The Magazine Aisles II - Martha Stewart Holiday Handmade Gifts

You can't help but LOVE Martha. I think I was the only one spearheading the campaign amongst my friends to free Martha when she went through her court ordeal . . . from free Martha T-shirts to holding night time vigils. Okay, I wasn't that serious (HAH!) but I did feel for her.

Part II of the Magazine Aisles is featuring her Holiday Handmade Gifts Special Edition. Usually I am intrigued by her decorative handmade soaps and cool crafts, but this edition had something more ... CROCHETING & KNITTING!

Simple squares and circles are crocheted with basic stitches to make the most adorable, squeezable stuffed toys (I really wish I knew how to crochet). Handmade dolls can be made from scraps of yarn and fabric from your stash. She gives tips on how to add personal touches to each doll; for example, using alpaca yarn for straight hair or boucle yarn for a curly 'fro. Cozy, warm scarves are made with basic knit and purl stitches. The choice of yarns again are stressed to make the scarves luxurious. There's something about a chunky yarn that entices me to seek out my needles and just knit to my hearts content. To me, the most simplest gift to knit for a gift is a knit pouch (I think I have some Lionbrand Suede in my stash). Every woman needs a pouch to carry "stuff" in. Even if I don't have anything to put in it, I will find something to put in it.
But you know she doesn't stop there. She has a section on embellishing store bought knits to give them a homemade feel, like embroidering snowflakes on store bought mittens to adding bells and pom-poms to store bought scarves and hats. She even demonstrates how to embroider an initial on a child's sweater using a duplicate stitch! Gotta Love Her.
Other projects I like that are highlighted in the magazine are 1) Sock Dogs, 2) Felt Slippers 3) Fringe Wool Scarf and 4) Handmade Soaps.

I need to make a list before I get carried away.