tutorial on how-to antique ornament caps

 

cable-knit holiday ornament

clear plastic ornament

Above is a photo of my newest pattern Cable-Knit Holiday Ornaments. A quick and easy holiday gift idea and the ornament is knit up and ready to go within an hour!

I published it yesterday with the promise of a tutorial on how-to antique traditional store-bought ornament tops. NOTE: I sell 20-mm size ornament caps (not the balls) in traditional silver and gold, and fancy silver and gold. They are sold in packs of five tops.

But when you purchase a plastic craft-store ornament ball (2.75-inch size) it already has the 20-mm size cap included. Leave them silver or gold or antique them!

The materials I use to antique are: either a silver or gold cap top, black chalk paint, a brush, either Antique Gold or Spanish Copper Rub'n Buff® and some clear fixative spray (satin finish).

A small bottle of black chalk paint can be purchased at any craft-store, and very little is needed. The chalk paint is opaque enough to cover well in 1-2 coats. 

1. Paint the cap, mainly the outside and loop, making sure to cover all visible surfaces so no gold or silver is showing. Once dry, determine if you need a second coat. If so, do and allow to dry.

2. Once dry, put a very small dab of the Rub'n Buff® onto a piece of paper. A little goes a long way! Using a small dry brush, dip it into the gold paint and lightly brush it across the surface of the ornament top and sides. The dry brushing hits the high spots in the design and accents them and making them pop. You will find that some ornament caps have a lot of detailing and some do not.

3. If desired, do the same thing with the Spanish copper color. The combination of the black, gold and copper creates a rich antique-look. If you needed to choose between the two colors, for sure get the Antique Gold. I love this product and have every color!

4. Once satisfied with the finished results, spray a light coat of clear fixative over the cap's top and sides. The fixative protects the finish and prevents chipping. Allow the ornament cap to air dry completely. Once dry, it is ready to insert into your ornament. 

This is the simplest and most desired method I have found to create this look. It takes your ornaments to the next level or sophistication!

The ornament cap hanger in the photo at the very top is actually from a larger size ball ornament (5-inch), the next size up from the one I usually use in my patterns. I found I liked the look of a larger-size cap on my smaller ball ornaments especially with this bulky sweater-like look. Its personal preference. Don't hesitate to go by the ornaments just for their cap size because right now especially they can sell them for $0.50 depending on where you go. 

NOTE: An antiqued ornament cap hanger would look whimsical on the Buffalo-Plaid Holiday Ornaments pattern, or how about the Holly-Dazzle Ornament Pincushion? And don't forget the Woolly Holiday Ornaments pattern! I'd love to see what you do with this technique!

Happy knitting!

NEW! cable-knit holiday ornaments

 

cable-knit holiday ornament

This is my last pattern published in 2025! I have two more I am working on but will have to wait til next year. Today I am introducing my newest pattern, Cable-Knit Holiday Ornaments! This holiday season create a tree full of sweater-like ornaments.

The pattern gives instructions for 3 cable-knit designs. Each knit ornament measures about 2.5-inch / 6.35 cm wide by 3-inch / 7.6 cm high (including the metal cap). 

buffalo-plaid holiday ornament

The ornament is knit as one continuous piece. No sewing of seams is necessary. Knitting begins at the bottom and moves up towards the top. A clear plastic craft-store ornament is inserted into the knitted piece and the final stitches are synched tight around the ornament's plastic neck. The crowning touch is the metal wire cap hanger.

I love this pattern and actually started creating it in 2023, the same year as the Buffalo-Plaid Holiday Ornaments pattern was published. They were and are meant to go together, but life obviously got busy. 

I have a new tutorial on how to transform a simple silver or gold ornament cap into an antique-like one. You can find it HERE. Its a fun addition to all my holiday ornament patterns, even the felted ones!

So, if you are looking for a quick and easy holiday gift for that special someone or need a unique hostess gift, check out my newest pattern. You can knit up an ornament in less than an hour. Add a decorative ribbon to the cap and you're good to go.

Happy holidays to you and your family! Wishing you a blessed New Year!

Happy knitting!

lil' gingerbread cookie pillow pattern

Lil' Gingerbread Cookie Pillow

As the year winds down, I'm still creating with a mad-rush to get those last minute holiday patterns published and out the door! I'm proud to introduce my newest pattern, Lil' Gingerbread Cookie Pillow. I absolutely love this guy! He's easy to knit and fun and simple to decorate. 

The pillow measures about 12-inch/31 cm tall from head to toe. A perfect size for that extra holiday throw pillow. With all the gingerbread-themed decorations out there in the stores, I just had to create my own version. I started it last year but never finished, but I gave them as holiday gifts (always a sign of my affections towards something I create)!

The gingerbread pillow begins at the neck, starting with a scrap yarn cast-on and knits downwards to the legs. The head stitches are then picked up and knit upwards to the top. Both the arms and legs are picked up and knit separately. The pillow is stuffed to plumpness using fiberfill stuffing. It's then ready for embellishing!

White or cream buttons are sewn down the front of the tummy. This is a great project for using grandma's heirloom buttons. Simple embroidery is used to create the icing squiggles on the arms and legs. The finishing touch is a strip of torn home-spun fabric tied around the neck into a bow.

When done, right out of your creative oven, the pillow is ready to serve to your family and friends!

This gingerbread cookie pillow will soon become a traditional holiday heirloom! I've already knit five of them, one for every room in my house!

Happy knitting!

NEW! having-a-ball! pincushion

happy 4th of July!

July's pincushion is complete, just published it yesterday! None too soon. Just in time to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July holiday!

Introducing my newest pattern, #11 in my series of monthly pincushions, Having-A-Ball! Pincushion. It was a fun pattern to create, very different from my others, mainly in how it was constructed. Always fun to try out new techniques and ideas.

July is the month of picnics, fireworks, and lazy days spent at the beach. This beach ball pincushion is a quick and easy knit and felt with optional 'stars & stripes' embroidery detailing. 

The pincushion uses worsted weight yarns, and measures about 3.5-inches wide after felted and stuffed. It is knit flat and sewn at the seam using a half-grafting method. The ends are synched shut before felting. The end panels are a piece of hand-dyed 100% wool fabric or felt sewn on. The wool fabric comes in a variety of colors and plaids. 

A sampling of red-white-and-blue-themed pins are the finishing touch! The pins are from Just Another Button Company, a mini-pin set called 'Where We Dwell'. For other fun patriotic-themed pins check out my ETSY store for more selections.

juggling balls

The beach ball would make a sweet baby's gift, tucked a top a hand-knit sweater or blanket. I have included a jingle bell into the center of the ball to create a rattle sound when shaken. Soft pastel yarn colors would add to the sweetness of this baby gift idea.

Another fun gift, is to knit a set of juggling balls. Knit the ball using sport weight yarn and size 7 or 8 double point needles, creating a smaller ball, perfect for that juggler in your life. Once felted, fill the balls completely with plastic poly-pellets, to give that added weight, perfect for juggling.

If you are around St. Paul, Minnesota this July, I am teaching this pattern at my local yarn store, Knitting from the Heart. Would love to see you there!

Happy knitting!

NEW! queen bee-hive pincushion pattern

queen bee-hive pincushion

 
My newest pattern, a knit & felt pincushion for the month of June, Queen Bee-Hive Pincushion.

Bees are a sign of summer and all things warm and golden. The beehive is where the queen hangs her crown at the end of a buzzy-day. Knit and felt a whimsical 4.5-inch / 11.4 cm beehive as a tribute to the hardest worker out there!

The pattern begins at the base, creating an opening to be later used for stuffing, and works upwards to the top. The beehive is knit as one continuous piece including purl rounds that will be later picked up for the beehive's horizontal ridges. Strands of raffia are knitted along with the yarn when knitting the horizontal ridges, to create a straw-like quality once felted.

Your Queen Bee-Hive is now ready for some early summer gift giving!

This pincushion design is one of 10 patterns now published onliine. I am working on two more designs to complete my year of pincushions: a pincushion for each month of the year.

Come join me in knitting a special pincushion (they make wonderful birthday gifts), each month!

Happy Knitting!

NEW! out-like-a-lamb pincushion

 

out-like-a-lamb pincushion

My newest pattern recently published, 'Out-Like-A-Lamb' Pincushion. Now available online!

As the old saying goes, "March comes in like a Lion and goes out like a Lamb" describes the transition between winter and spring. To help celebrate the anticipation of spring, knit and felt the March pincushion, a lamb, and transform it with a layer of loopy-locks -- a quick and easy embellishing technique. This little lamb makes a great gift for the quilting or sewing enthusiast in your life!

The felted lamb measures about 3-in / 7.6 cm tall from its base to the top of its back. The pattern begins at the base and works upwards to the top. The lamb is knit as one continuous piece, no sewing. The lamb's head stitches are then picked up and knit.

all-white lamb

Once felted, the lamb's body is embellished with loopy-locks: small loops created using a continuous strand of bulky weight yarn then needle felted to the body. The face is embellished using simple embroider and, if desired, decorative pins are the final accent to your finished lamb pincushion!

The little lamb is the seventh pattern in my pincushion-of-the-month collection. Be sure to check out my other designs, more to come! And let me know what you think!

Happy knitting!

YES10

 

Small Shops. Big Deals. Etsy is running a promotions to the stores within, to help get a jump on your holiday shopping with a $10 off coupon once you spend $40 in one shop.  The coupon cose can be used multiple times throughout the promo until the end of the day, October 11, 2023. At checkout, type in the code YES10 and save $10 on that purchase.

My two Etsy Shoppes are linked below:

Marie Mayhew Designs (patterns, tools and yarns): https://www.etsy.com/shop/woollysomething

My Woollysomethings (knitted/felted samples for sale): https://www.etsy.com/shop/mywoollysomethings

So come on by, whether you are looking for patterns, tools or knitted samples for sale. I'd love for you to stop by and save a little at this time!

Happy knitting!