I like to take the first week of December as annual leave, give me a bit of time to get organised for Christmas. I’ve had a lovely week making presents for friends and family. Although I’m not that organised yet, I still haven’t even bought my Christmas cards!!
I thought for a while about what to give my mum, what do you buy someone in their mid 80’s living in a care home! I decided in the end to make her a cardigan, I made her one a couple of years ago and she still wears it. I used my favourite Butterick 6258 pattern, the one I’ve made many times before! It went together beautifully, helped by the fact my overlocker came back from the repair man. It’s at last chance saloon but it’s working at the moment! The fabric is a heavy-ish jersey with a lovely drape, it’s charcoal grey with a bit of a subtle pattern on it. It looks so good I’m hoping there’s enough left to make myself one as well!
I might make her a padded coat-hanger to go with it as well, I’ve made two for little presents, one from a Liberty lawn for someone I know isn’t that into frilly, lacy stuff. The second one is silk dupion with a narrow lace trim.
Another present is a cushion for my son’s girlfriend, they have a pug and I happened to see a gorgeous fabric panel of a watercolour of a pug on Ebay, you could even choose what size you wanted it. I ordered a 16″ panel and it looks great. I backed it with some fawn furnishing fabric I had in my stash which happens to match perfectly, I tried a few trims but none of them seemed to add to the cushion, I decided the painting was enough, I think she’ll love it.
My Embroiderers Guild is having a Christmas card swop at the meeting on Monday. The idea is that everyone hopefully makes a card, so each of us is given a handmade card in return. I decided to do a smaller version of the snowflake I made for the Christmas decoration swop. I started this time with six lines marked and then embroidered with a white DMC thread initially. Once I had the basic outline I added the silver embroidery and sequins, I rather like doing these as I can sort of make it up as I go along, so each one is different, like in nature. The biggest problem is knowing when to stop! I decided to make it into a mini decoration which could be hung on a card but used as a decoration later.I put a circle of felt under the embroidery and then glued the edges over a circle of card. I simply glued on a circle of felt to finish. I just need to finish it as a card now.
I feel I’m winning with Christmas now, just got cakes to make and decorate, gingerbread houses to decorate, cards to write…
thecraftycreek 
How nice that you can get off work for a week this time of year. Your Moms cardigan is really nice. I bet she will love it. I love the snowflake for your card. The recipient will be thrilled to receive it.
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You’re doing great. That is a fantastic mom gift. Blessings,
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What great work. The cardigan will be a well loved gift.
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You are a lucky woman! There is no way that I can get time off at this time of year!
These are all very thoughtful gifts! My favorites are the cardigan and the pug cushion! In fact, I think I want that cardigan! 🙂
Have fun baking and decorating!
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Your Mum’s cardigan looks great – it would have been a much better use for that heavy jersey fabric I used for the boxy top recently. I wonder if I’d have enough left – off to check out the pattern.
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Such thoughtful gifts! And beautifully made, too!
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Beautiful gifts, especially the one for your Mum. I think you are wonder woman all that sewing and a day at Castle Howard.
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I wish I was on your gift list 🙂 All so lovely!
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Those are some great gift ideas Margaret, I may have to swipe them! Today is my last busy day, from here on I am only an audience member, so I’m looking forward to some extra time to catch up on those gifts!
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What super presents – and I bet that those decorations will prove very popular!
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That’s really smart of you to take the first week of Dec off so you can get ready. The cardigan and the circle embroidery is so cute. These are all great gifts.
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The fact that I’m only reading this post now might suggest how organised I am compared to you!! Thoughtful presents.
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