Julie's Notebook: Scrap Busting Party and Holiday Decorations

Hi all! Guess what, Julie and I are cooking up lots of exciting new things to collaborate on for TFA in 2014 and the first of them is ready to be rolled out a little early…introducing: Julie's Notebook! A new, monthly blog feature curated and written by Julie for TFA readers. Every month Julie will pick a topic and dazzle you with her mad blogging skills. So, without further ado, here she is with the inaugural Julie's Notebook post! Take it away Julie!

I bet most of you are just like me - you have little balls of yarn leftover from all your awesome knitting projects that are too pretty to throw away, but too small to do much with. Enter the pom pom. Not only do pom poms look smashingly fabulous on top a hat, but they make some very fun and festive holiday decor. Like garlands - I love garlands. They seem like the epitome of party decorations. And there's no law saying it should just be for the seasonal holidays, these would all be equally great for birthday parties, new years, baby showers or even weddings. 

Let's take a look at some inspiring examples!

This multicoloured pom pom garland idea from Emma Lily Allsorts is so pretty:

Or there are these lovely multicoloured pom poms from A Lovely Lark that would be perfect for the brightly coloured odds and ends you've got (I can't be the only one with lots of ping pong ball-sized leftovers that are too pretty to part with!) that are a bit too small for their own pompom, or maybe you like your pom poms to look like rainbow sprinkles:

You could even use your new, bright pom poms to make a pom pom wreath: there are several different tutorials using different methods (and base wreath shapes). Check out one using a flat styrofoam wreath form here, a wire frame here, a traditional round styrofoam form here,

Pom poms not really your thing. No problem. Who says the garland has to be all about pom poms? Check out this beautiful yarn tassel garland from La La Lovely:

And this super cute bow garland from Sew. Craft. Create. :

Stash busting AND decorating for holidays and parties- talk about multitasking!

Secret Santa Brixter

Pattern: Brixter by me!
Yarn: Not yet released merino/cashmere/silk DK weight yarn in Natural with a Buttercup pompom!
Ravelry project page here

Every year my girlfriends from art school and I do a secret santa gift exchange. This year I gave to Jenna. I was excited to be knitting something for her (because of course my gift had to be knit) because she's a textile artist as well and I knew that she'd really appreciate a hand made gift. Choosing just the right yarn, pattern and colour was daunting. As an artist, Jenna has a very well developed sense of personal style. I love her style and wanted to make sure that whatever I made her would be something that she may not make herself, but that she would love. Her aesthetic is clean, simple and natural. I decided that for Jenna, a pattern with clean lines would be best, and that I should focus on the fiber rather than the colour. Though I'm sure she does love colour, I see her as a "neutrals" girl. I have a small amount of a new yarn that I'm playing with, it's a merino/cashmere/silk DK weight yarn (just like Orange Label, just DK weight rather than worsted.) This was the perfect yarn for her. Luxurious and special, and beautiful in the Natural colour way. 

I cast on for  Brixter hat and then part way through the ribbing decided that it would be extra terrific if it had a double brim. Since I had already begun working the cables I just kept on and then skipped one cable cross where I would be folding the brim under. I then worked the brim pattern once more before folding it under and tacking it down on the last row before I started the body. Alternatively you could sew the brim down after completing the hat, but sewing it as you go makes for zero finishing in the end, which is a nice feeling. 

Using my left hand needle I picked up one stitch from the cast on edge and knit it together with it's corresponding live stitch. I only knit the knit stitches together, I did not tack down the purl stitches in the ribbing, tacking down every second stitch is plenty to keep things together. The results are very pro, there is no visible seam and the tacked down edge is very stretchy and comfortable.  

After having skipped the one cable cross for the turned under row I took a look at my progress and really liked it! I decided that I'd continue to alternate crossing the cables every 4th row (as pattern specifies) and every 8th row. The difference is subtle, but very pretty. 

Jenna loved her hat. She was very excited about the fiber, which is nice since I'm excited about it too! You really can't go wrong with a merino, cashmere, silk base!

Isn't Jenna adorable? I also added a buttercup pom-pom for some Tanis flare! I just couldn't resist.