Ugly Christmas Tree Skirt

What’s Happening?

I made an Ugly Christmas Sweater. For our Christmas tree. A little bit on purpose, though it didn’t really start out that way. Here’s what happened:

I’ve been working on those ear warmers I mentioned a couple of weeks ago (more on those later). I got to thinking about some colorwork projects I’ve seen in the same bulky yarn I’m using for those warmers, and it led me down a mental path of fair isle projects with bulky yarn.

At the same time, Greg and I are decorating our home together for Christmas for the first time. We both like the idea of simplicity this year, so we have a wee little tree for the living room and we needed a little tree skirt to conceal the base.

Combining those thoughts, I got some bulky novelty red and white yarn and started knitting, using one of the designs from Jamie Lomax’s excellent book The Doodle Knit Directory.*

Normally I knit a test swatch when I’m designing a piece, especially when there’s something like a fair isle element. Gauge matters when you want the picture to be clear. It’s also a wise idea to knit swatches when you’re using a yarn that’s not familiar to you so you’re sure it’s going to behave the way you want or expect it to when you pull out the normal stitch pattern tools designers carry in their mental toolboxes.

Did I knit test swatches? No. No, I did not. I just plowed ahead and knit willy nilly.

As a result, I knit something that functions as a Christmas Tree Skirt much the way an Ugly Christmas Sweater functions as a sweater. It meets the practical requirements of covering what it’s supposed to cover, it looks vaguely holidayish, and if my tree could feel chilly, this thing would warm it right up.

Does the ribbing around the trunk work like ribbing does in most other yarns I use? Not in the least.

Can you identify snowflakes in that design? Yeah, me neither, if I’m being honest. To me, it looks like a game of Space Invaders where the screen’s gone wonky.

And yet, I’m growing more and more fond of it the longer it sits there under the tree.

Originally, I had ideas of writing it all up and sharing the pattern. I can see knitters enjoying a well-designed fair isle tree skirt pattern. This is not that. I’m not sure there’s much need for a pattern for this. Or maybe the pattern should begin with: Pick weird yarn you don’t trust and needles too big for it. Get ready for an adventure!

I can’t decide whether to reknit it and make it “properly” or just love it for the homely thing it is.

What am I Knitting?

About those ear warmers.

I know I’m repeating myself, but this is a really good pattern. My hands are getting used to the large size of everything, and these three came off the needles much more quickly than the first ones did.

In case you decide to make them, I’m finding the best bind off method to be a variation of the k2tog method. In this case, the directions say to bind off in pattern, and at first I was working one herringbone stitch, then another, and slipping the first over the second, then continuing to slip the old over the newly created stitch.

I’m finding it more efficient and easier to keep consistent tension to knit 3 stitches through the back loops. So start the same, by knitting 2tog through the back loops, then only release the stitch on the right and slip the stitch on the left back on the left needle. Put the stitch you just made on the left needle. Next, knit through the back loop of 3 stitches. Save the farthest left (herringbone) stitch on the left needle and let the 2 stitches to the right come off the needle. Put the stitch you just made on the left needle. Continue knitting through the back loop of the next 3 stitches, always saving the leftmost herringbone stitch on the left needle, and putting the new cast off stitch you just made back on the left needle. You cast off one stitch with each k3tog. You’ll end by knitting the last 2 together through the back loop.

What Else?

This week, Greg and I had the opportunity to hop down to the Oklahoma City area to catch one of my favorite bands in concert. Have you heard of Nickel Creek? SO good! I was supposed to see them months ago with my sister, but a medical emergency on my flight out there made it so I couldn’t get there on time. (Obviously, my frustration was small potatoes to what the patient in question was dealing with!)

While we were in the area, we made a point to visit a couple of local yarn shops. We got to explore Sealed With A Kiss in Guthrie and Kristy’s Fiber Arts in Edmond.

In Sealed With A Kiss I picked up some finishing needles that I’m finding very helpful with these earwarmers. I love the feel of them compared to plastic and metal tapestry needles. I also picked up a pattern I’m going to use with Kristy’s hand dyed yarn that I found in her shop. I’m looking forward to telling you more about this visit. It was a special one.

Coming Attractions

I am really excited to let you know that Greg is going to be getting a little more involved with the website activities. He’s done an amazing job getting everything set up so that the website works, that pattern downloads and newsletters can happen, and a million and one other things that would completely discourage me from making this business a reality.

But he has more to share!

One of his great nieces just had a birthday, and we decided to gift her one of those potholder loom kits. Some of you may have had those, just like we did. Well. Greg brushed off his pot holder making skills and made one for her to inspire her. And he documented it in a video with commentary, including goof ups, and it’s hilarious. He’s going to get it edited and we’re sharing it.

I think I need to teach him how to knit. On camera. What do you think?

Happy knitting!

Kiersten J

*This post contains an affliate link. I may receive a small commission if you purchase the item through my link, but be assured the price to you is unchanged.