Did you guys enter Reddit's Secret Santa this year? It broke the Guinness World Record for the world's largest last year. I think to a certain extent it's everything Christmas should be - Thinking of others, giving gifts, and just enjoying that experience in of itself without considering what you yourself may receive.

This year I was matched with a girl from Colorado. She said she liked puppies, and purple, and one day wanted to open a hotel for dogs. A girl after my own heart. I hope one day this Nanook the Husky plush finds a place in her hotel.

Knitting pattern book at ARMINHO

The Dharma Bum Cropped Festival Top by Mama Pacha.

Who says crochet has to be a winter hobby? Crochet swimsuits, tops and skirts are everywhere right now. But why pay $60 for an acrylic knock off when you can spend time creating your own out of beautiful, breathable and on sale cotton? (I am a sucker for those Lincraft sales).

I've learnt something about myself over the last six months. I do not enjoy lengthy and time consuming projects. There's just something infinitely more exciting about choosing a pattern, buying the materials and executing it - All within the span of a few weeks. This pattern offers that excitement. Within one night I was casting off, which was a feat considering how long it had been since I last picked up my hooks. I had to YouTube practically every stitch.

So for the beginner crocheter, battling against the 30 degree Australian heat and dreaming of snow, this one is for you.

I found a cute tutorial for creating your own knitting needles and I really want to try it! How would you decorate yours?

Gift ideas: The home

Yesterday I walked into Woolworths and they had a Christmas table laid out with a neatly stacked pyramid of Christmas puddings. It is September. I feel like it's a little premature for anyone to be getting excited about Christmas and the hard boiled cakes that will eventually outlive us all. Nevertheless, as knitters and crocheters we have an excuse. Presents pile up and life flies by and personally, I don't want to spend the week leading up to the big day with my hands in permanent gridlock (again). So over the next few months I'm going to share the patterns and ideas I've been eyeing off, trying to avoid those that seem too costly or time consuming. 

Today I've got a few crochet and knitting patterns for around the home.

Crochet clock by Ooty Yaacobi (C)

'It's okay' garland, created by user Rebekahwithak from the pattern Alphabet A-D by Frankie Brown (K) (Free, and can obviously be used to create whichever phrase you like)

Pillow clamshell by Sol Maldonado (K)

Pineapple tea cosy by Tea and Craft (C) (Free)

Mountain peak pillow by Courtney Spainhower (K)

Granny circle placemats by Purl Soho (C) (Free)

Knitted accessories in action!

Our trip to NZ was an absolute blast. Queenstown is more beautiful than words could ever attempt to describe. I have been many places in my little life and it is far and away the most scenic.

It was so much fun that my (very limited) down time was spent lying on a bed, usually drunk and/or in a food coma, so not much knitting. I'll be catching up on my projects this week.

Pictured is the Avery scarf, the Braided headband and the Cinder scarf.

Jagged Edge Mittens by Kiyomi Burgin.

My hands are aching this evening because I spent all day knitting the first of these mittens for C. I love the pattern, I love the look of the colour work and how it is turning out ... But I hate doing the colour work.

Stripes, I'm fine with. Stranded is okay too, once I get my head around how messy those strands at the back look. Intarsia ... Kill me. I watched about five Youtube tutorials and most of them spend around five minutes explaining the whole history and mathematics behind it, which was, frankly, boring. I fast forwarded (my first mistake?). In addition, I could not find a single tutorial that dealt with a complex shape like the Najavo star. This made it difficult to apply the same techniques. From the right side of them you can't really tell I was struggling. On the wrong side ... Well. You'll never see photos of the wrong side, that's for sure!

I'll try again when I'm not knitting on a deadline. These have got to be done by our flight to NZ on Sunday!

My friend wearing her birthday present yesterday. She loves it as much as I do.

Braided by Jen Geigley (Second attempt)

It's really tragic but this headband is actually for a friend. It's her birthday on Saturday.

I used 14ply Patons Inca yarn. This yarn has been a consistent favourite of mine. The bled of 50% wool, 30% acrylic, 20% alpaca makes it so, so soft.

I couldn't imagine using the 10mm needles the pattern called for. Instead, I opted for 9mm. I think the size came out just perfect. I had no need to repeat the cable pattern more than the prescribed 4 times.

One thing I didn't like about this pattern, however, was the button joint at the end. All of my recent projects have been knit in the round and that seamless look is so professional. So I attempted to create it with a provisional cast on and a kitchener stitch. I may write about this in more depth later, but suffice to say, I need more practise. I think after several tries I have it looking good enough to present to a close friend, but it certainly isn't perfect.

Despite its flaws, I LOVE this headband. LOVE. IT. I don't want to give it away!

Spoiler alert. I actually finished my first Braided headband last night. It only took about an hour and a half. Though it may have been even quicker if it hadn't been for the wine. 

This (free) pattern would make a really great introduction to cables for anyone who hasn't tried them before. I knitted it up with 8ply and 7mm needles (rather than the 12+ply and 10mm they suggest) and so had to repeat the cable pattern a couple more times to make it fit my (abnormally large) head. For the purpose of wearing it as an actual headband, however, the smaller size may actually be more practical as it fits neatly underneath my hair at the back.

Headband Roundup

As the university semester draws to a close and my New Zealand ski holiday comes ever closer, I'm left with only a few free days to knit up some extra cosy accessories for myself.

So I have turned to headbands. They're cute, functional and quick to make. Here are my favourites (I plan to make as many as I can before I leave).

Braided by Jen Geigley (K) (Free)

Parisian twist by Elisa McLaughlin (K)

Headwrap by Rachel Oglesby (C) (Free)

Turban(d) by Amelie Bernier (K) (Free)

Bea by Andi Satterlund (K)

And last, but most definitely not least,

The Lady Lindy Headband by Kristen Jancuk (K)

Frankie Magazine just posted a fantastic list of knitting paraphernalia and I suggest you check it out.

I want everything.

What is currently on your needles?

The Moko-Moko cowl.