Home Spun Holiday

To me, nothing captures the holiday spirit like handmade creations. Whether I’m looking for home decor or a special gift, I always find inspiration in my Kromski Spinning Wheel or Loom.

Over the years, I’ve crafted countless gifts for friends and family—and yes, a few for myself too. Sometimes it’s nice to plan a project from the start: should the yarn be spun thin with lots of twist, or would a lofty worsted or bulky yarnwork better? These choices can significantly affect the final result. Other times, I enjoy browsing through yarn I’ve already spun and letting it guide the project naturally.

For our holiday forest scene, the yarn’s thickness was important for the smaller animals. Since I didn’t have any already spun to the right size, I turned to my Sonata wheel using Polish Merino fiber. For stuffed toys, it’s helpful to add a good amount of twist; I achieved this by using the smaller whorl on the standard flyer. Each animal only required a small amount of yarn, so the spinning was quick. As a bonus, all the tiny animals are stuffed with wool, keeping them soft and cozy.

These trees are wrapped in yarn plied from two different colors. For this project, the exact size and twist weren’t critical—a slightly irregular yarn actually adds a more natural, organic feel. Using a variety of green shades enhances the overall scene, and the two-colored yarn gives these simple shapes a touch of depth and dimension.

Not all wool needs to be spun either! You may recognize the Gnome and Snowman from the Kromski Needle Felting Kits. The Snowman was a Limited Edition last year, but the Gnome and others are still available. I changed out the hat and scarf on the snowman to be hand spun so he would better suit our home spun theme.

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This was such a fun project—and it would look fantastic on the mantel! Imagine how impressed Santa would be!

Now that the scene is set, let’s talk gift ideas. There’s still plenty of time to create a quick handmade project for friends and family. Here are a few suggestions to get your creativity flowing.

Our Weekend Winter Hat is quick and easy!

Or maybe you prefer something with more of a Christmas look? How about the Kromski Christmas Hat?

If hats aren’t really your thing then how about these beautiful Christmas Flower Mitts? They actually work up very quickly!

Of course, you may be excited to make something on your Kromski loom. Home decor gifts are always appreciated. This is a project that be done on the Harp Forte and it’s sure to please. The Christmas Pick Up Stick Placemats and Towel will brighten the table and add cheer to any holiday meal.

I hope this has inspired you to create your own Home Spun Holiday! What will YOU create??

Kromski wishes you a wonderful and safe Holiday season!

The animal patterns were all found on the internet (or designed by me with no pattern).

Andy the Llama by Amanda Berry; Songbird by Sara Elizabeth Kellner; Hans My Hedgehog by Margaret Bloom