Crocheted Christmas tree ornaments

Last spring when I crocheted my first granny square, little did I imagine how this new hobby would take hold of me. But it turns out that crochet is a lot like quilting; it is so easy to become obsessed with the possibilities!

I continued to develop my skills over the summer. As fall approached, I began crocheting pumpkins, thanks to a terrific YouTube Tutorial by Erica Arndt. I made pumpkins for myself, family and friends. It was great fun! Shortly before Halloween, Erica began enticing us all with tutorials for crocheted Christmas tree ornaments. How could I resist? Over the next month and a half, I spent several evenings stitching itty bitty stockings, beanies and mittens to adorn a small tree in my sewing room. Didn’t it turn out cute?

This wall is the first thing I see when I step into my sewing room, and a collection of feelings well up inside me: gratitude, happiness, excitement and peace. I feel welcomed into my humble space and thankful for moments where I can create and be myself. I treated myself to the “If you love me, let me sew” sign last April. It is from the Sunshine Sign Shop. And I recently purchased the two painted barn quilts from Red Rainboots Handmade. My sewing room is slowly evolving into a cozy, creative space. Taking my time (and spreading out my expenses) probably makes me love it even more.

As tickled as I am with these mini ornaments, I must admit they were challenging for me. The mini beanies (stocking caps) were the easiest for me. The stockings were slightly more challenging, and the mittens were the most challenging. But with each one that I made, my fingers became nimbler, and my brain got the hang of it. It was definitely worth the time and effort.  I love my little tree!

Here is a shot of my stocking cap assembly line. When I went to the craft stores searching for a package of pom poms to top off the little beanies, I couldn’t find the size I wanted.  But there was a piece of pom pom fringe at JoAnn Fabrics that was just the ticket.  So I purchased a yard and just cut off the poms!

Erica also has a tutorial for a Star ornament, which was super easy!  I made a few small stars for my tree, and then it dawned on me that if I used chunkier yarn and a bigger crochet hook, I could upsize the star and make a tree topper!  I crocheted two stars and joined them around the outside edges with a whip stitch, leaving a small opening at the bottom. (At the end of this blog post, I will share the yarn and hooks that I used.)

In this photo you can see a quilt wrapped around the base of my tree.  It was my Grandpa Ray’s baby quilt! I’ve had it in my possession for many years. Although they both crocheted, neither of my grandmothers were quilters. Perhaps my great grandmother (Grandpa Ray’s mother) was a quilter and made this quilt, or maybe it was a gift from a family member or farm neighbor. I wish I knew more about it. Years ago, I attended an antique trunk show given by Darlene Zimmerman. I asked her about my grandfather’s baby quilt being pink, and she said that in those days color wasn’t a consideration or concern. People used whatever fabric they could get their hands on, from feedsacks to worn garments, to make quilts. Whatever the reason, I love pink and I’m so happy to have this quilt in my sewing room!

I want to thank Erica Arndt for all of the detailed, thoughtful and creative projects she shares with us on her YouTube channel.  It has opened a whole new world to me!

Wishing you all a very happy December! Stay warm and get carried away quilting AND crocheting!

~Taunja

ORNAMENTS

• Yarn: Scheepjes Stonewashed(sport weight) in Canada Jade, New Jade, Moonstone, Carnelian, Rose Quartz and Amazonite
• Crochet hook: Clover Amour hook, size G 4.0mm

STAR TREE TOPPER

• Yarn: Scheepjes Stonewashed(XL weight) in Moonstone
• Crochet hook: Clover Amour hook, size H 5.0mm