Knitted Advent Garland

Several years ago, there were several knit bloggers creating knitted advents for their families. It was such a cute idea, and each year I've imagined that maybe I'd be able to squeeze the time in to knit one of my own...and then before I know it, December has started, and there is no time. This year, I finally realized that I will never "find" the time; instead, time has to be made. I started this advent garland in the beginning of November, and it took me about two weeks. 17 socks, 4 pairs of mittens, 4 hats.





The children helped me clip them up to our "clothesline" wire over the dinner table, and it was so gratifying to see them all lined up at last.





I secured a fabric yo-yo to the tacks at each end with a few stitches; I like the effect.





With something like this, it's kind of all about the little touches; the details.





The mittens:





The hats (Noro Kureyon Sock -- I used two colorways, and you can see the progression from bottom to top, as the yarn changes through each of the two hats):





I love the touch of whimsy that it gives to the dining corner of the kitchen.





One of the most fun things about the project was getting to knit through so many different kinds of yarn in short succession. I could finish up to 4 socks in a day, but even if I just completed one, I still got that small thrill of a finished project each time I closed up a toe. I was able to compare different kinds of sock yarn side-by-side; it was so interesting to me to note the differences. It was fun, as I worked up each tiny item, to remember what the sock yarn had been for -- all of the socks I've knit for my mom, for myself, the children, one pair for a friend who was moving away (MA), some fingerless gloves for a cousin (Sara). It pulled up so many memories of the moments I've knit into socks (or other things) through the years.

If you've been wanting to do an advent calendar or garland too, but just don't have to the time to knit 25 items before tomorrow (!!!), you can check out these (non-knitted) ideas on Whip-Up: 30 of the best advent calendars. I love this one: Matchbox Countdown. Also inspiring: 30 of the best holiday buntings and garlands. I want to make a few of these for our celebration of the New Year!