A couple of years ago, I made Christmas gifts for my family in England.  They went over so well that I've decided to do the same thing again this year.

For my mum: I've knitted her a cabled scarf using a vintage pattern.  I've also made her a pair of earrings and a matching pendant using some gorgeous turquoise crackled-glass beads.  The kids have made her Christmas angels to hang on her tree.

For my brother: I hand knit a beanie in his favorite soccer team's colors (Manchester United; red, black and white) using 100% Merino wool and am also making him a scarf to match.

For my sister-in-law: I knitted a neck warmer using a periwinkle blue cashmere blend yarn.  The warmer is fastened with a button that's disguised as a flower-center; the flower itself is also knitted.  It's absolutely gorgeous and I'm going to make myself one using the same yarn as soon as I can! 

For my niece: I knitted her a lace choker using black cotton crochet thread and an antique (1891 is the date on the book I got the pattern from) lace pattern called 'Elsie' - which just happens to be my mum's name.  The bottom of the lace has a pointy edge, so I'v attached some tiny black pearlescent glass beads to each point, and I've also made some earrings to match.

For my nephew: I'm knitting him a beanie in his team colors (Arsenal - red and white) and I'm also making him a bracelet using some hemp yarn and little skull beads carved from yak bone that came from Tibet (I ordered them over the internet and it took a month for them to get here - that plus the customs declaration that was on the package makes me pretty sure that they really DID originate in Tibet!).

For my Aunt, who has rheumatoid arthritis: a pair of fingerless mittens.  Her hands are so deformed by her disease (mum said that her finger joints are literally at right angles from each other now) that she can't get gloves that a) fit and are comfortable.  So, I figured that fingerless mittens might provide her with SOME warm coverings for her hands.  I'm casting those on tomorrow in a soft green merino blend, and I should have them completed by Sunday.

I've been planning these gifts since June, so I'd already chosen something to make for my dad.  Were he still with us, I'd have made him some convertible gloves with a hat and a scarf to match so that he could stay warm when he was out and about on his scooter.  I was planning to use a charcoal grey merino wool and use a vintage cable pattern on the backs of the gloves and the hat. 

Christmas is going to be a little more difficult for me this year.  It's my first Christmas without him.....it's ALL of our first Christmas without him. 

I miss my dad.