Christmas Treats from DROPS

Yarn company Garn Studio and its DROPS Design patterns offer a ton of opportunities for Christmas crafting. Each year they do a Christmas calendar, sort of like an advent calendar in which one new pattern is revealed every day (as of this writing they were all crochet, but it’s usually a mix). Their Christmas Workshop pattern collection could keep you going for years, and they even have a whole section devoted to red knit socks and another devoted to holiday-themed hot pads.

With all that in mind I thought I’d highlight just a few of their projects that I really like, and I hope you’ll go explore and share what you find, too.

These “calendar socks” would be cute in a bunch as an advent calendar on a clothesline, but since we don’t have time for that this year you could also use them to present small gifts, as decoration on a package or just in your regular holiday decor. It’s a great odd-ball-using project, too.
And speaking of socks, these snowman socks are adorable. I’ll bet that colorwork section goes faster than you think and you could still knit these before Christmas.
Julius the elf is a super cute little guy who could also be worked from scraps. I love his tiny head and big, round body.
Need a hostess gift or a thank you for someone who’s been extra good this year? Why not knit up and felt a bottle cozy that could be used for wine, olive oil or whatever else you like.

[Photo by DROPS Design.]

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Just about anything you can make in fabric you can make in knitting, but there are some styles that you just don’t see that often translated into knitting.

For example, a button down collared shirt. This is a classic design, of course, and it looks great in a knit version, but it’s just not something you see much of.

Noma Ndlovu’s Guglethu shirt is the pattern to try if you want to knit your own button down shirt. This one is inspired by cashmere tops (though the sample was made out of yak yarn, not cashmere, and uses two strands of lace weight yarn held together) and includes lots of high-fashion details like double-knit cuffs, collar and shoulder seams.

It has a patch pocket on the front and 10 buttons including the button band and the cuffs.

The designer says you can also use a DK weight yarn held singly if you’d rather, and that the shirt looks good in a variety of yarns. There is another version on Ravelry that uses Berroco Remix Light, which is a mix of nylon, cotton, acrylic, silk and cellulose fibers. It has a more relaxed look but it still really pretty.

The pattern has 12 sizes, with a full bust measurement ranging from 32.35 to 72.25 inches, or 82 to 183.5 cm. The designer suggests 2 to 6 inches, or 5 to 15 cm, of positive ease when you pick your size. I could totally see knitting one that’s even bigger to wear more like a jacket, because I do that a lot with button down shirts I already own.

I love all the details on this shirt, which isn’t necessarily difficult to knit, but might introduce you to some things you’ve never knit before (like those cuffs with the plackets, or a shirt collar like this).

To learn more about this shirt and grab a copy of the pattern for yourself, head to Ravelry.

[Photo: Noma Ndlovu]

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