The final 3D Challenge entries are two from Sylvia Cannizzaro of West Glover,Vermont—a prolific and talented craftswoman who also gave us the Sampler Binder. Her Christmas wreath is a timely and attractive project that many of you will want to make for the holidays and the gift bag is useful year-round. Thank you, Sylvia!

“This project is fairly simple–inspired by the yarn, Lamb’s Pride “Christmas Green”, worsted weight. It’s a Christmas wreath, of course. I used my Hazel Rose Tiny Weavers, which produces squares on the bias. The bias weave really helps to form a smooth circle.

I crocheted the beginning sixteen squares together in a rectangle, fulled it, then crocheted the long edge together, turned it inside out, closed up most of the circle and stuffed it with wool batting, completing the wreath. (If you plan to hang the wreath, a wire sewn to the back will help hold its circular shape and also function as a hanger.)

The leaves are combinations of triangles and either squares or diamonds. I fulled them after forming the leaf shape, but not much–I don’t have a washing machine, and can only stand at the sink for so many minutes at a time. Then I simply sewed them together, then sewed them to the wreath. It’s easy to hide the ends, and also easy to adjust the shape with the needle and yarn. The berries are red roving from Peace Fleece in Maine. I initially felted them in my palm, wet with water, then finished and attached them using a felting needle.

I thought this would also make a lovely centerpiece, with a candle in a jar in the middle. I actually don’t use candles much, so I didn’t have one to show, but this gives the idea.

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This one is my second small loom project, and my first using the Weave-it type looms. I wanted to experiment with the seaming, and that is what inspired the design, along with the fun wool, thick and thin, monochromatic, and easy to weave.

To make the bag I used nine 2″ squares each for the front and back panels, and two 2”x6” rectangles for the sides and base. I sewed the front and back panels with a basic whip stitch in a smaller, darker green yarn. By the last seam, this was becoming virtually invisible, but I still need practice. I used needlepoint wool (3 strands) to embroider over the vertical seams with a feather stitch. I crocheted the panels together using a single strand of needlepoint yarn, and then just continued the line across the top for decoration. I had imagined more elaborate decoration, but the bag seemed finished at this point, so I didn’t push it. I think the feather stitch draws the eye away from the horizontal seams, but I also think that if I did this project again I would stick with the 2″x6″ rectangles, although the 2″ squares are so quick and fun to make. (I have four young children, so working with smaller pieces is both more practical and in the end satisfying, since a project can be completed in a week, as this one was.)

The handles are also woven. I used a Hazel Rose Tumbling Blocks Loom (7″) for this, but anything would work.

I sewed the handles on first, then formed the lining out of some muslin and hand stitched it in. (I could provide more detailed instructions, if you like, but I just kind of made it up as I went along.)

This was a fun project, and the bag is so cute! I’m saving it to give as a Christmas gift, filled with some homemade goodies. (Of course, I also plan to enter it at the county fair.)