How a Knit Nativity Helps a Hospice

Here’s your heartwarming Christmas knitting story of the year.

The Knutty Knitters is a group of women in Bristol who all used to work together at the same school. They started a knitting group in 2011 and try to meet once a month to chat, knit and eat chocolate cake.

When one of their members, Christine, died, the remaining members decided they wanted to do something for St. Peter’s Hospice, which had cared for her at the end of her life.

They ended up knitting a life-sized nativity, complete with Mary holding the baby, Joseph, shepherds, wise men and animals. In 2012 they took the nativity on tour and raised £8,000.

The next year they had Christmas cards printed (you can see one above) and the card sales alone cleared £25,000.

Learn more about the women behind this amazing piece in the video at the link above, or visit them on Facebook to see where the nativity has been this year. You can also donate to the cause on Just Giving.

Merry Christmas to all!

Looking for more Christmas themed Knitting patterns? Check out some of our favorite Knitting patterns on Etsy and

These Christmas Knitting Pattern Books on Amazon

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The felted slipper craze that began last year doesn’t seem like it’s fading away. The Sailor Slippers, often striped knit and felted slippers made with super bulky yarn, because the project of the moment late last year (check out more knit slipper options in this post all about sailor slippers) and they’re still consistently popular with knitters.

Which makes sense because they are fun and fast to knit, and seeing them go from this giant thing to something that actually fits a foot feels a little magical.

I have always loved felting (in fact my first book was about felting knitting) and it’s always fun for me to see people rediscover this technique.

If you’ve knit enough plain slippers to fit all the feet you know, maybe it’s time to stitch up some tabi style slippers instead.

Maymade Knits has designed these cute tabi ballerina slippers, made with bulky yarn and felted. They’re worked flat at first and then in rounds, and are available in 10 EU sizes (the Internet tells me add 31 to your American shoe size to get your EU size). The designer says the slippers are meant to have a close fit and you should choose a size a little smaller than your foot for the ideal fit.

The pattern includes a video tutorial along with the written pattern.

You can grab this pattern on Ravelry. The same designer has her own version of the striped felted slipper as well, called Sarah’s Striped Slippers. These are worked in super bulky yarn and have a contrasting foot and a striped body. These are knit flat and seamed and there are 7 size options available. Check that pattern out here if you’re looking for a more traditional slipper shape. They also look roomier so you can wear them with socks if you like.

[Photo: Maymade Knits]

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