Ornaments of Christmas Past

As she was unpacking some of our Christmas decorations this year, my daughter was asking about some of the handmade ornaments in our collection.  In the early years of our marriage, we didn’t have a lot of ornaments for our tree, and I decided to make some crocheted and knitted ones.

I made some of them from a Leisure Arts flyer, and maybe some from an article in McCall’s Needlework & Crafts magazine.  But then I started making some little motifs from crochet pattern books that looked festive to me.  My sister-in-law gave me a pattern for some knitted bells that I liked on her tree, and I made a bunch of those as well.  I liked the fact that I could put little jingle bells in them to make them ring. 

An assortment of handmade Christmas ornaments

I think my hands-down favorite of the ornaments I made early in our marriage was one that I designed myself.  Using the idea of the knitted bells with the little jingle bells inside, I designed a crocheted Christmas bell pattern using some metallic yarn that was popular at the time.  As a special Christmas gift to my readers, and crocheters everywhere, I have written up the pattern for this crocheted Christmas bell, and it will be available for free on Ravelry and Craftsy.  Here are the links to the pattern download:
Ravelry:  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/christmas-bell-ornament-6  Craftsy:  https://www.craftsy.com/crocheting/patterns/christmas-bell-ornament/667346    Enjoy!!  

Worsted Weight Bell

Sport Weight Bell from Vanna's Glamour

Thread Bell

This pattern can be made in several sizes, depending on what size of yarn you choose to use.  The worsted weight bell measures 3” tall by 3 ½” in diameter at widest point, the sport weight bell measures 1 ¼” by 2 ½”, and the thread bell measures 1 ½” by 1 ½”.  So choose your yarn weight and desired size!

Three sizes of bells

Several of these little bells would make a great wreath decoration, or use them on a garland.  They look great in a metallic yarn, as I originally used.  Use your imagination, and have fun with them.

Christmas Bell made with metallic yarn

Stitch Swatch Sampler Swatch 9: Slip Stitch Rib

SWATCH 9:  SLIP STITCH RIB

This is an amazing stitch pattern.  It forms a fabric that, when turned  90 degrees, resembles a knitted ribbing, both in appearance and resilient stretchiness.  

Slip Stitch Rib Swatch, turned 90 degrees

Once you practice a bit, I think you will love it!  It is much more rib-like than single crochet in the back loop.  If you choose to use this as a rib at the edge of a sweater or cap, you will need to crochet it from side to side of the garment…that’s just the way this stitch works.

The stretch of this rib

Ch 17 (multiple of 1, +2 turning chains)

Row 1:  Sl st in 3^rd ch from hook and in each ch across row.  15 sts.  Turn work.

Row 2:  Ch 1, sl st in BL of each st across row.  Turn work.

Rep Row 2 until your piece measures 4 inches.  Break off and weave in ends.

Abbreviations:  Ch  chain  sl st  slip stitch  st  stitch  BL  back loop  Rep  repeat

To work a sl st, insert the hook into the next st, yo hook, and draw through the st, then immediately through the loop on the hook.

Slip Stitch Rib Pro Tips:

•  Turn the right edge of the work to the back, then to the left at the end of each row.  It might seem more natural to turn the work as if the fabric were the page of a book, but I find turning it this way creates a nicer edge.  Try it both ways, and see which you prefer.
•  Instead of inserting the hook into the back loop of the last stitch, insert it under the front loop and the diagonal loop at the edge of the work (see photos).
•  Be sure to not work your slip stitches too tightly.  Aim for a consistent, even tension.

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  Insert hook under the strand marked in red, then under the strand marked in blue

  

  Hook inserted under horizontal strand

    

Hook inserted under diagonal strand at edge.  Note that the hook tip comes out to the side, rather than to the back of the work.