The Tale of Knitting a Christmas Stocking

A very good customer of ours asked us in December of 2016 if we could knit a Christmas stocking for her for next year. This stocking was for her daugher-in-law. Apparently all of her children have this same stocking.

In January she brought the stocking to us. Of course life gets in the way (in a big way this year) and we don't get to the stocking until November. We all know when she needs it!

Keep in mind we have never done a Christmas stocking before. This pattern is called an Old Fashion Christmas Stocking and old fashion it was - right down to the yarn - very old wool yarn that I kept getting splinters from. Who knew you could get splinters from yarn?

So with that build up,  here's the tale of Knitting a Christmas Stocking Step By Step.

The ribbing was the easiest part of this whole project. It was knit one, purl one for an inch and a half.

The next step was knitting her name into the stocking. You guessed it we have never done that before. The way the pattern wanted me to knit the name in wouldn't work since "Chelsea" was too long. So out came the graph paper to figure out how this was going to go. Donna and I worked on the name for two days trying to get it to work in 52 stitches.

So then the pattern called for us to knit the tree in the stocking. Well we did and it was the most anemic tree ever. So I tore out the whole block and then just knitted with the red and made my own version of the tree and sewed it on. It looked so much better. 

The next block was the Santa block. We did have to knit him in as we didn't have any idea of how to make a Santa and sew him on. 

The next part was turning the heel - never did that before. Thank heavens Donna made a pair of socks once and sort of remembered how to do that.

My only regret in this project was following the pattern for knitting in the year. 

I wish I would have made it smaller like her name. 

Oh well, live and learn. 

Here it is - the stocking is all finished. 

I have to say it is the longest stocking I have ever seen.

The customer was very happy with it and she said the stockings that have been used for years are very long at this point. I guess Chelsea will have to work on being a good girl so hers will get longer from all the gifts as well. 

Merry Christmas

and

Happy New Year!

Holiday Craft Fairs

We have a pretty busy schedule for December this year!

Here is where you can find us throughout the holiday shopping season.

December 2

Arts and Crafts Fair Hosted by CC. Mellor Memorial Library

1 Pennwood Ave

Pittsburgh, PA 15218

9a - 6p

December 8 and 9

Swissvale Library Holiday Bake Sale

1800 Monongahela Ave

Pittsburgh, PA 15218

Friday - 10a - 4p

Saturday - 9a - 11:30a

On Saturday we are leaving a little early for another event. The bake sale actually continues until 2p.

December 9 and 10

The Novelty Collective

The COVE Art Center

939 California Ave

Avalon, PA 15202

Saturday - 1p - 8p

Sunday - 1p - 8p

We are available by appointment throughout the month of December. 

We may also have an open house closer to Christmas if we have enough inventory.

Keep an eye on Facebook for any updates!

Merry Christmas 

And

Happy New Year!

November Craft Show Extravaganzas!

November is the busiest month of the year for holiday craft shows.

Here's a list of where you can find Knitting by Pam and Donna in November. 

November 4, 2017

Clover Commons Craft Show

Off Route 286

Plum Borough, PA 15239

9a - 3p

November 11, 2017

Anne Ashley United Methodist Church

334 E. 22nd Avenue

Munhall, PA 15120

9a - 3p

November 12, 2017

16th Annual Holiday Craft Show @ Bishop Canevin High School

2700 Morange Rd,

Pittsburgh, PA 15205

10a - 3p 

November 18, 2017

Penn Hills Parks and Recreation 20th Annual Holiday Craft Show

Linton Middle School

250 Aster Street

Penn Hills, PA 15235

8a - 4p

We hope to see you at one or more of these holiday events.

Happy Holiday Shopping!

October Happenings!

Knitting by Pam and Donna made it through their September craft show events - now it's on to October.

Check out where you can catch up with us this month.

October 7

St. Thomas More Church Fall Art and Craft Fair

126 Fort Couch Road

Bethel Park, PA 

(Across from South Hills Village)

9a - 3p

Swissvale Farmers Market

Behind Dickson School on Schoyer Ave.

9a - 1p

Oct 14

Swissvale Farmers Market

Behind Dickson School on Schoyer Ave.

9a - 1p

Oct 21

St. John Cathedral CAMEO Club Craft Show

210 Greentree Road

Munhall, PA 15120

10a - 3p

Swissvale Farmers Market

Behind Dickson School on Schoyer Ave.

9a - 1p

Oct 28

Swissvale Farmers Market

Behind Dickson School on Schoyer Ave.

9a - 1p

This is the last market of this season - so you better come by and stock up on those scrubbies!

Happy Halloween!

Fall Events - September

Autumn is upon us and that means the fall and holiday craft shows are coming up.

If you are wondering where Knitting by Pam and Donna are going to be in September wonder no more!

September 16 and 17

Covered Bridge Festival

Henry Bridge

Mingo Creek State Park 

Washington County

10a - 5p both days

September 23

Swissvale Farmers Market

Behind Dickson School in Swissvale

9a - 1p

September 23

Homestead United Presbyterian Church

9th and Ann Streets

Homestead, PA 15120

9a - 3p

September 28, 29 and 30

Swissvale Library Book and Bake Sale

1800 Monongahela Ave

Swissvale, PA 15218

Thursday - 4p - 8p

Friday - 10a - 4p

Saturday - 9a - 2p

September 30

Swissvale Farmers Market

Behind Dickson School in Swissvale

9a - 1p

Enjoy your autumn!

New Look for Knitting by Pam and Donna

Donna and I have been busy updating our new look over the past few months. 

We hired a graphic artist to assign us with this process. 

Check out our new logo!

We think this logo captures Donna and I pretty well. I love that our initials stay the same even if you turned the logo upside down. I guess our mother named us well.

This is the banner we are using at our outdoor events. 

We hope to see you at one of our events soon!

Pillow Decor

Most of this year my sister and I have been re-decorating our living room. 

Let us show you some of the progress we have made.

As you can see we have a knitting theme going on with the use of pillows and the ladder to hold afghans. This is a never ending project as we see other things that would look nice and we plan on making some of these items.

We made these four pillows to match our couch.

A friend saw our pillows on Facebook and asked us to make two for her in navy blue and dark grey.

Of course you can have a lot of fun with pillows. Check these two out.

Both the owl and sheep pillows were make by Knitting by Pam and Donna and have been purchased by customers  - but you get the idea of how much fun you can have decorating with pillows.

In the future as we continue making home decor items I will make sure to promote them on our blog as well as other social media sites.

Winter Knitting

So I haven't blogged much recently. 

We were settling in for our winter knitting I guess.

 Take a look at some things that we made this winter.

For some afghans come to mind during the winter.

This Steeler afghan was made for a neighbor. 

She had the yarn and wanted someone to make an afghan for her. 

Donna crocheted one for her.

I made this afghan for a colleague at work. 

She wanted an afghan made in navy and cream colored yarn. 

It was made in panels and sewn together.

Hats and mittens are other things that come to mind in the winter.

This hat was made for our friend Maggie. 

For Maggie "More is More." 

So instead of one flower she wanted a cluster of three flowers.

A Swissvale Farmers Market customer contacted us about making this gray flower hat for her Mom.

Another neighbor asked us to make her mittens using cranberry colored yarn. 

I even thought of myself this winter. 

I made a kerchief wrap using Caron Cakes Yarn. 

I have been really excited to make something using this yarn. 

I wasn't disappointed!

The last week of 2016 I made these candle wraps. 

It was my intention to have a different color for every month - orders got in the way and I didn't follow through. 

Thank heavens I made them using a neutral color so we can enjoy them all year.

Stay tuned for what we will be up to this spring and summer!