Colorworked Balsam Ornaments

These small sachets can be knit up quick and they make cute ornaments. You can combine the patterns any way you want, and it’s a great way to play with color work for the first time.



You will need:
- two balls of DK weight wool or alpaca yarn in contrasting colors* -- we used Reynolds Whiskey, and especially recommend something tweedy
- one pair US Size 3 needles
- a yarn needle
- about 1 tablespoon of balsam fir needles for each sachet (you can also use plain polyacrylic stuffing)
- bits of scrap cloth (white muslin is inexpensive and works well)
sewing needle and thread
four straight pins
- our pattern! Buy Now

*You will need at least two colors for this project, but you can use more if you want to work up a more genuine fair isle pattern or for the more complex three color patterns.

Five Easy + Inexpensive Handmade Gifts

1. Custom Recipe Book.

You will need:

- 15 recipes (check Williams-Sonoma and Martha Stewart for ideas)

- A package of sheet protectors

- A 1" View Binder

- Paper

Compile your recipes, print or write them out, slide the pages into the sheet protectors, and arrange in the binder. Use the view pockets in the binder to make a cover.

2. Amigurumi Animal.

You will need:

- Yarn, in a few different colors

- A crochet hook

- Buttons for eyes/noses

- Stuffing

Amigurumi animals are not too hard to make, even if you've never crocheted before. You only need to know how to chain and single crochet. Here's a free pattern in English for a simple penguin, and a free Japanese visual pattern for a forest rhinoceros beetle. The Japanese visual patterns tend to be easier for me than the written-out English ones, and I don't read a word of Japanese.

3. A Simple Fabric Scarf.

You will need:

- 2.5 yards of fabric

- 1 yard of fringe

- Thread

- Scissors

- The free "Cozy Scarf" pattern available on Amy Butler's website.

4. Stuffed and Decorated Candy Boxes.

You will need:

- Ingredients for your recipes + a kitchen

- A candy thermometer (very important for candy making!)

- Wax paper

- Small paper muffin liners

- Blank round candy tins

- Paint pens

Cut wax paper into circles and line the bottom of your tins with it. You may also wish to line the sides with a strip. Fill with muffin liners and put candy in each liner. Stuck for ideas? Try these: Chocolate Fudge, Peanut Butter Cups, Peppermint Sticks, or Golden Caramels.

The nice thing about candies like caramel and peppermint sticks is that the ingredients are inexpensive, being almost 90% refined sugar. Give them to all your relatives kids, then run and hide behind a rock.

5. Knit Hat

You will need:

- 1 ball of yarn

- 1 set size 9 double pointed knitting needles

- 1 US Size G crochet hook

- This pattern

This is an easy pattern for a beginning knitter. It's a pattern of knits and purls, very simple. And, unless you're making it for someone with a huge head, you probably only need one ball of yarn. The two best things about knit hats? They take a fifth the time of scarves, and they let you get comfortable with knitting in the round, which is essential for socks and handwarmers.

Happy crafting!