[Nfb-krafters-korner] FB: Holiday Craft Traditions

[Dixie]

I think I have shared here the tradition my mother-in-law started.  Each
Thanksgiving she gave each family a handmade Christmas ornament that she, or
she and I had created together. 

I also have hand knit Christmas stockings my Grandmother knit for each of
us. 
She also made these Christmas stockings for each member of the family, no
two are the same.  She got the pattern, but in order to make each one
different she charted out some of her own motif designs.    There are 4
bands on each stocking, the top most band has the person's name, then the
next two bands have a motif, for example, one has a Christmas tree, another
has a sail boat, another has a poinsettia, another a rocking horse, etc.
So, each stocking has 2 different motifs, one for each of the next two
bands.  The lowest band, which is around the ankle says noel on each of the
adult's stockings.  On the stockings she made for the babies when they
joined the family, as they were born she would instead of Noel she would put
in the year.
She started this tradition the year my daughter was due.  My daughter was
her first Great Grandchild.    That Christmas my Grandmother had made one
for me, and one for my husband.  She had also made one stocking for the baby
that was coming.  She had knit from the toe up leaving only the name to be
knit in  when the baby arrived. . My daughter was due December 18.   She had
knit in the year on the ankle  band.  As I said, my daughter was due
December 18.  My daughter was 2 weeks late...  yup, you got it, she didn't
arrive until January 1.  The next year.  So, my Grandmother had to rip all
the way back down to the ankle and redo the year.

Last year I had a friend make one of these stockings for my son-in-law, who
joined our family last year.

So, as each person joins the family, he or she too will have one of these
hand knit stockings.



Merry Christmas!
 Dixie
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