas tree trip

Thanksgiving, over the river and through the woods

Once again, we spent our Thanksgiving

in the most heavenly place on Earth --

the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York.

And this is how I spent Black Friday morning,

photographing the foggy and snowy landscape

near Lake Placid, site of the '32 and '80 Olympics.

We never know what kind of weather we will get

up in the mountains and the photos each year reflect that.

(Make sure you click each image for a larger view.)

The best spot at camp

Who can resist a hammock?

Perfect place for summer reading,

relaxing or even a nap.

I would have slept there overnight

if it weren't for the mosquitoes.

Busy Fourth of July weekend

Happy Independence Day!

That is an American flag at the end of a bagpipe.

It symbolized how we will celebrate

the birth of our country this weekend --

with a pipe band competition and four parades.

We will also fit in a wedding reception,

pool party and, hopefully, multiple firework displays.

Hope your weekend is as celebratory!

Wearing o' the green

Our St. Patrick's celebrating started a little early this year.

Between the members of my family who pipe and drum,

we were in four different parades last weekend.

I went to two with my camera -- in Utica and Albany, NY.

Here are some of my favorites. The rest are here. Sláinte!