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Hands Occupied

Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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O (mini) Christmas Tree

December 12, 2013 2 Comments

 

O (mini) Christmas Tree - Hands Occupied

I love the look of fresh Christmas trees, but this year I didn’t want to hassle with getting one from a lot and trying to transport it in the big city. Plus, our apartment doesn’t really have a good place for a full on tree. A Norfolk Island Pine offered us an AMAZING alternative. Not only can you get it in the mail (no bungees or car scratches to mess with) in a range of sizes from 14 to 44 inches, but they offer a natural Christmas tree option that doesn’t have to be thrown away after the holidays. It can be de-decorated and used as a general house plant. A no-guilt natural Christmas tree? Yep. This is what I wanted this year.

The decorations on a Norfolk Island Pine have to be lightweight to avoid bending the branches too much. You’ll also want to refrain from hanging your entire ornament collection on your NIP – it is, after all, a small tree. :) For our mini tannenbaum, I went with a classic approach, making a pom pom garland, using small christmas balls in just two colors, and topping it with a felt star (which, coincidentally, came with the tree and matched the rest of my decorations perfectly).

Glitter Pom Pom Garland How-to

Supplies

glitter pom poms
needle
thread

Directions

String your pom poms, alternating color and size, on some thread by sewing straight through their middles. I found it easiest to sew directly onto the spool of thread and wait until the end to cut the thread. The thread weighs down the far end of the garland as you sew (a good thing), and then you don’t have to mess with estimating how much thread you’ll need ahead of time.

O (mini) Christmas Tree - Hands Occupied

To tie off the ends of the garland, tie a knot just under the last pom pom, following these directions…

O (mini) Christmas Tree - Hands Occupied

The finished garland, particularly with the glitter pom poms, is super playful. Perfect for the tiny tree in two ways: it’s light, so the branches aren’t weighed down, and it adds a lot of great texture and color!

O (mini) Christmas Tree - Hands Occupied

Our Norfolk Island Pine Christmas Tree

When the tree comes in the mail, it comes in a special box with almost no mess. It also comes decorated with the felt star pictured as well as a few felt snowflakes, so if you really hate tree-trimming, this might be the solution for you.

O (mini) Christmas Tree - Hands Occupied

Since this is a real, potted tree, the basic care and keeping of a Norfolk Island Pine should be considered if you’re interested in one for your home.

Care of a Norfolk Island Pine

  • They grow best indoors in a sunny location and prefer to be near a window- but away from direct heat. Avoid direct intense sunlight.
  • Indoors they flourish in 50 percent humidity so consider running a humidifier or sit them in a tray of pebbles, watering the pebbles during winter months.
  • Keep the soil moist but don’t let it dry out or stand in water.
  • If you live where the temperature stays above 60 degrees,  your Norfolk Island Pine can be planted in the landscape.
  • As a houseplant, the Norfolk Island Pine naturally filters the air provides much needed moisture during the dry winter months.
  • If you have a pet or small child, please note that these trees are toxic if ingested.

O (mini) Christmas Tree - Hands Occupied

Speaking of pets, Storm decided to crash my photo shoot! She’s about the same size as the tree, so I snapped a few shots of her being cute. I decided she looks like she’s praying to Santa (she doesn’t understand the whole letter writing thing) for me to give up crafting in favor of petting her full time. Sadly for her, I don’t think that’ll be happening.

O (mini) Christmas Tree - Hands Occupied

And finally, here’s a full shot of our little tree, which we’re keeping up on an end table, out of the dogs’ reach, near a window. We’re also using small LED lights on this tree since they’re super lightweight and battery powered – no risk of tripping on a cord (they’re the same lights I used in my giant arrow sign, actually).

So what do you think of this little untraditional tree? How would you make it your own?

O (mini) Christmas Tree - Hands Occupied

The tree used in this post was provided by Garden Media Group and comes from Costa Farms. 

Filed Under: Christmas, Giveaways, Reviews & Sponsored, Home Decor, How-to Tagged With: christmas, christmas tree, crafts, decor, decorations, diy, gardening, garland diy, LED, norfolk island pine, o tannenbaum, pom pom garland

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Comments

  1. Rachel | 52 Weeks Project

    December 13, 2013 at 1:13 pm

    Yay for mini trees! Also, STORM IS SO CUTE!

    Reply
  2. Jerilyn

    December 5, 2015 at 11:56 pm

    Really darling idea using the mini pom poms for a small tree!

    Reply

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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handsoccupied

Helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010
🧶 Really into intarsia
Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop the latest patterns ⤵️

Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts
Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the S Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest. Thank you. 🙏🏻❤️ If you love this pattern & didn’t know already, we are going to be doing a knit along (KAL) from October 1-29 featuring this spooky sweater vest & lots of tutorials, especially for the intarsia part. 
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Later today my newsletter will be coming out with additional Knit Along details, so if you’re not already signed up, now is a great time - the 🔗 is in my b1o. 
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Pictured: My Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern from the new Nightmare Before Christmas knitting book by @tanisknits. Model is wearing size 1 with 2” of positive ease, knit in @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted. Vest images via @insighteditions 
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#spiralhillsweatervest #handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook
At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest, my contribution to the new book Disney Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Knitting Guide to Halloween Town and Christmas Town, out now! 🎃💀 
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I’m hosting a knit along (KAL) October 1-29 for anyone who’d like to knit this vest along with a group & learn a little about intarsia while we’re at it. I’ve got weekly tutorials planned to help you knit this worsted weight sweater vest, and there’s a prize package giveaway at the end for KAL participants too. Details are on my site - you know where to find the 🔗 I think. 😉
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Book by @tanisknits 
Publisher @insighteditions 
Yarn @brooklyntweed Imbue 
Find it wherever fine books are sold. 
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#handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmas #intarsia #sweatervest #knittingpattern #knittingbook #spiralhill #knitting_inspiration #knitting
Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs closet after this weekend’s quick tutorial, here are few. ✂️ The tutorial is one post back in my feed as a video.
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As you can see, I didn’t worry about the wire hangers all being perfectly uniform, but it doesn’t matter to me. Also, this closet holds a lot! Despite that, it is already at capacity. Since the hanging bags don’t appear to be recyclable, I want to reuse them as long as possible. Who knows, maybe this will be a way to limit my WIPs? 😅
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P.s. In the third photo you can see how I use this system to store the original swatches, scraps, yarn ball bands, & notes from a design project all together. 
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#handsoccupied #wips #craftstorage #yarnstorage #yarncrafts #knitting_inspiration #craftstudio #craftroom #craftcloset
How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with jus How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with just a few supplies ✂️
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When I was a librarian, we would use these hanging bags to circulate books with audiobook CDs. They came to mind when I wanted to develop a filing cabinet-like system for my differently-sized WIPs. To fit in my studio closet, a standard bedroom closet, they just needed custom hangers. 🤙🏻 
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HOW TO MAKE THE HANGERS
1. Carefully cut approx. a 9” (23 cm) length of flexible 3 mm aluminum wire.
2. Near the end of a large knitting needle or dowel, wrap the wire around it as you would a twist tie. 
3. Bend the other end into a hook shape, perpendicular to the circle shape you just created. 
4. Hang like a hanger in a closet, as shown. 
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#handsoccupied #handmadelife #knitting_inspiration #craftcloset #craftroom #craftroomorganization #craftroomstorage #craftroomdecor #crocheter #latchhook #knittersofinstagram #wip #wips #hangingstorage
It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! T It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! This go around, get to know two new sister yarns from @manosyarnsusa, Marla and Sami, and enter to win a skein of each to try for yourself. 
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What makes these yarns sisters is that, while dyed differently, they’re the same weight and come in intentionally coordinating color palettes. For my review, I opted for a sky-inspired combo of Sami in Natural and Marla in Nube. 🌧️ 
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Check out the full review & enter the giveaway at the link in my bio. 
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#handsoccupied #yarnreview #manosdeluruguay #knitting_inspire #crochet #yarngiveaway #knitters #yarn #crochetersofinstagram
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