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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 & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and 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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Yarn craft designer & author. Into intarsia knits, latch hook, color & vintage-modern style.
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Are you looking for some late summer reading picks Are you looking for some late summer reading picks? Here are 3 fresh titles for makers of all ages - full reviews are on my bl0g, along with a giveaway for a copy of Knitstrips! The 🔗 is where you’d think. 😉
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To Make by Danielle Davis (@writesinla) / Knitstrips by Alice Ormsbee Beltran & Karen Kim Mar (@ik_knitstrips) / This Long Tread by Jen Hewett (@jenhewett) 
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#summerreading #bookshelf #readingrecommendations #handsoccupied #booksformakers #craftbooks
New on the blog today! This former Librarian revie New on the blog today! This former Librarian reviews three making-related books for kids, teens & adults. And there’s a copy of one up for giveaway too! 📚 
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To Make by Danielle Davis (@writesinla) with pictures by Mags DeRoma (@magsderoma) / Knitstrips (@ik_knitstrips) by Alice Ormsbee Beltran & Karen Kim Mar / This Long Thread by Jen Hewett (@jenhewett) 
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I’ll share preview page-through videos for these this week too, but for now the written reviews are at the top of handsoccupied dot com along with my search bar if you can’t find ‘em. All giveaway details are listed in the review post. 🤙🏻 
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(^ I heard a rumor that if I tell you to exit this app, no one will see this post, so plz forgive the song & dance just in case it matters. 🙈)
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#handsoccupied #summerreading #booksformakers #booksforcrafters #books #knittersofinstagram #craftbook #knittingbook
I think about the wrong side of my intarsia knitti I think about the wrong side of my intarsia knitting kind of like some embroiderers do: I get (probably too) excited when the back’s neat and tidy. Are you this way? Is it just me? 
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Pictured is the wrong side of a large primary color intarsia swatch I knit for an upcoming design in @brooklyntweed Arbor. When I pulled it from my studio, I thanked my former self for talking the time to knit, weave in ends, & block a clean swatch already. As critical as they are, I’m excited to not have to make one today. I’ll advocate for swatching all day long, but I won’t pretend it’s like the funnest step in the process! 😆🧶
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#stopswatchandblockit #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #handsoccupied #knitincolor #knitdesign #handknits
Weaving in ends when you’re knitting with black Weaving in ends when you’re knitting with black yarn… 😅 
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There are a few reasons 90% of my work is done in primary colors, & this is one of them! Lucky for me and my tear ducts, this secret monochromatic design project is off the needles. Just blocking, seaming, & then grading the thing before I can ship it off to make my deadline. 🤙🏻
Today’s knitting vocabulary words: deadline isla Today’s knitting vocabulary words: deadline island & intarsia lock. Have you run across these terms before? 
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If there’s interest, I can share more examples of how to wrangle intarsia locks in a future video. With all of the intarsia designs in my queue, examples are sure to present themselves. 😅🧶 
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#intarsia #deadlineisland #handsoccupied #intarsiaknitting #colorworkknitting
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