Knotty Christmas Party Highlights

Our second annual Knotty Christmas Party was a success! Again, Aunt Edith graciously hosted our gathering, how beautiful her home was decorated! I forgot to bring my camera along but Mom had hers handy so we were able to snap a few photos to share. 

We spent a few hours just chatting and working on projects. Aunt Edith's new dog Rosy wasn't too keen on that idea and Aimee and I found Rosy wiggling her way into our laps on several occasions, what sweet pup she is! 

We opened our exchange gifts after a vote from Aunt Edith and Lisa's daughter suggesting that presents should be first! 

I think most of us admitted that we had either finished up our projects last night, or even this morning! I know I was guilty of finishing the doily I made mom last night when I remembered that I hadn't yet threaded the ribbon around the outside edge or wrapped it! talk about last minute gifts! 

It was so fun to see what everyone came up with! Aunt Edith made Aimee a gorgeous set of throw pillows! they had pretty flowers in browns and creams on all four sides and a wide lace trim. Gorgeous! I made a nightstand doily for Mom and added a quilt block pattern with a few squares to get started. Amanda received a beautiful winter set from Mom that included a pair of mittens, a crochet hat and a too cute scarf with an adorable penguin! Lisa received a very pretty crochet scarf in greens. She missed the name drawing so we were so happy that Mom made her something special too :) And we we are glad to have you as the newest group member Lisa! Aimee made Aunt Edith a fab pair of knitted slippers -- not just any slippers but Sneaker Slippers! they are pretty cool and we all loved the speckled black yarn.

Amanda drew my name and I LOVE love LOVE the gift she made me! A BIG chicken hot pad and two awesome Rooster pot holders! They are so pretty and just perfect because I was looking at fabric the other day to make stool cushions that will match! WooHoo!

Doesn't it look great on our new table! 

After gifts, I think that I can safely say, we feasted! Everyone brought a little something and between the hot chocolates, tea, coffee, sandwiches, assorted breads, fruit, pickles, fudge and dump cake -- we left feeling quite satisfied! We're taking a short break to recover from Christmas and New Years and will return to meetings on January 19th. We're all excited to hear from Amanda how her son Michael's graduation goes. She'll be headed down to Parris Island for his Marine Corps Graduation!! Go Mike, we're all so proud of you!

Looking forward to another year of Knotty fun with all of you girls :)

Henrietta<3

Christmas Gift ! The History of "Apron"

I received a really darling bib style apron from Edith, my sister-in-law, at our Christmas Party! In the pocket I also found a matching pot holder and a poem about the history of aprons. My daughter, posted all the photo's & fun we all had.. and ask me to post the poem that was in my apron. So here goes....

The History of "Aprons" 
.

I don't think our kids know what an apron is. The principal use of Grandma's apron wast to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children tears,and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken coop the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks,and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold Grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many of perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood where brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folks knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner. It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace the "old-time apron" that served so many purposes.

REMEMBER: Grandma used to set her home baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron. I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron- but love...

I really do enjoy reading this, it brought so many memories of my childhood growing up with my grandmother's & how they used their aprons. I remember apple peeling that my grandmother would give me while we where waiting for a pie to bake. And so many tears wiped from my eyes when some one would hurt my feelings. I will wear this lovely  apron that Edith made me with pride of knowing that I will be there for my grand-children in the same way when needed. God Bless the hands of a seamstress for there is joy to be had by many! Thank-you, so very much Edith. May God Bless..love you, Bea.

The Knotty Christmas Party

Well the holidays are over but not forgotten! Our first Knotty Christmas turned out to be just what we needed to unwind right before the Christmas festivities! Our hostess Edith's home was merry with Christmas decorations and cheer as we enjoyed each other's company. For the month or so before the party everyone had been fervently working on their Secret Santa Gift. With little hints and gentle inquiries, everyone was getting very excited to see who had made them what!

We piled our gifts under Edith's beautiful tree. Then tortured ourselves by crocheting, knitting, and chatting for an hour! We also enjoyed a delicious luncheon of a deli tray, croissants that Leann shared, cookies and homemade pie that Edith shared, and hot coffee, tea and peppermint hot chocolate that was so good. After that we were finally ready to share our gifts with each other!

At our Thanksgiving meeting we had written our names on slips of paper and everyone had drawn one out of a basket. That is who we made a gift for.

First up to open her gift was Bea. She received a really darling bib style apron from Edith. In the pocket she also found a matching pot holder and a poem about the history of aprons. I will have to remember to ask Bea to post the poem, it is truly heartwarming. I think she loved her gift because she wore it the entire meeting, lol!

Next Up Leann opened her gift. It was a gorgeous knitted scarf. Leann guessed it was from either Edith or Aimee since they are the only two who knit. Aimee had knitted the scarf in a pretty pastel variegated yarn. It is a nice width and has such a pretty delicate look to it that I'm sure Leann will find many uses for it!

The gift with Amanda's name was the biggest one, we were all itching to know what was inside! Amanda had a tough time getting the box open (tape!) What an adorable pillow! Bea used cute kitten fabric to make this super cute bolster pillow for this kitty lover! The pretty red ruffle and checkered trim made it really pop. She was in love :)

Finally! It was my turn! Right off the bat I knew I'd like whatever it was because my gift was wrapped with a rooster kitchen towel. What was inside was even better though! Leann had crocheted me a set of simply sweet and crazy cute kitchen accessories! She had made a pretty doily, a big chickie potholder, and a peepin' cute tea cozy, which I promptly decided could also be worn as a hat :) Love them!

Now it was Aimee's turn, eek I was nervous! She liked it! So it was safe to tell her that I had made her the sturdy green project bag. The front has a filet crochet monogram with an accent four leaf clover. The special touch though was the surprise inside - pretty sparkly purple and black cat material! Aimee is a kitty lover too, she started using the bag that day :)

Poor Aunt Edith had to wait until the very last, we should have let her go first since it was her home! What were we thinking? Aunt Edith was delighted with her gifts from Amanda. She had made Edith a pretty pastel and flowery mini bag that's perfect to take along small projects. Edith also loved the crochet shell stitch trivets, they match her victorian / cottage style home just so.

Our Christmas party was such a fun time. it was so wonderful to see what everyone had come up with for their friend, and nice to laugh, giggle, and be silly with each other. I truly hope that we carry this tradition  on and do a similar gift exchange next year! Get those thinking caps on ladies! 

In other news, we all decided to continue with making more baby items for the local hospital. Honestly baby things are one of my favorite things to crochet, they are quick, simple and you can be creative about the styles and trims used to spruce them up. Plus I just love imagining all those sweet little ones being bundled in our creations! Remember ladies if you find, or know of, any patterns you would like to share or add to our pattern list we'd all love some ideas! I'd love to see a few posts with pictures any of you had taken from the party too!