Rosie Paws and Sparkle Reindeer

I sometimes feel as though I’m running on the spot when it comes to Christmas presents.  I love to give handmade gifts to my family and, as well as sewing, I enjoy knitting too.  

I’ve knitted for Rosie since before she was born(!), all kinds of jumpers, cardigans, hats and scarves, and even now she tells me there’s nothing like some hand-knitted paw-covers to cheer her day.  So when I found a lovely pattern called Cathy Rose Mitts from Sandra Paul  (she features them on her blog here)  I felt sure Rosie would appreciate discovering them under the tree this Christmas.

They don’t take much yarn, so I uncovered some I had leftover  from an earlier project, and set to work.  It’s a great little pattern and I was delighted with the results.  So delighted in fact, that I kept them on the chest in my bedroom where I could gaze at them in satisfaction.  But, as my mum always used to say, “Pride goes before a fall.”  And because I was proud of my work and enjoyed looking at them – I forgot to hide them before Rosie came to stay.  She spotted them and loved them too!

Put them on …. and took them away with her!  So now I am back to the beginning again.  I have another idea for Miss Rosie, but this time I’m keeping my work well under wraps.  Rosie is a major snaffler of my work and on her last visit as well as these little mittens, my Baby Owls Draught Excluder found its way into her car and home to Bristol with her…. 

 But she won’t be allowed to snaffle my latest pattern for the Bustle & Sew Magazine – my Sparkle Reindeer!

 Some easy applique, vintage buttons and LED battery-operated Christmas lights – cool to the touch and with the bulbs poked through holes in the fabric/board – these really are sparkle reindeer!

 It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas here at Coombe Leigh – and the December Magazine is shaping up to be a very festive issue indeed!