Daisies in December

 

In 2025, when I was planning my honorary niece Olivia's Christmas present, the plan began with a sweater.

 

 

 

 

 I searched Ravelry for a good pattern, and ended up deciding on one I had made before: s34-7 Daisy Delight, by Drops. My first go at this pattern was in 2021, when I made the sweater and cap for my grandniece Cauliflower. I'd been really pleased with the design at the time and it seemed like the best possible pick for Olivia's 2025 Christmas sweater. This time, I envisioned the sweater in red rather than in the old rose I used the first time. I purchased 400 grams of Drops Karisma in Weinrot (or what I would call a burgundy red), and found some small amounts of cream and green DK yarn in my stash for the daisies and their centres. 

 

 

 

 Here's the sweater in a size 9/10. As I remember, it knitted up quickly with no problems, and I liked the red, which was both pretty in itself and would flatter Olivia. 

 

 

 

 I made the hat as well, and it was a quick easy project. 

 

 

 

 

 

As for the rest of the gift, I bought a thrift shop copy of Bernice Thurman Hunter's Booky trilogy (which I enjoyed as a kid), and then bought a bracelet weaving kit, set of temporary tattoo markers, and a tri-pack of flavoured lip balms at Dollarama. They seemed like a reasonable array of things for a slightly precocious nine-year-old who loves reading and arts and crafts. 

 

 

 

 I actually got Olivia's gift to her before Christmas, and according to her mother, she was very pleased with everything and had to begin balming, tattooing, and weaving at once.