14.11.2020

Christmas is coming soon {Saturday Coffee & Net Talk}

Saturday Coffee Sophia

I am the absolute Christmas person. When I recently revealed on Instagram that Michael Bublé's corresponding album was already playing in the background, there were some startled reactions. Isn't it too early for that? No. Corona messes everything up, and that includes Advent and Christmas. So I'm just extending those and bringing them forward a bit. And don't worry, the Christ Child will still come on Christmas Eve 😉 But you'll have to go through it with me today. So welcome to a very Christmassy Saturday coffee with lots of ideas what you can knit and give away now. But all without pressure. In a pinch just next year, you know. At the moment I'm like a famous construction crew from children's TV ("Can we do it?" "Jo, we can do it!").

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For the right mood: The Christmas album by Michael Bublé

The basic prerequisite for this Saturday coffee with gingerbread syrup, however, is first of all the same mood. So be sure to turn on the playlist above! Optionally, you may also stock up with cookies and a coffee or tee. Feel free to bring a bigger cup, too, because the list has gotten very, very long. And at the end there will be a little announcement. A little foretaste at this point: It's about our new layout.

Christmas in view

Kitschy? Not at all!
Photo: © Knitting for Sif

This year I'm finally making it happen: there are Christmas cards with a photo of us. For the ultimate Christmas feeling with appropriate headdress. My husband has wished for a reindeer sweater, but time is not in it. But such a pretty Secret Santa hat is!

The pattern are also available in German, depending on the size you need two to three balls of Como from LAMANA or Alpaca Soft DK from Rowan. For all those who are dependent on machine washing - should happen with children - we can recommend the Merino 120 from Lang Yarns. The color selection is huge. By the way, the Nissehue is knitted from the bottom up and is crowned by a small tassel.

To the tutorial "Nifs Christmas Hat
About the yarn Como from LAMANA
About the yarn Alpaca Soft DK from Rowan
About the yarn Merino 120 from Lang Yarns

Warm for head and hands

When it comes to knitted Christmas gifts, of course, they are indispensable: hats, headbands, gloves and gauntlets. We have for men, women, children. So for all you want to knit.

Of course, Paula-m must not be missing on the designer page. You are guaranteed to find what you are looking for. For example, her book "Knitting Headbands" contains 20 different designs. But also the individual pattern, which are available via Ravelry and Etsy, are very worthwhile.

About the book "Knitting headbands

For you I have chosen here (from top left, clockwise) the Lasse Hat (with Merino 120 from Lang Yarns), the headband Ava Double (as an alternative to the original we would recommend here Bergamo from LAMANA), the Leo Hat (also from Bergamo) and the headband Klara (double Kidsilk Haze from Rowan).

To the pattern "Lasse Hat
About the yarn Merino 120 from Lang Yarns

To the "Ava Double" tutorial
About the yarn Bergamo from LAMANA

To the knitting kit "Leo cap

To the tutorial "Headband Klara
About the yarn Kidsilk Haze from Rowan

Cap designs - of course also from Denmark!

Reliable beanie suppliers: our Scandinavian designersPhotos
: © My Favourite Things / © PetiteKnit / © Mille Fryd Knitwear / © Nina Ruth

You'll also find what you're looking for at our favorite Scandinavian designers My Favorite Things Knitwear, PetiteKnit, Mille Fryd Knitwear and Nina Ruth. Many of the designs you can also easily put on men's heads. From left to right and top to bottom here are the following designs for your inspiration:

Beret no. 1 by My Favorite Things Knitwear (Our yarn suggestion: Cashmere 6/28 by Pascuali), Albert's Pilot Hat by PetiteKnit (double held with Sunday by SANDNES), the headband Dahlia by Mille Fryd (knitted from Carpe Diem by Lang Yarns), Baggy Hat by PetiteKnit (Sunday and Tynn Silk Mohair, also worn by teenage boys), Oslo Hat, also by PetiteKnit and meanwhile a real classic (without mohair, just knitted with the merino yarn Sunday double held) and finally the strinband Chunky Twist by Nina Ruth (you can knit it for example with Cashmere Classic or Carpe Diem by Lang Yarns).

Phew. The list almost made me dizzy. Therefore, here again in all peace and detail:

To the pattern "Beret No. 1
About the yarn Sunday from SANDNES
About the yarn Tynn Silk Mohair from SANDNES

To the tutorial "Albert's Pilot Hat

To the tutorial "Headband Dahlia
About the yarn Carpe Diem from Lang Yarns

To the tutorial "Baggy Hat

To the tutorial "The Oslo Hat

To the tutorial headband "Chunky Twist
About the yarn Cashmere Classic from Lang Yarns

As always, if you have any questions about the amount of yarn or yarn alternatives, feel free to email us at "support@maschenfein.de".

I discovered something great at Nina Ruth's site: She recently published a collection of ten pattern, all of which are variations of her Twist headband. One yarn alternative is Sunday and Tynn Silk Mohair by SANDNES (stitch test is mandatory, of course!). How about: Headbands for everyone this year?

To the collecinstructionsttern "Ten x Twist

Ever knitted LAMANA?

Great qualities and beautiful designs are also available at LAMANAPhotos
: © LAMANA

I'll tell you something at this point: One of my favorite yarn manufacturers from our store is LAMANA. Maybe it's because I knitted one of my first maschenfein shawls from Como. Or because the individual yarns are just great quality AND have a beautiful, diverse color palette.

Also always nice are the booklets from LAMANA, in which you can also find hat designs. These for example, to which I link you directly the matching knitting kits (from top left clockwise).

To the knitting kit "Cap 01 - MEN" (from Milano)
Add to kit "Cap #0709" (from Bergamo)
Add to kit "Cap #06/11" (from Bergamo)
To the knitting kit "Cap 07 - MEN" (from Como Tweed and Modena)

Of course, the LAMANA booklets are also such a great gift. Maybe with the matching wool? And psssst! Soon there will be a new issue!

To all LAMANA issues

Cozy for the neck

Do you want a scarf? Yes, please. Left: Loop Maia, right: slip scarf RonjaPhotos
: © EMF/Steinkopf Media, Lisa Steinkopf

Even though my love for scarves always comes through, I have recently discovered loops for myself. A few weeks ago I have you in the Samstagskaffee already once designs for adults presented (please once here along). Especially for Christmas gifts, but also designs for children are suitable. I always come back to our book "Småland - Scandinavian knitting" during the research. How would it be, for example, to give a loop together with the book to the perhaps knitting mother (or father!)? In it there are many other great pattern, for example, the hat and gloves Edla.

To the book "Småland - Scandinavian knitting
To the knitting kit "Loop Maia
To the knitting kit "Scarf Ronja

Fact: Bags make you happy

Let's face it: bags make you happy!
Photos: © nuxknit design / © Susanne Müller / © Maschenfein /EMF Verlag

My closet says it clearly: bags make happy! And even the small ones. For example, the many small designs from nuxknit design. For you I have chosen Chestnut 2.0 (bottom left), knitted from Tove by SANDNES. I highly recommend you to check out her Ravelry account - there are so many great things there! For example, the tablet case Cashew on the top left. Unfortunately it's only available in Danish, but in such cases I trust my intuition and the Google Translator.

What I also find super: knit the famous Edda Bag (top right) of Paula-m and fill it with delicious fruit. Beautiful and practical! And definitely lower in calories than all the Christmas treats. And if you have our basic book "Stitch by Stitch" or are thinking about buying it, you'll find pattern for a cute little bag in herringbone pattern. It's also a great place to stash cosmetics you'd like to give as gifts.

To the pattern tablet sleeve "Cashew
To the pattern bag "Chestnut 2.0
About the yarn Tove from SANDNES

To the knitting kit "Edda Bag
To the knitting kit "Little bag in herringbone pattern

Beautiful and practical for the home

Always welcome: Useful (or beautiful) odds and ends for the homePhotos
: © DUCATHI / © Sarah Schira / © Schachenmayr / © LondonLeo

In our family, we decided a few years ago not to give anything big anymore. Instead, we prefer something small and practical. Or even homemade. That suits us knitters just fine - after all, we can combine everything.

Especially at Christmas, but basically always needed, are in kitchens yes potholders. Already often knitted are the Bakers Twine of Ducathi (top left), which you knit double thread from a cotton yarn. You can use Catania from Schachenmayr or Summerlite DK from Rowan.

Secret Santa or hot water bottle?

And whoever cooks unfortunately also has to do the dishes, at least some of them. But with home-knitted dishcloths, that's only half as bad. Tanja Steinbach has designed a model for Schachenmayer (below left) and you can knit it with the Baby Smiles Cotton and make yourself or others a joy.

I'm a teensy bit in love with the two pixies at the top right of the picture. In our group chat I revealed the other day that I'm no longer really objective when it comes to Christmas. This is also reflected in my decoration. And little pixies definitely belong in my decorating fundus. You can send these here for example from the Merino 200 Bebe. The color palette gives beautiful Christmas pixies here.

And what goes better with cozy holidays than sitting on the sofa with a hot water bottle? Give away there but a beautiful cover. For example, the model below right from LondonLeo. Here we have thought about the yarn alternative a bit, because the hot water bottle should be a bit cozy! Sandra finally had the idea: Alpaca Fino from Pascuali or Bergamo from LAMANA are definitely soft and fit tighter knitted also to the gauge.

To the tutorial potholder "Bakers Twine
About the yarn Catania from Schachenmayr
About the yarn Summerlite DK from Rowan

To the pattern "S10214 dishcloth
About the yarn Baby Smiles Cotton from Schachenmayr

To the "Gnome Pun Intended" tutorial
About the yarn Merino 200 Bebe

To the pattern hot water bottle "All You Need - A Classic
About the yarn Alpaca Fino from Pascuali
About the yarn Bergamo from LAMANA

Trifles for children

Kids are quick to knitPhotos
: © SANDNES / © © EMF/Steinkopf Media, Lisa Steinkopf / © LAMANA / © PetiteKnit

What of course also always goes well: knitted items for children. Here I would even bring clothes into play, because smaller sizes. Marisa, for example, has fallen in love with the ballerina skirt, top left in the picture from SANDNES. The big daughter unfortunately doesn't want to wear it (kids!), but the youngest maybe? In any case, there shall be another try soon. The skirt is knitted from Mini Alpakka and the corresponding booklet is currently available at a special price, because it is no longer reprinted.

The sweater, excuse me, slipover on the bottom right is from PetiteKnit - and made from one of their favorite yarn combinations: Sunday and Tynn Silk Mohair from SANDNES. If you're looking for alternatives for mohair, feel free to drop us a line. I have combined Sunday with Piura from LAMANA. The knitting is not quite as fast as with mohair (at least in my perception), but I still like the result very much. Maybe this is also something for you?

And finally, I picked out the cute cozy animals. Bosse on the top right was penned by Sandra Groll, the little bear (or dog?) is by LAMANA and crocheted. Either way, they are a nice little something for "under the Christmas tree".

To the knitting kit "Ballerina skirt

To the knitting kit "Stockholm Slipover Mini
About the yarn Piura from LAMANA

To the knitting kit "Cozy monster Bosse

To the crochet kit "LAMANA cozy toy

One more goes

Hand or foot, what will it be?
Photos: © Susanne Müller / © PetiteKnit / © Inis Grabner/Maschenfein

Is your head spinning yet? I am a little bit. But I'll stop in a minute, I promise! But we can't neglect the hands and feet, can we?

A glint in the eye

Paula-m, for example, has published the Basic Mittens a few weeks ago, great mittens for everyday use. In the Ravelry description Susanne lists many yarn alternatives, of which we also have some in the store.

The Ruffle Socks from PetiteKnit I imagine quite magical to the Christmas outfit. Yes, well, you might ask who you should dress up for this year. I'll tell you: For us! For the socks you can take great the crown yarns from Regia.

I also already have two balls of our really great cashmere yarn Cashmere 6/28 from Pascuali in my basket. From this will be the gauntlets Elsa and it will be very hard for me to give them away. But they are just a beautiful gift!

To the "Basic Mittens" tutorial

To the tutorial "Ruffle Socks
To the crown yarns

To the knitting kit "Hand gauntlets Elsa

In the next few weeks we will continue!

Of course, there is much, much more that you can knit and give away. In our stories we will certainly show something from time to time. In the next few weeks I will also tell you what you can give away from the accessories section or put on your own wish list. And of course you can also buy vouchers in the store and give them to a knitter. That always goes down well!

And if you want to start knitting right now, I have something nice for you! Yesterday Marisa and I recorded a fresh episode for our podcast "On the needles". In it, I talk about what I was up to before Maschenfein and how I ended up here in the first place. We had a lot of fun recording and not only because Marisa is still in the middle of homeschooling!

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And now: drum roll!

Despite all the unpredictability, we are still working diligently on our new layout. And at the very beginning of this Saturday Coffee I hinted at it: We have made a big step forward! In our stories on Instagram you can already get a taste of what's to come. And next week, we're finally going to unveil our new logo. Where? In the newsletter! Because the newsletter will also appear in a fresh new look and is looking forward to being read by you again. If you haven't subscribed to us yet, please scroll down to the bottom of the maschenfein.com homepage. There you will find a field where you can enter your address. We are looking forward to seeing you!

But for now, I wish you a wonderful weekend, with lots of knitting and planning time for your Christmas presents. But don't forget: Don't stress. For my part, I only do what I can manage. This year in particular, we really don't need the extra pressure. Instead, there is one more cookie. Make yourselves comfortable and stay healthy!

Sophia

About Sophia

I'm Sophia, live in Hannover and since October 2020 I've been taking care of the blog posts, the newsletter, planning the podcast and coming up with actions for social media. By the way, I also happen to be a knitting addict, which benefits me at work.

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