This year was rough, but knitting saved me. Knitting can be a kind of meditation when you are anxious, and I was. So as Adam went through his roller coaster job search I kept knitting (and as compulsive/addictive habits go, knitting is a pretty good one). It means that I got my ornaments done early this year.

Each year I knit a new Christmas ornament as a keepsake for my kids, teacher gifts, and a homemade present for friends and family. I make about 35. (See previous ornaments here and here).

This year I made the pattern too. I saw this inspiration picture of cute little foxes on pinterest but the rabbit hole lead me back to a pattern I couldn’t decipher. I knit up a draft from the picture, but it didn’t really read as a fox until I curled it up.

Here is the pattern:

Fox Ornament

On small (5 or 6) double pointed needles

Cast on 3 sts in White

Row 1: Knit 3

Row 2: Knit fb, increase to 6 sts

Row 3: Knit 6

Row 4: Start orange Knit 6

Row 5: Purl back

Row 6: Kfb, k1 to end of row (9sts)

Row 7: Purl back

Row 8: Kfb, k1 to end of row (13sts)

Row 9: Purl back

Row 10: K1, kfb, k9, kfb, k1 (15 sts)

Row 11: Purl back

Row 12: K2tog 7, k1

Row 13: Pfb (16 sts)

Row 14: K

Row 15: P

Row 16: K

Row 17: P

Row 18: K

Row 19: P

Row 20: K

Row 21: P

Row 22: K

Row 23: P

Row 24: K

Row 25: P

Row 26: K1, K2tog to last st, k1 (11sts)

Row 27: P back

Row 28: K3, k2tog, k1, ssk, k3

Row 29: P back

Row 30: K2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2

Row 31: P back

Row 32: K1, k2tog, k1, ssk, k1

Row 33: P2tog, k1, ssk, (3 sts)

Row 34: bind off by k3tog

 

Ears (make 2)

Cast on 5

Row 1: K5

Row 2: P5

Row 3: slip k psso, k1, k2tog

Row 4: P3tog

Fold body in half length wise and sew shut. Add  a small amount of stuffing 2/3 of the way through sewing shut. Sew on ears. Stitch on eyes and curl tail under and sew into position. Add loop for hanging.

I “splurged” on a $2 pink thrift store tree for my office (tour coming) and it is just big enough for all my knit ornaments.

Citymama are you doing any holiday knitting, crocheting or making?