Nissemen International, Part 2

Christmas hats are still appearing from around the world. Thanks, all, so much for helping spread the Christmas spirit!

Here we have a very Zen Nisse from Thailand, a lovely Danish Nisse horse, a Christmas goose from Copenhagen, a little fluffy ball of fun from England, and a howling Christmas coyote from China.

To check out all the photos from my Christmas challenge, or to add your own, head over to the Nissemen Anonymous group on Flickr.

Christmas Aprons

With only a week until we leave for England, I've been trying to finish up my share of the linen Nisse aprons for the Christmas kitchen. The cook's little helpers will wear them over the holiday season, and then, after Christmas, the three best workers will get to keep one.

Here is the first finished apron, which features little a Nisse boy and his piggy. The designs by Danish company Maileg were used for inspiration.

In keeping with the Christmas spirit: 'God Jul' ('Happy Christmas' in Danish), and the year, to celebrate the first Christmas at my parents' new house in England.

Here is one of the aprons my Mum is sewing up -- a Nisse girl with her baking tray full of pepperkaker!

Let's hope the aprons get put to good use, and there's plenty of Christmas baking this year!

International Nisse

The Nissemen have been busy! From around the world, photos of Christmas hats are coming in, and what creative Nisse there are this year. Here are a few of my favourites:

In China, Chairman Nisse is writing his Christmas list. In England, the Dala horses are going for a trot. Here in Texas, a little Christmas frog is out for a chilly bike ride. In Denmark, the Little Mermaid is keeping her head warm (if nothing else). And, a British pheasant is going out caroling.

If you want to get your neighbourhood in the spirit, too, then make a hat or two using our tutorial, and upload your Nisse photos to our group on Flickr.

Christmas Challenge

Now that Thanksgiving is over, turkeys everywhere are putting on their Christmas hats to prepare for the next holiday.

And, to spread a bit of Christmas joy in the next few weeks, lots of other things around here will be donning Christmas hats, too. In fact, I'm on a mission to cover the neighbourhood in Christmas cheer.

But why stop at one neighbourhood? With your help, we can cover the whole world in little Christmas hats!

So, I challenge you to join me. I've written a little tutorial on how to make Christmas hats yourself, using either red and white paper, or red and white felt. Whip up a few hats of your own to adorn the statues and garden folk of your home and those of your neighbours!

 

How to Make a Christmas Hat:

You can use either paper or felt, and the same instructions apply. With paper, you'll need tape and glue; with felt, you'll need thread and, optionally, fabric glue. For both, you'll need a pompom for the top.

Cut a cone shape from your red material. I like to use a corner of the paper or felt, as shown below. The longer the straight sides are, the bigger your hat will be. Usually, two sizes will fit most statues: 4 inch sides for a small, 8 inch sides for a large.

Place the rounded edge of the red shape on top of a piece of white paper or felt. Cut along the edge, so that you get a matching edge on the white paper.

Now, cut a parallel line along the edge of the white paper, to make the band at the rim of the hat. For a small, the band should be 1/2 an inch wide; for a large, it should be 1 inch wide.

Now, you have these two pieces:

Glue along the rounded edge of the red material if you are using paper. If you are using felt, use fabric glue, or stitch the band in place with white thread.

Place the white band on top of the glue, making sure all the edges line up.

If you are using paper, add a strip of tape along one long side. It should be sticky side up. You will then roll the hat up into a cone, and stick the edges together. If you are using felt, roll the cone up, and then stitch along the long sides to hold it together.

Your cone should look like this:

Add glue to the point, and stick on a pompom. You can also stitch it on, if using felt.

Ta-da! Now, go out and put in on some garden statues!

So, have a go at making a hat or two (or buy yourself a couple of cheap ones -- they are everywhere right now!) and put a smile on your neighbours' faces. And every week or so, I'll put up a few of the best photos from the group on here, so check back to see how we're taking over the world!

Nisse Houses

There's a lot of Danish blood in my family, so we've always celebrated Christmas with Nissemen, the cheeky little red elves who, legend has it, deliver the presents.

This year, inspired by the little Nissemen, I've been making these Nisse houses... just the right size for a passing Nisseman to take a nap in!

They are completely made from felt, with embroidered windows, and stuffed with soft batting that would make a lovely Nisse bed. I'm still finishing the little village, but they should be done in time for Christmas!

Photo from (here) and my camera