crafts & knitting · general stuff

Shortest days

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)

 

Sunrise (2)

 

Christmas tree

 

Beret

 

Finishedhat

 

Hat3

 

Early present

 

Goodies

 

It's always a nice feeling when the winter solstice arrives, a calm and quiet pause before the wheel of the year begins to turn back towards longer, brighter days. Not that I dislike winter at all, in fact there are parts of it that I really love: sharp morning frosts; winter sunrises; warm winter woollies; cosying by the fire; hearty stews and soups; hot chocolate (incidentally if you like hot chocolate the check out Julie's recipe for a peanut butter version over on the Knitted Bliss blog, it is so delicious!)… 

But the short days can be hard to bear, especially when they are overcast and it feels like daylight never really arrived at all. We've had mostly those kind of days this week, though there was a beautiful sunrise a few days back. The perfect antidote to such a lack of natural light is to fill the house with candle light, fire light and the light from the Christmas tree which is now up here (and being re-arranged daily by Toby).

Happily knitting is a perfect pastime for midwinter days and I've knitted a whole hat in the last 3 days. I used up most of my last precious skein of Ysolda's Blend no. 1. Using it up was a hard decision, as it looks like there will be no more but it has been a really good choice as it works perfectly in the finished hat. The pattern is Hermaness hats by Gudrun Johnston (there are 2 versions within the pattern – a beret and a beanie) and it was a pleasure to work – not too complicated, though I did have to rip back a few rows at the beginning of the second chart when I wasn't paying proper attention, (my project notes are here). 

The arrival of eagerly anticipated packages in the mail also helps brighten any dreary day. Recently I fell in love with the work of Nastia Sleptsova having discovered her on Instagram and I bought myself an early Christmas present. Her little house brooches, cards and stickers are so sweet and everything was packaged so beautifully it was such a treat to open. There is even has a knitting themed collection 'The cozy knitter' in collaboration with Melody Hoffmann (bmandarines). There's such a lovely cosy gentleness to Nastia's work, and though it looks like her shop is taking a break over Christmas I'm sure she'll be back in the new year with new stock.

Well, I'll not be back until the new year myself, so until then I just wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Keep warm, laugh lots and, if you can, be with the ones you love xxx

 

33 thoughts on “Shortest days”

  1. I must say Julie, it all looks very cosy at yours!! So many pretties…your hat, that yarn and those beautiful little houses, I must check out her IG account!
    Wishing you and your family the happiest Christmas!
    V xxx

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  3. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thank you for sharing on your blog … it is greatly appreciated. Best Wishes also for the New Year.

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  5. Julie, thank you for another year of your wonderful patterns and blog, I enjoy it all so much.
    Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas with all good wishes to you all for the New Year.

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  7. What gorgeous photos. The hat is brilliant, honestly, you are such a good knitter. I love those cosy aspects of winter as well, especially the hot chocolate part. I shall go and check out the peanut butter version at once. I’ll have a look at Nastia’s shop as well, her work is beautiful. I hope you and yours have a lovely Christmas. CJ xx

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  12. Thank you for another year of sharing your family news, photographs and your wonderful talent.
    I wish you a peaceful Christmas and hope 2018 is kind to you.

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  14. Happy Christmas Julie and many thanks for another year of inspiring posts – they are much appreciated. All the very best for 2018!

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  15. Thank you for the pleasure your posts have given me in 2017. I am hoping to knit my very own little cotton rabbit in 2018 – I am not the most skilful knitter, but your instructions are wonderfully clear and it will be slowly, slowly, step by step. Wish me luck!
    Best wishes.

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  20. Thanks for all your lovely posts this year, I grew up in Sheffield but live in Vancouver, and love to see your photos of local flora and fauna. I long to see bluebell woods again, but tend to visit during the summer, and never see them. Hope you have a good 2018.

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  21. Happy christmas Julie to you and all your family also all my best wishes for 2018
    Lovely reading your blog today has spured me on to get the knitting going again.
    Hugs
    Ellie xxx

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  31. Happy New Year from New Zealand Julie.You have taught me so much over the past year. I am wanting to knit your owl tea cosie with the fair isle heart. I see this is knitted in chunky wool.I have never knitted in chunky wool before. Is this Wool soft to knit with? Thank you. New Zealand is having very bad weather for Summer..

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  32. I absolutely love the little houses and the tiny jumper is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing the link – I just treated myself to 2 little houses and a jumper.

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  33. Hi Julie –
    Many thanks for sharing the updated pattern of the bunny girl. I look forward to knitting this & more for my first grandchild!

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