Happy Holidays!
Recently, while digging around in our massive
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Treble Crochet
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Nov. 30, 2007
Brenda Stratton
The treble crochet (tr) is a basic stitch though it's used less often than the single-crochet or the double-crochet stitch. It is commonly used in doilies, afghans and other projects where a lacy or open effect is desired, although it can also be used to make a solid crochet fabric. Because it is taller then either the single crochet or the double crochet, the work goes much faster. To see how this stitch is worked, click here.
After clicking the link, you'll be taken to a new page where you'll see the stitch instructions and a video showing how it is formed. Be sure to scroll all the way to the right of the page to collect the free pattern, Flowering Pineapple Doily, so you can practice this stitch!
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publications archives, I happened across some interesting bits of Christmas trivia that were published years ago by Annie's Attic. I was really looking for something else (not even holiday related!), but when I came across this book and began flipping through it, I was enchanted with several of the stories it contained about some of our most beloved Christmas legends.
I'm sure many of you are familiar with some or all of these, but in the spirit of the season, I thought you might enjoy reading about them again.
Sharing Christmas Stories and Legends
The Man Behind the Magic
The real St. Nicholas was born in 280 A.D. in Patara, a city in Asia Minor. He was a Christian priest who later became a bishop. He came from a wealthy family and traveled the country helping people, giving gifts of money and other presents. His gifts were given late at night because he did not like to be seen when he gave them away.
A famous story about St. Nicholas involves a poor man who had no money to give to his three daughters on their wedding day. St. Nicholas dropped bags of gold into the stockings which the girls had left to dry by the fire. The sisters found the gold, and ever since, children have hung stockings on Christmas Eve, hoping St. Nicholas would fill them with presents by Christmas morning. Children were also told to go to sleep quickly, or he would not come!
Not much has changed since then. Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) still won't arrive with Christmas gifts unless the children go to sleep early!
Santa's Better Half
Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the little drummer boy, Santa and his elves -- they are all actors in the grand pageant we call Christmas. But, we ask, what about Mrs. Claus? The custom closest to a female personification of Santa is the Italian tradition of La Befaña, the kindly old woman with the power of a fairy queen who gives children gifts on the eve of Epiphany, January sixth.
We have our suspicions about the real Mrs. Santa Claus. She's so much more than just the mystic mate of Father Christmas. She works, she cooks, she carpools, and then at bedtime, she tucks in the covers and gives us a huge hug. And, of course, we suspect she crochets! Recognize her? She is the hallowed spirit of motherhood who offers us eternal love from a pure heart.
Ponder the Poinsettia
The poinsettia is synonymous with the spirit of Christmas, not only because it blooms in wintertime, but because of the legend that associates it with the Christ child.
This story tells that the poinsettia was once a nondescript roadside weed. Desperate for a gift to offer the baby Jesus, an impoverished little Mexican girl presented the Messiah with an armload of poinsettia branches she had picked and tied together with hand-woven twine. Once in His holy presence, the uppermost leaves on the branches spontaneously turned a vivid red.
The poinsettia was introduced into the United States by Joel Robert Poinsett, the American Minister to Mexico in the 1920s, and for whom the plant was later named.
A Christmas Without Music
One of the most beloved Christmas carols of all time, Silent Night, was written in 1818 by an Austrian priest, Joseph Mohr, and set to music by composer Franz Gruber. It is said that Joseph was told a few days before Christmas that the church organ in the parish of Oberndorf was broken and could not be repaired in time for Christmas Eve services. He was saddened by this and could not bear to think of Christmas without music.
On Christmas Eve, he sat down and wrote three stanzas, then gave the poem to Franz Gruber. He requested that it be set to music for soloists, chorus and guitar. That same evening, Franz brought the simple composition to Joseph and still later that night, the people in the little Austrian church sang Stille Nacht (Silent Night) for the first time.
Silent Night, more than any other Christmas song, can evoke such emotion in me that when I hear it, I instantly begin to tear up. The power of this simple song was never more evident than on the battlefields of Flanders in World War I in what has come to be known as "the Christmas truce of 1914."
The "great war" had been raging for nearly five months when Christmas arrived in 1914. The Germans were in a fierce battle with the British and French. Both sides were dug into miles of muddy, man-made trenches six to eight feet deep. On Christmas Eve, the soldiers' thoughts turned to their homes and families as they settled down in their bunkers with letters and pictures from their loved ones. While the bitter cold air blew in around them, they turned their faces into their coats and tried to sleep.
In the early morning hours of December 25th, the allies heard the distant sounds of Silent Night being sung from the German trenches across the "no man's land" between them. As they raised their heads to peek across, the startled allies were amazed to discover that the Germans had erected dozens of small Christmas trees lit with candles outside their trenches. Many of the Germans, who had worked in England before the war, were able to speak good enough English to call out a Christmas truce to the allies.
The British and French troops accepted, and all along the miles of trenches, a spontaneous truce resulted. Soldiers left their bunkers, meeting in the middle to shake hands, exchange gifts, share photos and forget the horrors of war for at least one day. When the dreaded moment finally came for each side to return to their trenches, the soldiers said goodbye to their new friends and sank down into their muddy holes. With heavy hearts, they once again began fighting a war that continued for four more years.
Christmas Trivia Question
True or false: The popular Christmas character Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was developed as a department store's promotional gimmick. To find the answer, click here.
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Some Quick & Easy Patterns for Last-Minute Christmas Gifts
It might be only a week before Christmas, but there's still time to crochet a few last-minute little gifts for family and friends. In this issue, we've included three great patterns for some quick and easy ideas.
Giving someone a handmade ornament is always a winning choice. Kids of all ages will love our adorable little Snowman Candy Holder. He'll look just as cute tied to a gift package as he will hanging on the Christmas tree. If you don't happen to have any beads on hand for his eyes and nose, simply embroider them on. French knots work great!
Our too-cute little Country Christmas Booties can be filled with all manner of small gifts and hung on the tree to delight someone special on Christmas morning. These little mini stockings would also make wonderful package decorations, and with a personal, handwritten note slipped inside, they could even be the "card" accompanying your gift.
For a delightful holiday hostess gift, crochet our lovely Angel Dishcloth to give with a kitchen-themed gift, or a basket filled with yummy baked goods, cocoa, tea, coffee, soup or bread mixes. It will really add a personal and decorative touch!
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