Balls Up!

I found these adorable christmas baubles on ravelry and had to knit some for my Christmas tree. In recent years, I have stuck to a theme. Gold and red. I have never strayed from this but I have been looking at and comparing trees this year and have to say, I prefer the "multi coloured, hotch potch of decorations, looking like a riot trees." They fit in perfectly with the ever increasing collection of ornaments I have received from friends and family, which have caused me a dilema - where do they fit in with my  'themed tree'?

So what is more important to me? Sticking with the coiffured, ten a penny, the mainstream big gun retailers tell me to do it this way tree..... or create a tree that is bright, colourful, unique and is full of memories of Christmases past and loved ones? I will give you one guess.... yes, you are right. Bye bye oh perfect tree. My memories and the gifts from others are way more important than picture perfect. I do not live in a biege , Stepford life and that is what my tree has become. No longer!

Completed knit report
Pattern	Balls Up!
Designer	General Hogbuffer
Sourced from	Ravelry search
Knitted for	My Christmas tree
Wool used	Jamieson and Smith 2ply Shetland, off white sock wool and some shimmery silver thread stuff
Purchased from	McArees and some from stash
Any problems with the pattern?	None at all, very simple and straight forward
Any modifications made	Yes, made the i-cord hanging loop longer so it could fit over the branches/needles of a real tree
Washing and wearing	Will not be washing these as they will only hang on the tree for two weeks a year. I might give them a hoover every other year
Knit again?	Absolutely! These little baubles are moreish! Great way to try out fair isle , colour work and pattern design as patterned section is only 13 rows wide
Any changed to be made next time?	Yeah but I will change them at the time.
Skills learned?	Patience… the decrease rounds at the end after you insert the polystyrene ball is very, very tricky. Not difficult, just tricky but the pattern warned you about that.
General comments	You must make some of these.. uses very little wool and your own imagination sets your design limits.