Black Friday & Cyber Monday sale

To help out with those last minute holiday and christmas gifts, I am having a Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale over at my Etsy store! To receive 20% discount off any purchase, simply enter the code HOLIDAY2013 at the Etsy checkout.

No need to worry if you don't have a PayPal account - Etsy will let you pay as a visitor using your debit or credit card through PayPal. You can also pay by bank deposit if you have a New Zealand bank account.

I will be shipping any purchases made over the weekend first thing on Monday morning. Each comes wrapped in recyclable brown paper, but it can be gift wrapped in pretty christmas paper if you would prefer (just let me know in the notes to seller form when you purchase anything).

I am super busy with custom orders at the moment, but could possibly squeeze in a couple more in the next couple of weeks if you want something specially made. Either email me or contact me on Etsy and I will see what I can do.

Happy holidays!

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Honey Cowl (modified from Ravelry)

One of my all time favourite cowl patterns to knit (and wear) is the Honey Cowl from Madelinetosh.  It is a free knitting pattern, so no excuses for not making one for yourself if you can knit.

Making one for myself at the start of each winter might have to become a new annual ritual. I thrashed the one I made this last winter. Although there is plenty of life left in it yet, I would love to have another couple of colour options. Below is a photo of my beta original, along with a second version in a different colour which is all ready to be shipped off to someone special!

Honey Cowls in purple and plum, knitted with Malabrigo

It is knit in the round on circular knitting needles and uses a very easy slip stitch waffle pattern. The slip stitch provides almost a double fabric effect, making it super toasty warm. There is also the option of making a single or double cowl. Next time I'd make it a double cowl as it has a lot more variety in terms of how you can wrap and wear it. But a single cowl is a good option for something easy to wear or for anyone dealing with hot flushes.

Unfortunately I couldn't track down any Madelinetosh yarn. If anyone knows where I can get some in New Zealand, can you let me know? I substituted Malabrigo Rios, purchased from the wonderful Holland Road Yarn Company in Petone, Wellington. Although I did have to make a few modifications as this is a different weight to the recommended Madelinetosh dk yarn.

I'm really pleased with the final result. Wearing it is like having kittens cuddle your neck all day, the yarn is that soft. My resolution for next year is that I need more Malabrigo in my life, although that is one resolution that won't be a chore to complete.

You can download a copy of the Honey Cowl pattern for yourself either from Madelinetosh or directly from Ravelry. My modifications are listed below for now. They will eventually make it to my Ravelry page at some stage (maybe after the holiday rush!)

Pattern modifications:
Substituted Malabrigo for recommended yarn.
Knit on 4.5mm needles as I have a very loose guage. Shows the need to do a knitting swatch before starting!
Cast on 90 stitches due to yarn being a different weight.

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5 easy tips to prepare yourself for the christmas rush

If you are anything like me, the holiday season can be a bit of a blur. With endless to-do lists, end of year work deadlines, family comittments (not to mention the need to plan a four course banquet to rival a Masterchef season finale) it can be easy to forget what is really important. Here are five easy tips to help you survive the silly season:

1 / It's never too early to start your preparations
Some suggest doing your shopping at the previous year's boxing day sales but not too many of us are that organised. It's true that the sooner you start preparing, the easier things will be closer to the day. If you plan on having a handmade Christmas you should well be underway by now. If not, now would be a good time to start.

2 / Write your list and check it twice!
Start off with writing a list of everyone you want to send a card to or buy a present for. Is there anyone you have left off? If you are on a budget, jot down how much you are going to spend on each person and any gift ideas you have for that person. Don't forget to check off your list as you complete it!

3 / Online shopping is your friend!
What's not to love about avoiding the crazy Christmas shopping crowds? Make things easier on yourself this year by buying online and have everything shipped straight to your door.

If you are after a one of a kind Christmas gift head to Etsy or the New Zealand based handmade marketplace Felt. Otherwise, most retailers have an online presence these days, so support small local businesses by checking out what your favourite local boutique has to offer online.

Save on shipping costs by buying in bulk from the same retailer, or head to retailers who offer free shipping such as Asos or Book Depository. The best part is you avoid the drama of trying to find a carpark on Christmas Eve when everyone else is stressed because they weren't as organised as you!

4 / Don't forget what is important to you
Think about what is important to you this holiday season. Is it buying the latest on trend toy for a little one you know or spending time with your loved ones?

If you have an agreement to not buy presents this year, is there something else worthwhile you can do instead? Perhaps you could offer your babysitting skills, bake a cake, or make a mix tape for your friend's Christmas road trip?

Remember that acts of kindness shouldn't be reserved solely for the holiday season, but it is important to take time out to look out for those you care about at this stressful time of year.

5 / Too many cooks in the kitchen can be a wonderfully good thing
If you are organising the family Christmas dinner it helps to know how much you can take on. Make sure you plan your menu ahead of time, sort out what you need and prepare as much of it ahead of time as possible. Is there anything that can be made the weekend before and frozen?

If you have friends or neighbours who are also catering for their families, have a chat to them and see if you could each make a bulk version of a dish that you can swap with each other. Then you would each have two different dishes for half the work! 

Lastly, make sure you don't spend all your time in the kitchen by sorting out who will be helping with dishes before the actual day. And don't forget to do what you can, spend time with those you love and celebrate!

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