One Cozy Night

Each Christmas season, I'm never sure exactly which notes I will play and which ones I won't.  

Some years I bake, others I don't.  Some years I make it to all the parties, some years I don't.  Some years I send cards, this year I didn't.   My personal Christmas song usually depends on whether I'm making gifts and how far along I am on the project(s).

This year, I didn't play all the notes, I never do.  But there is one resounding night that I'm so glad I fit into the busy season...a Cozy-making Party.

My original plan was to have a Cozy Open House on a Sunday, inviting friends and family to stop in whenever to make a cozy or two.  Unfortunately, the big party never happened. 

Not to be thwarted completely, I thought I could maybe squeeze in a night just for family.  After all, cozies make good gifts for teachers, grandparents, friends, etc.  So I invited the nieces over one night in the middle of the week.  Since it was a school night, I didn't expect a large turnout so I was a bit surprised when they all came.

We ate a simple meal of carry-out spaghetti and meatballs, salad and bread and then the cozy-making was underway.

The oldest was home from Wisconsin and helping the littlest...

The girls were efficient and set up stations.  One niece volunteered to man the cutting table and to cut all the flannel squares...

A few others manned the ironing board...

I was on the sewing machine...

And Jack was in the middle of it all but had too much school work to take the night off.  Headphones do a good job of dampening niece noise...

He did take a break to pass out cookies for everyone that was working...

And then we were back to work.  Clipping the corners...

Turning the bags right-side out...

And filling the bags with corn...

The littlest had a bit of trouble getting the corn into the bag rather than on the floor so her Dad offered to help...

We made over 25 bags in a couple of hours.  Enough for each girl to keep one and give a few away.

And we had a guest in the house.  One of my nieces brought a friend who was spending the night at her house...

She had never met any of us and hadn't heard of "Cozies" before ;)

A few days afterward, I got a few thank you notes in the mail..

And this adorable note from our special guest and niece's friend...

 

The perfect endorsement for another Cozy-making party.  I can't wait to do it again.  Maybe next year I'll actually have the Open House party.

Many of you have written to me over the past few years, asking questions about Cozy making.  In the past, I referred you to this post I wrote in 20009.

Well, I finally took the time yesterday to make up a printable, downloadable Tip Sheet on Making Cozies...just for you. (Tip:  double-click twice to enlarge to full-sheet size, save as a .jpg and then print to fit on one page.  I noticed when you print directly from your browser, it goes to two pages.)

Please feel free to copy and share it.

I hope you enjoy making and owning these wonderful little bundles of warmth and comfort.

Here's to a Cozier New Year for us all!

P.S.  Afghan Yarn:  The yarn I used on the ripple afghan last post was Knit Picks Swish Worsted yarn.  Knit Picks is an online-only seller of higher quality yarns at a more affordable price.  Though I do support my local knitting stores for most yarn purchases, afghans use a lot of yarn so affordability is a big issue.  The Swish Worsted brand is a high-quality, 100% merino wool that is washable and more affordable than alternatives.  That being said, I also like to use Plymouth Encore Worsted.  It's 75% wool and 25% acrylic.  I find the wool content makes for a nicer afghan than 100% acrylic while still being washable.  Encore comes in larger skeins than KnitPicks worsted and the price is a bit more affordable.

P.P.S.  Elf Heads for Kneehugger Elves:  Unfortunately, I do not have a single source for the elf faces I used for my kneehugger elves in this post.  Over the past few years, I have collected enough to make elves for my family by searching on Ebay and Etsy.  I've also found a few vintage elves in bad shape and removed their tattered clothes in order to re-use the face.  If I ever do find a source, I promise to share!