I really liked THIS pattern by Suzetta Williams (it's free, and her site is cute!), and it inspired my own version of paperclip ice skates. Mine look a little more like the ones I remember from my grandma's tree, and they are so ridiculously quick to make I think I'm going to use them as present toppers this year too!
I got my jumbo paperclips at my local Dollar Tree, 80 for $1. Score!
PAPERCLIP ICE SKATES ORNAMENT (or present topper)
approx 1" tall
Supplies:
MC - skate color - small amount of worsted weight yarn (I used Red Heart Super Saver acrylic yarn, and Patons 100% wool yarn and both looked awesome. Acrylic will last for a lifetime or two, if passing these down for several generations is important to you...)
CC - cuff color - very small amount of worsted weight yarn
2 jumbo paperclips
R1: Using MC, attach yarn to jumbo paperclip and make 7 sc along the top edge of the clip (7 st)
R2: ch 1, skip first st, 6 hdc (6 st)
R3: ch 1, 4 sc, skip last 2 st (4 st)
R4: ch 1, 4 sc, change color to CC
R5: ch1, 4 sc (4 st)
R6: ch1, 4 sc, chain 8
Fasten off, leaving a 4" tail for tying later. Weave in all of the other loose ends.
Make another skate, this time substituting:
R6: ch 1, 4 sc, chain 5 (so your skates hang at different lengths and you can see both of them when they hang on the tree)
Tie your two skates together as close to the chain stitches as possible. Leave a 2" gap and make another knot. Trim excess yarn ends from the top.
(optional) If you want to add a bow to the skates you can use a very small amount of CC (cuff color? LOL!) and thread it through the first stitch of R5. Tie your bow and adjust it so it faces out when your skates hang. ;D
I also made an ice skate bookmark, by chaining 40 at the end of R6 and tying a matching pom pom to it. It is so cute!! I think I'm going to make some to go in all of the books I give this year... probably not for the guys... LOL!!
(Just as a heads up, if you like sci-fi and fiction this short story collection is really good. Also, my dad - Illustrator James J. Eads - did an illustration for one of the stories. Woot!)
xoxo
I remember skates being on my family tree too, my Great Grandmother made them. I can't wait to make some of these for next year's ornament. Thanks girly!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness - these are so cute!!!! I have to make some these - thanks for the pattern and pictures!
ReplyDeleteAwesome-sauce!
ReplyDeleteI think I actually HAVE the pair that was an ornament on my childhood christmas trees..... lemmie check.....
oh, nope, I was remembering that wrong -- it was a pair of those made into a little broach that my mom must still have (and of course always wore for her 1st grade class). I totally wanna make some for my tree for next year (d'oh! so many fun Christmas crafts I will have to make for NEXT year, b/c I'm still not finished making this year's gifts! ;P )
:D
What size hook?
ReplyDeleteLOL! Good catch! I used a G hook.
Deletexo Jaime
These would make nice little surprises to put in Christmas cards ;)
ReplyDeleteThis is a great design. junk removal Bloomington IL
ReplyDelete