Three Snowmen Knitting...

Since I learned to knit this year, I thought it fitting to make an knitting-themed ornament.  While browsing on Pinterest I spotted an owl knitting.  Which made me wonder "do owls knit?"  And if they do could snowmen also knit?  I rummaged through my bag of scraps, grabbing this and that, and ideas started to take shape.  While this is not a step-by-step tutorial, it's probably all you need to create one for yourself using your favorite hobby as a theme.   Snowmen baking?  Playing tennis?  The possibilities are endless.   It's amazing what you can make with odds and ends.

First, here are a few things that I found to work with:

• Scraps of old sweaters, cut up and felted
• Stuffing
• Tiny buttons
• Wool roving and felting needle
• Yarn
• Wooden skewers (the kind you use in cooking)

I started with a basic form. With right sides together, I sewed three sides on the sewing machine and turned. It looks like nothing at this point.

 

I sewed the top closed, added a ribbon for the scarf and poof--suddenly we have a snowman

 

 

This wool roving is used in the next step.



I sewed on two tiny buttons for eyes.  For the arms, I cut three long pieces of yarn, and, using a tapestry needle, threaded them through separately.  Later I braided the three pieces so they could never be accidentally pulled though.

 



Wool needle felting may look hard but it's really easy.  For this hat I just placed some wool roving on the hat and started felting with a needle. It doesn't take long for the wool to become thick, take shape, and adhere to the wool body.  This little snowman was very happy with her Santa hat.  I used a tad of orange for her carrot nose.

 

Lastly I knitted these small items (I like to think one snowman is knitting a sweater and another is making a scarf).  When I found a good stopping point, I gently removed the actual knitting needles and inserted the wooden skewers (I had cut them to a proper knitting needle length).  I tied the snowman hands to the ends of the needles.   Using the same green yarn, I tacked the knitting project to the front of the snowman (on the back of the knitting so that it doesn't show) to keep it all in place.  It would be embarrassing for them to drop the projects that they have worked so hard on.

Let me know if you make any ornaments this year. I would love to see them!  As for these guys, they are going home with my knitting group members.   I hope they like them!  I will miss their little faces--guess I will have to make more.  Happy crafting!