LITTLE CHRISTMAS CHARMINGS..A TUTORIAL IN 12 EASY STEPS

I have been seeing so many pretty projects during this holiday season and I have wanted to try my hand at all of them, but, alas, there are not enough days left to take advantage of this Christmas season.

I have, however, taken a chance at making a wreath that I saw on Courtney's blog, French Country Cottage, and even though it is a much smaller version of the one she did, I am still quite proud that it came from my limited knowledge of producing something that I would take the liberty of showing to the world, so to speak.

Now, if you like it, there may not be enough time for you to put it to the test with your busy schedules around this time of year, but it is also one that can wait until a quieter time.  Either way, here it is in twelve easy steps.

You've already seen the original in the picture above.  You need to go right down to your Dollar Store and buy one of those gold sparkly ones, or not.  There are many different colors to choose from.  Not too bad in it's original form, but just you wait!

Step One:  Stay at the Dollar Store, or whatever store you choose, and buy some yarn in your choice of color and type.

Step Two:  Now here is where it gets a little dicey.  If you have not been lucky enough to achieve a college degree, this project may not be for you.  It encompasses some very strong language.  For example, phoosh, phish, and, or not, are used quite often.  I suppose you could look those up in the dictionary but that would take valuable time away from the project.

Step Three:   First you will want to trim the gold sparkly stuff off of the wreath form, or not.  I did, but you could leave it and let some show through.  My personal preferance was to cut it off.  You won't be able to get it all off, however, but don't worry it will not affect the outcome of the finished project.

Step Four:  Cut a piece of cardboard to about 4 inches by 2 inches, or not.  Remember the bigger the cardboard, the bigger the phoosed yarn will be.

Step Five:  Take tail of yarn and lay it across cardboard and put your thumb over yarn to hold it in place, or not.  Thumb may be placed there so that you don't pull the yarn too tightly and then not be able to slip it off the cardboard after winding.

Step Six:  Wind the yarn 50 times around the card, or not.  Again, it will depend on how big you want your phoosed yarn.  It seems like it takes such a long time to sit there and wind it 50 times, so what I usually do is wind it 25 times, then as I continue to wind, I will start back at one again and count 25 more times.  That way it only takes about half as long.....Huh?

Step Seven:  After you have wound your yarn totally around the cardboard, cut from skein and slip it off, keeping it all together...  or not, will NOT work here.  Cut a piece of yarn about 10 or 11 inches long, or not.  It just depends how ambidextrious you are with your hands.  If you can tie a not, I mean a knot, with a shorter piece of yarn than you can do that. It might help if you got yourself a better manicure!

Step Eight:  Lay the piece of yarn across your legs, being sure to keep your knees together. Well, we are all ladies, so we say, so that should be a given, right?  Lay the yarn across the cut piece, as shown and tie tightly into a double knot.

Step Nine:  After you have tied off the yarn, you will have something similar to a figure eight.  Cut each end of the 'eight' through the middle and phoof through the yarn with the end of the scissors or fingers to make sure all loops are cut.  Then cut through the other side the same way.  Hold yarn by the long tails and phoof up with your fingers.

Step Ten:  Take yarn in your hand and fist it together.  Trim with scissors, using your fist as a guide.  Do not trim the piece of yarn used to tie.  You will do this later. Also, there is no need to trim your fist, I'm just saying!   

Step Eleven:  After first cutting, hold yarn like a flower and phoof a small amount of yarn in the center and trim it the same.

Step Twelve:  Lay yarn 'flower' on front of wire frame and let two longer pieces lay towards the back of frame.  Holding 'flower' in place turn frame over and tie off, tightly, the two long strands.  Trim strands at this time.  Turn frame over and phoof yarn to look pretty and poofed.  Continue this around the whole frame. It takes about 14 or 15 'flowers' to fill a frame of this size.

When finished add ribbon and ornament of your choice and there you have it!

You can actually use any type of frame that you want.  I have seen styrofoam, cardboard or grapevines.  I actually "heard" of a woman who thought she could save money by cutting a cardboard form.  She reportedly used a pair of shears that she had used to cut the stems of her greens.  I "heard" she was doing this early one morning while still in her jammies. She leaned over a little to closely as she was cutting the cardboard and the handles came into contact with her chestal area, if you know what I mean.  It really smarted, so I "heard".  I don't recommend using this procedure.  Or Not!

Hopefully you got through this scientific experimental project and if anyone asks you "how is that college degree working for you?" You can say it might not get you a job in this day and age, but it sure can help you make one sweet little wreath!

Three little Christmas charmings, and counting...Judy

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