Making baubles {Patterns Review}

I mentioned a week ago that I was knitting a Christmas bauble. Well it seems that once you start making one, you cannot stop, and I have now 6 baubles, and more yarn has been ordered - I am on a roll! I have tried different techniques, knitting of course, but crochet and using felted fabric as well. So here is a review of some patterns you may want to try out yourself. 

Knitted bauble based on Arne and Carlos book

I finished the knitted bauble. It did take a couple of days just focusing on it. I am happy with the result in the end, but I am not sure how many I will make. They are also quite big (10 cm in diameter). 

 Pattern: From 55 Christmas Balls to Knit, by Arne and Carlos

Yarn: SIRDAR Country Style, Wool Blend DK (40% nylon, 30% wool, 30% acrylic)

Needle size: 4mm DPNs 

Modification: only changed the knitting method, using 3 DPNs and markers rather than 4
Final dimension: 10 cm ball
Result: A big Christmas ball - so you have something to show for your hard work, but need to concentrate. It is a no TV, but needing many cups of tea and chocolate sort of pattern. 

Crochet ball - inspired by this pinterest picture

The colours are not exactly Christmas-y but it is for Baby MiH's room, but can easily be adapted for Christmas decoration. This is my favourite ball. It is easy to make and it really looks good for the amount of effort put into it. Just to be aware, This is again quite a big ball because I used some chunky yarn (calling for 6.5mm needle size), if you use a yarn that calls for 4mm hook it is much smaller (in fact tiny). 

 Pattern: Free on this blog

Yarn: WENDY luxury cotton chunky yarn (it is sturdy and shiny and really works well for this pattern)

Hook size: 4mm 

Modification: none except adding the beading
Final dimension: 9 cm ball
Result: A big really nice bauble that is easy to make - one cup of tea, one episode of Homeland, and did not have time for a biscuit. Beware you may get addicted to making them. 

Crochet Xmas ornament found on Attic 24

Not exactly a bauble, but as you need to stuff it too with polyester I thought it should feature in this post. It is quite a small one, perfect for Christmas trees - although the colour scheme I chose may be a bit too dark - so may have to revisit for the next one. These are easy to make, and look a bit different - they are perfect for all these tiny balls of leftover yarn you have in your stash. 

 Pattern: Free on Attic 24 blog

Yarn:  SIRDAR Country Style, Wool Blend DK (40% nylon, 30% wool, 30% acrylic)

Hook size: 4mm 

Modification: none on the pattern, but added only one bead
Final dimension: around 5 cm
Result: Takes half an hour and makes quite a different style ornament for the tree. Need to think a bit harder about the colour scheme so it does not look too dark. 

Finally a bit sewing and using felted fabric. This is my least favourite one, when I expected it to be the one I would like best. But I believe that this is down to the preparation rather than the concept. I made the felted circles too big (10 cm) and let's be honest I could have done a better job at making them round. I should have been more careful at where I was sewing the wings together. 

Pattern: cut out 6 circles of the same size. Sew them together in the middle so it holds as one bauble. Sew the wings two by two in the middle, and two by two at the bottom and the top of the bauble. 

Result: Will remake mine as I think it could really look much nicer. 

Here we are a few options for homemade Christmas decorations. Let me know if you are making any of these, I would love to know what you think too!

Preparation time {Knitting}

How early do you start preparing for Christmas? Because Baby MiH will not have his passport by the time we get to Christmas,we are hosting Christmas eve at ours - and this is in fact my first Christmas Britain! We do have some decorations, but hardly worth talking about (I think it amounts to 6 baubles, and 2 garlands). So let's face it, we could do with getting ready. 

Last year I was planning to make some knitted Christmas baubles from Arne and Carlos' 55 Christmas Balls to Knit. I bought the book, and left it there until this morning. I wanted to see how easy/hard it would be to knit one of those. Well, it involves DPNs, colour work and increase and patterns being knitted simultaneously (but written on different pages of the book) - so it is slightly intense. Two hours later, I am at this stage of the first bauble - hmmm..  

I do like the shape the bauble is taking however, and I am hoping it is a case of getting acquainted with a new pattern - and that it gets easier as I knit more of these. 

 Pattern: From 55 Christmas Balls to Knit, by Arne and Carlos

Yarn: SIRDAR Country Style, Wool Blend DK (40% nylon, 30% wool, 30% acrylic)

Needle size: 4mm DPNs 

Modification: only changed the knitting method, using 3 DPNs and markers rather than 4

Just in case you are considering buying this book, well from this morning experience I would say buy it now so that you can start asap. I am even wondering whether I did not leave it too late - all depends on how many I want make I suppose. 

But there are so pretty! How could I resist knitting them! It is retro Scandinavian, love it. My colours scheme is a bit different - white, blue, teal, black - no green or red (too predictable, of course). 

I may have to add some touches of gold though... 

Well that is provided I finish my first one of course. 

  
So I officially declare the Christmas preparation season started at the MiH home!