Gransnet forums

Arts & crafts

Anyone else making things for Christmas fairs?

(169 Posts)
Witzend Sat 22-Sept-18 19:35:27

And if so, what? I've promised to make some little things for Gdd's preschool Christmas fair. Since I'm also making the time consuming crib set, it'll probably just be some mini snowmen/Father Christmas tree ornaments out of the Jean Greenhowe book.
However I'm open to suggestions for anything else relatively quick and easy to make - which is likely to sell well. (Apart from mince pies!)

Antonia Wed 31-Oct-18 12:24:44

I will be doing my first craft fair on Saturday. I don't know if it's allowed on here to name the venue?

Billybob4491 Tue 30-Oct-18 13:46:53

If you have a picture of mermaid when completed would like to see it, I very often pick/unpick knitting, occupational hazard.

Witzend Tue 30-Oct-18 09:08:29

Thank you, BB, Mrs Mopitup looks lovely. I hope your stocking is going well.
Have done most of mermaid, but realised last night that the main hair piece doesn't look right - because I missed out the first (different) row! Had already sewn it on, now have to unpick and re do. Memo to self, make sure you read instructions properly!
Won't make that mistake with mer-boy, next.

Billybob4491 Mon 29-Oct-18 15:18:02

Witzend - the cleaning lady that I knitted recently can be found in Jean Greenhowes Little Dumplings book, she is called Mrs Mopitup, great fun to do.

Witzend Sat 27-Oct-18 23:53:41

Brilliant idea, Granny23, thank you! Shall scour my wardrobe tomorrow.

Granny23 Sat 27-Oct-18 13:10:12

witzend I acquire my short lengths of ribbon by cutting them out of all the garments that have them at the waist or shoulder to keep them on the hanger. They never work well anyway.

Witzend Sat 27-Oct-18 09:44:41

So hard to find really thin proper ribbon for hanging all my items on my twig tree. Found red in John Lewis (nowhere else for haberdashery locally) which is fine for elves and snowmen, but no white or silver, which I'd prefer for fairies/angels.
Might have to resort to twisted cords, which I've never tried before - looks like a bit of a faff!

Engage Fri 26-Oct-18 09:16:53

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Engage Fri 26-Oct-18 09:16:41

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Engage Fri 26-Oct-18 09:16:24

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Billybob4491 Wed 24-Oct-18 08:24:07

Yet to tackle the Mermaid, we are currently into Rapunzel at the moment.

Billybob4491 Wed 24-Oct-18 08:23:37

Witzend, the book currently using is Jean Greenhowes Christmas Special, it has three long stockings and one small baby stocking, am doing the smaller one and then I hang it on the front door on Christmas day for when by gdtr arrives, she thinks its from Santa! What you could knit for the lad is a crab on a shell to go with the mermaid, little boys seem to like them.

Jalima1108 Tue 23-Oct-18 22:51:46

2 weeks
hmm I think I'm just very slow

I won't be selling mine ethel, it is for home consumption only. smile

etheltbags1 Tue 23-Oct-18 21:41:52

I love all these ideas but I'm not good enough to make anything to sell

Witzend Tue 23-Oct-18 19:17:09

I'm sure your friend was very pleased, BB!
What pattern are you using for the stocking? I've been looking for one that's not too complicated - not that I think I'll get around to it this year.

I'm also thinking of adapting the mermaid pattern and knitting a merboy (merlad?) for Gds (2) - they're only 15 months apart and he always wants whatever Gdd has! Shorter hair in a different colour, and maybe light green for the fish tail instead of the blue. We shall see - I only sent for the pattern today.
I have stacks of yarn in so many colours to use up - had to order so much for the Nativity set.

Billybob4491 Tue 23-Oct-18 17:48:33

Well it took me about 2 weeks, it was a Christmas present for my friend, but I couldn't wait that long, she has received it already! Yes your Gdd would love the Mermaid. I have also knitted the Cleaning lady, in fact did about 5 in total! great fun to do. Next project is a Christmas stocking for my Gdd who is 4. Also knitted the Lady Artist, that was a bit trickier I couldn't get the painting and easel quite right, not one of my better efforts!

Witzend Tue 23-Oct-18 09:40:02

PS - have just been browsing the JG website and found something else I'll probably be making before Christmas - Mirabelle the Mermaid. Gdd (3) was apparently dictating a letter to Father Christmas the other day (Dear Father Christmas, I love you...) and apart from a few other things, inc. 'a real baby, boy or girl' (!) there was a mermaid. Better get cracking....

Witzend Tue 23-Oct-18 08:57:37

That is fantastic, BillyBob! How long did that take you? I do love the dog playing with the ball of wool!
I have managed to save the image and post it here for others to see, too.

I see from the website that Jean G is retiring at 83. What a talented lady!

Billybob4491 Tue 23-Oct-18 06:42:11

Witzend, tried to post photo on yesterday unsuccessfully. If you go into Google type in Jean Greenhowe Designs, all her knitting books will be shown on the screen. Find the Little Dumpling Dolls and there you will find Winnie in the Woolshop. Let me know how you get on.

Witzend Mon 22-Oct-18 18:11:01

I don't have that JG book, Billybob, so do please post a pic of your Winnie's Wool Shop here!

Billybob4491 Mon 22-Oct-18 17:03:38

Thank you Witzend, I have sprayed a twig white and display my fairies on it. Just finished a work of art! In JG Dumpling Dollies I have just completed knitting Winnie in the Wool Shop, very challenging, this is for a fellow knitting friend. If you get the chance take a look at it, I am very pleased with the result (blowing my own trumpet again)!

Witzend Mon 22-Oct-18 15:17:25

Billybob, I really have to admire you for making twenty of the JG fairies! I am making the snowmen and elves too - they all look very jolly - but what a fiddle all the little bits are to sew up! The arms in particular, so tiny you have to stuff with tweezers. I think I'm going to stop at a dozen in all.
I found a nice big twig 'tree' in the park - I hope it will look as nice as I imagine once I've sprayed it white and hung them all on it.

Witzend Sun 14-Oct-18 23:04:42

Thanks, Jalima - will look in Wilko's. Otherwise it's just John Lewis for wool locally.

Jalima1108 Sun 14-Oct-18 22:58:30

If you know anywhere that does Stylecraft yarns, they are very reasonable indeed and would be fine for 'hair' - they do a dark brown which I am going to use for hair and beards.
Also Wilko's is selling off yarn at the moment - I got some acrylic/wool mix for 75p a ball and have made Joseph a stripey cloak just to be a bit different.

lemongrove Sun 14-Oct-18 22:03:35

I love the little Christmas peg dolls, very clever.

I think the reported posts are simply advertising ones.