My Little Christmas Tree

For some reason, I did not get totally excited about doing much Christmas decorating this year. Now that I work at University Regional the time I spend at home has shrunked but it would be terrible to skip this part of Christmas all together.  So I found in the attic some of my little artificial trees and did a little decorating.  The decorations for the tree that is sitting on my living room side table are the knitted birds I made this summer.

 

 I dusted the mantle and decked it with the Charlie Brown trees and the Christmas cards I have received. The gnomes are out again this year.

So there is no reason to skip Christmas decorating....

Amigurumi Tips

This Christmas season I'll be creating and designing mini gnomes. The gnomes I'm creating are Amigurumi Gnomes worked in single crochet.  I also like the idea of using the left over yarn from other items to make these.

The body minus legs and arms

Stitch markers are a necessity to mark the beginning or ending of each round.  I place a stitch marker on the last stitch of the round.

To join a different color yarn, after completing the last sc of the round, using the same color yarn (brown in my boot) do a yarn over and leave two loops, then draw the other color (red for my gnomes pants)through the two loops.

Hide the tails behind the single crochet stitches in the first round being worked with the second color, then using scissors cut the short end.

Stuff the leg as you go using polyester fiberfill.   Be careful not to overstuff.  Just a small amount is required.

Continue adding fiberfill; stop adding at least 3/4 an inch before getting to the top.  This is not too clear. What I'm trying to say is make sure you leave unstuffed about 3/4 of an inch.  This will help your creation sit on the bottom.

I thought it would be fun to name my creations, so here is Roywinkle.