crafts & knitting · food and Drink

merry Christmas x

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)

Well, December days have dashed by and Christmas is upon us, which I shouldn't really be surprised about seeing as this year has fairly whooshed by. Are you ready? I'm not far off being so and I have today and tomorrow to catch up with everything that needs to be done. My deadline is 3pm tomorrow when the children get home from the last day of school and the tree and decorations will go up, signalling the start of seasonal celebrations here. I always feel a bit guilty that out of all Amy's friends our family is the very last to get into the Christmas spirit but I think she understands as once the decorations are up we have a constant surveillance job to make sure Toby doesn't pull the tree over or eat non-edibles!

 

Christmasbears

 

Today I am putting the finishing touches to teacher and therapist pressies. I'm finishing off some knitted stockings and the christmas tree bears above. I'm also making bags of peppermint bark which has become a Christmas tradition that I really enjoy – it is so easy to make and is always well received.

 

Peppermint bark

 

Talking of presents, if you have bought any of my girl animal or dress patterns this year there is a little freebie pattern supplement that you can download from ravelry. It's a small thank you for your support of my pattern writing in 2013. I hope to have lots more patterns next year and look forward to sharing them with you.

 

Christmas dress sup

 

Well, I'm off to chop and bag up the chocolate (and nibble the off-cuts!). I hope that you and those you love have a very merry Christmas time and a happy, healthy start to 2014. See you in the New Year and thanks as always for dropping by xxx

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80 thoughts on “merry Christmas x”

  2. The Christmas tree bears look adorable Julie,I am sure Toby’s teacher & Therapist will be delighted with them and the peppermint bark X I am so excited about the new Dress pattern thank you Julie for making your wonderful wee animal patterns available, such a delight to all..and cant wait to see more animal patterns in the new year 🙂 Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2014 love and hugs to all 🙂 xx Meg

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  7. If this double posts, I’m sorry but something glitched when I commented earlier.
    I just wanted to share that I love visiting here, you create so much beauty. Even the peppermint bark is prettier than most I see.

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  8. Adorable as always. Here’s a Merry Christmas to you and yours and best wishes for a wonderful New Year. Who knows, I may break down and take a knitting lesson!

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  10. Merry Christmas Julie,
    Thank you for the patterns this year. What a delight they have been to knit.
    I hope your Christmas holiday sparkles with
    joy.
    Patty

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  13. Thank you very much for sharing Julie!
    I hope all your preparations so smoothly and you and your lovely family have a great and cheery Christmas and New Year!

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  14. Thank you so much for the little pattern Julie!! 🙂 Your teacher gifts are as always gorgeous. You’re an inspiration!
    Wishing you and yours a very happy, peaceful and enjoyable Christmas and my very best wishes for 2014!
    V xxx

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  16. Hello Julie :o)
    I am so happy to see your post as I have been thinking about you lately.
    What dear little teeny tiny bears, your work is so perfect, I may try to make one but i know they won’t look as amazing as yours!
    wishing you and your lovely family lots of love, peace and happiness this Christmas~time.
    love jooles x x x
    P.S thank you for the pattern x

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  19. Thank you for the bunny dress pattern.
    I hope that you and your family tree have an enjoyable holiday.
    Best wishes to you all for the new year and may it be kind to you.

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  20. What a sweet surprise! I plan to knit bunnies and dresses while it is cold and snowy outside. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

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  21. Such beautiful knits as always Julie! I’m soooo looking forward to the Christmas break — among my huge list of to-dos is to finally get some of your patterns. I’ll be seeing a friend in February who has made several of them and I’m hoping to get some yarn advice from her. Next year, I want the Christmas stockings to be full of Little Cotton Rabbits. Or even better for the boys — Monkeys!!! ;-D

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  23. Wishing you and your a wonderful Christmas. Thank you for the pattern it is really very cute and when made I’ll send a photo.
    Keep war over there, Love Leanne NZ

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  24. Merry Christmas to you too!
    I’ve just finished knitting one of your little bunnies for my mother, and it was such a lovely pattern! I’ve never knitted anything like it before, but the instructions were easy to follow and so I really enjoyed it! It has encouraged me to try colourwork, and so I may have to have a go at that little dress!
    Thank you for sharing the patterns this year 🙂

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  26. Oh Julie,,,THank you. I’ve been hoping you would publish the pattern for this cute little dress. I love your patterns and appreciate all the time you have taken to make them user friendly. That’s a gift to all of us in itself. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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  27. Once again you have given us a treat with your work and love. Thanks so much. At the moment I have no little ones around me but I still find myself smiling at your adorable bunnies. Wishing a very very happy Christmas and many happy stitches in the new Year. Knit on!

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  28. Every year I love the sound of your peppermint bark and think I will make some but I always seem to run out of time. Maybe this year! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Julie and look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

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  30. Merry Christmas Julie to you and your family and thank you for the joy you bring to the world with your adorable patterns.
    Looking forward to seeing what the new year brings for Little Cotton Rabbits. Much kove from Australia.

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  32. ooh, that peppermint bark looks soooo delicious! I love those little Christmas bears, what a great little knitted ornament, I bet these make great gifts.

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  37. The teacher gifts are going to be beautiful. I don’t know how to knit yet, but I also appreciate the hard work and creativity you put into your patterns. I hope to have the expertise to try them someday. I hope you all have a happy and peaceful holiday.

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  38. I am also making peppermint bark for teachers presents tonight,after I saw it on your blog a few years ago… It’s delicious. Merry Christmas to you and all of your family xx

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  39. I made four of your mini Christmas stockings and gave them to a friend. She was thrilled and I had fun making them; I need some for my own tree. (I showed the stockings in a post, with links back to you.) Thank you for the pattern and have a very Merry Christmas.
    -Karen

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  40. Peace and joy to you all this christmas. A busy and surprising year, who knew I’d end the year in the south! May your new year bring the unexpected and the joyous
    Jill

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  42. You are not alone in putting your tree up late. I grew up in Germany and the tree goes up on Christmas eve and no sooner. It’s hard for my son, but I really can’t bring myself to break from tradition. Have a lovely Christmas time and a very happy new year. Karin

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  44. Your bears are as adorable as ever! Merry Christmas to you and your family. I will keep you all and Toby in prayer. I pray it will be a good transition and minimum stress! Hugs, Carrie

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  45. Thank you Julie once again for your great generosity and all you share with us. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas and holiday season. Peace, Love and Joy to all! With love from South Africa

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  46. Merry Christmas to you and your family, and I hope you have a wonderful 2014. Your posts are so beautiful and inspiring, and they make me want to be a better knitter and a better person. Thanks for sharing.

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  51. Thank you for the gift of the pattern.I was over the moon buying the rabbit pattern, making the rabbit but to get gifts as well is fab! I love my first rabbit and am now on number to as a gift for a wee baby called Lola. feel I really have to start on next years Christmas rabbit with the red dress as soon as I have eaten christmas dinner, I always like a new project for the day. have wonderful Christmas and I sincerely hope Toby has a good day.My darling grandson is autistic so Christmas is low key here and he actually sat on santa’s knee yesterday, we were so chuffed, yes I cried., but it was santa at playschool where he is happy and only small group.

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  52. Feliz Navidad desde España.
    Muchísimas gracias por compartir tus patrones. Estaré atenta a los nuevos del próximo año.
    Merry Christmas from Spain.
    Thank you for sharing your patterns. I will be attentive to new next year.
    Olga

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  53. HI. I’ve been making peppermint bark tonight – thanks for the recipe – this is my third year! Only trouble is that my candy canes turned out to be fruity! No idea how it will all turn out. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas. Bx xxx

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  57. Merry Christmas Julie, I hope you and your family have a wonderful, loving, and memorable holiday. Hope you get to relax too! Thank you for the pattern that was a lovely gift to all of your fans. (of which I am one) The peppermint chocolate bark looks addictive, I think I would not be able to control my munchies!
    Blessings to you all. See you next year, xoRobin

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  59. Thank you so much for the little pattern Julie, your knitting is always gorgeous. You’re an true inspiration and I would really wish that my knittingwork, would look like yours…..but it dos’t get close!!
    Wishing you and yours a very happy, peaceful and enjoyable Christmas and my very best wishes for 2014!

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  60. The wee teddies are so sweet. I hope teachers everywhere really do appreciate all the time and thought we put into their gifts – I’m sure they do!
    Have a wonderful (and peaceful) Christmas, and a happy new year,
    B x

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  61. Thank you so much for the new dress pattern. I am still addicted to knitting your bunnies and am just finishing off a very special one for my daughter to open on Christmas Day. Hope you have a lovely time and it is not too tiring for you.
    With much love.
    Alison x

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  62. Thank you Julie. What yarn did you use for the dress? I use some soft super wash yarn and the fuzz from the red got all over the white. Ugg! But it was cute. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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  63. Merry Christmas Julie,to you and your family, I love reading your blog and over the years you have inspired me to be a better person, thank you xxBRenda

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  65. Thank you for another year of inspiration. I continue to find solace in knitting and crochet (lots of crocheted hot water bottle covers for gifts this year – not bad for someone who couldn’t master it for YEARS!) and I know you do too. With much love and many thanks for all that you share and I wish you as peaceful a time as is possible. Happy Christmas, Julie. xx

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  66. I wish you a happy Christmas with you family. I hope Toby will be peaceful and happy. Thank you for your lovely creations and for sharing! Anne

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  67. Your teeny bears look so lovely! I made a couple more recently and had such fun with them – and I know the recipients will love them.
    Merry Christmas Julie and thank-you for making this a red letter year for all of us who adore your designs through the release of your patterns. I am up to my eyes in bunny body parts as I type! x

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  77. Thank you for the lovely gift and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that 2014 is full of good things for all of you. Hugs and more hugs from us!

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  78. Thank you, Julie, and I hope you had a very Happy Christmas, too! Love your post and all your inspiration. Happy New Year to you, too!, and may the coming year bring you lots of knitting and crochet goodness! xxoo. JO

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  79. Thank you ever so much Julie! Another little treasure for my own little darling that is making quite a collection by now…
    Have a wonderful 2014 year, full of love and happiness for yourself and your family!

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  80. I wanted to say THANK YOU for the dress pattern! Are your animal patterns also for sale somewhere? I entered to win one once! They are the cutest thing ever! Your creativity is very inspiring, especially your work with your children.

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