crafts & knitting

December: time for cosiness

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)

Winter is here, and today is the solstice and shortest day of the year.

The last few autumn leaves are still clinging to the tips of branches, but most now lie underfoot and the first frosts have come, sprinkling every surface with a crystalline sparkle. Days dawn in a beautiful splash of colour, with each sunrise delightfully unique, and when you step outside your breath creates tiny swirling clouds the icy air. Gone are the lunchtime salads of summer, instead there are soups and stews that warm you up from the inside (above is my winter-time favourite – Caribbean Curry Recipe from the Clever Guts Book by Dr Michael Mosley).

And whilst it is true that when Winter starts to drag at the end of February I will be impatient for the woodland to begin unfurling the glory of its greenery, for now I am not depressed by the drab, dormant state of the countryside, at the moment Winter still has all the appeal of a newly arrived season. A much appreciated pleasure at this time of year is the contrast between being out on a bracing walk and returning home to cosy up and relax. Outside is a world of frost and icy wind, reddened cheeks and cold fingertips, whereas inside there is stillness and calm, warmth and comfort. And though I might choose to stay inside more were it not for the need to take Toby out on walks, I am rewarded for my very slight sacrifice by Toby’s evident joy at the wet & windy weather. He seems to find it funny and whoops with delight at the wind whipping through the branches of the bare trees, and even seems to quite enjoy heavy rain, and it is certainly fun walking with him despite the conditions.

In between the colder days of frost and ice we have had a lot more days of milder but very wet weather, and the woodland paths are once again extremely muddy tracks. Just recently my legs have been really aching at the end of our walks and I had started to think ‘uh-oh, it’s my age’, but then I realised that it’s actually down to all this mud. Walking along the muddy paths is a tricky business, each step slides out sideways and of course uses different muscles in your legs, so I just need to build up strength again in my winter walking muscles, which over a hot, dry summer have not had much use!

As always we have a quiet and low key Christmas coming up here, but the tree is up now and I feel reasonably well prepared. I made a few mini Christmas stocking from my free pattern, some in 4ply on 2.5mm needles but also a couple of slightly larger ones in DK weight yarn on 3.5mm needles, you can see the size difference in one of the pictures above. The two larger stockings will be stuffed with a few small gifts and given to Amy and her boyfriend on Christmas Eve, as he is Danish and the Danes celebrate on the Eve of Christmas.

I also hope to finish off the pair of seasonal socks that I started in the first week of December, I’m a little obsessed with stripy socks at the moment and these will hopefully be worn on Christmas day as I’m now past the second heel so don’t have too far to go.

Well, I’m signing off now until the new year and am looking forward to a couple of slow-paced weeks of quiet and peace and comfort. I hope that you too have moments of peace and joyful comfort in the coming days,

Thank you so much for your company and your kindness across this year, my warmest best wishes to you and yours for the celebrations of this season, J xxx

32 thoughts on “December: time for cosiness”

  3. Thank you so much for this wonderful post! You write so beautifully that I almost feel that I’m actually there with you! I wish you and your lovely family a very happy and peaceful Christmas-thank you so much for your beautiful patterns and blog posts-they are so very much appreciated!

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  4. Thank you Julie – for all you do, including your email updates and patterns which bring joy to so many.

    Have a blessed Christmas.

    Heather Kelly

    Mob: 0438 063 067

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  7. Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas. Thank you for your lovely posts, they remind me of how beautiful our landscape is no matter the time of year. Anne

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  8. It is 5:45 am here in VA and I am up, having coffee, and caring for my mother. I read your post and thought your words were beautiful about the winter solstice . I have knitted stockings for a new family addition and will be finishing them in the next 2 days. I am cutting it close! Thank you for your stocking pattern.

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  11. Feeling tired and a bit down with a day ahead of oven and kitchen floor scrubbing due to our house rabbit, Pippin, I sat down with a cuppa and your blog and felt instantly better!

    Time to myself at Christmas to adjust the sleeve tops of a Fair isle cardigan and finish it.

    Your blogs have helped me find a calm space over the last year so Thank-you!

    Christine Crowther

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  12. Oh gosh!! It’s always lovely when you post! I was just thinking of making more of your adorable rabbits! Only to see this email! It must be a sign! Merry Christmas & a happy new year. Xxx

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  13. Merry Christmas Julie to you and those you love. May joy and laughter fill your holidays.
    May the New Year bring new dreams for the future.

    Hugs
    Sandy

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  14. Wishing you and all your family a very Merry Christmas & a Happy Healthy New Year. It’.s so wonderful how a simple walk in the woods with Toby can bring so much joy .I look forward to your posts as they somehow bring strength to cope with my hectic crazy days .I wish I could go for a walk in the woods too

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  15. Have a wonderful Christmas Julie. A quiet one sounds bliss to me ( but I am the hostess with the leastest). I have made the old chap a pair of sparkly xmas socks not sure what he will think of them tho!

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  16. Merry Christmas to you and your family! I look forward to the winter Solstice from the day of the summer solstice. Every day a litt

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  17. Thank you for the lovely Christmas letter. I so enjoyed it. I wish for you a warm, cozy and joyful Christmas holiday and Happy New Year.

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  23. Happy Holiday, Julie. Sending peace and joy to your whole family. We’re expecting our first granddaughter just after the new year! So there’s expected Joy (even though I no longer recognize our country)
    may good things happen in the new year.

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  24. Julie—Your creations are so amazing but as amazing and beautiful are the photos and messages you share. A very special moment whenever they arrive in my mailbox. Wishing you a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year!

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  25. Thank you for all the joy provided with your patterns and your calm advice on living life with a positive view.
    Wishing you and your family the best this season

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  27. Many thanks for your wonderful photographs and for the love and dignity you give Toby. Both delight me. My very best wishes to you and your family, may the new year bring you all health and happiness. Jakki Garlans

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  29. Thank you for your post. It is always nice to hear about your day and see your beautiful photos. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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  32. Merry Christmas to you and your family from Southern California 🎄🥰🙏🏻✝️❤️ I am so thankful for you and how you share your talents with us so that we can share joy with others. Your creations are adorable and I am thrilled to be able to make them for my family and friends. Thank you Julie for all of your dedication and love you put into all you do. Hugs xoxo

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