Knitted nativity set - has anyone else made one?

I have knitted the donkey from Jean Greenhowe patterns, got adventurous and added a few sheep for good measure. The stable is now full to bursting, knitted the nativity set some years ago.

Love the pic, hdh! Nothing that give your family a good laugh can possibly be a disaster!

The only (quiet) laugh we got from mine last year was when we found Gdd 'marrying' the flashest looking Wise Man to one of our hand-me-down Barbies. Sadly the marriage didn't last - he's banished to a box in the loft, and she's back in the toy box.

I knitted one, but it really turned out quite a disaster. The verdict, quite fairly is that my sheep looks like a rabbit and poor baby Jesus looks like Bilbo out of the hobbit when the spiders wrapped him up. The whole thing is hilariously bad tbh but we put it out just so the family can have a really good laugh at it.

Thank you Witzend, I think a local shop used to sell Stylecraft but she has closed down now.
I haven't seen any yarns in a garden centre near to us.

Shepherds are all knitted now (grey and brown) and just waiting to be assembled, I'll leave them to rest in the bottom of the knitting bag for a while!

It's a Stylecraft Special, 100g, shade Sandstone, in case anyone wants to know.
Looks a bit greyish-brown when knitted up (started last night) but fine for shepherd's togs.

I was amazed at the selection of yarn in the garden centre - miles better for such purposes than my only other yarn outlet locally, John Lewis, so largely more premium/ expensive/natural fibres.

I couldn't find a brown tweedy mix anywhere!

Even after various other things, I still have so much yarn to use up, I'm contemplating another entire Nativity set, but waiting to see whether Gdd will have got a place at the preferred primary for September. Should hear next month. Since it's C of E, I thought they might like a set for the classroom.
If not, I could always donate to a charity shop. Or maybe a raffle prize for one of the school Christmas fairs - Gds will be at pre school by then, too.

While browsing in a big garden centre, of all places! the other day, I found exactly the sort of brown, tweedy-mix yarn I'd have liked, but couldn't find last year, for a shepherd's robe. Great big ball for £2.39. ?

BTW, the donkey pattern in one of the JG Christmas books is easier than it looks!

There was one on our local church at Christmas so I went and had a good look, there was a plastic donkey with the knitted set but I may get around to knitting one at some time.

I can ask at the local church. Good idea.

sorry, I got your name wrong mimismo

I've knitted most of it and now it needs sewing up and stuffing!!
However, I've gone on to other projects so this may be put on the shelf until about November.
There is a pattern on Ravelry for a donkey, but not an angel - good thought minimismo.

Perhaps a local Sunday School may like to have yours?

I used my nativity set at school with 5 year-olds for a few years. The characters had many adventures! I always felt it was missing an angel, as well as the ox and ass. Never did get round to making them and now I'm no longer teaching it just sits in it's box/stable. Shame really.

Gdd (3) loves 'Baby Cheeses' so much, I have made another, manger and all, as an extra little Christmas present. No. 2 is now sitting with all the rest on top of the piano while I try to make some sort of stable, so it looks as if Mary's got twins!

Jalima!

Thorntree and Witzend

I have made a start too - I sent for the pattern.
If I don't have much time, I will just try to make Mary and pretend that she is still pregnant, therefore nothing has happened and no-one else needs knitting.

I bet Gdd would love a witch for Halloween, but alas we have a lot on in the next month and I doubt I'll have time. Plus I have also rashly promised to make some little things (very little) for Gdd's pre-school Christmas fair, just as well that's not until late November.

I sent the pic of Mary and Baby to my sister in the US, and she has said for the 2nd time that if I'm including a donkey, I must for the sake of authenticity in the stable, knit some donkey poo! Well, you never know - I'm sure Gdcs (2 and 3) would love it. Maybe I'll do some of Jean Greenhowe's little holly berries in brown...

Panic! I got the set out to do some repairs (cat had a game last year!!) and the baby is missing ?
I will have to try and replace him so thank you Witzend for the photo!

That looks great Witzend, well done, am currently knitting a witch for granddaughter for Halloween. I use Jean Greenhowe patterns all the time, find them very easy to use.

How are you getting on, Thorntrees and Nana3? I've got stuck in again after hols, and have just finished Mary and Baby 'Cheeses' (I love that name!)
Here they are with the sheep I did first.
Still quite a lot to do!

Having found the pattern I’ve made a start. Done Mary and Joseph so far,a bit fiddly as they are quite small but pleased with my efforts so far. Going to try a shepherd and a sheep next as I have some white fluffy wool If I manage the whole set I will have to learn how to put a picture on the forum,that might be trickier than doing the knitting.

I was thinking just that Jalima.

That looks yummy Chaos

This year they will be old enough to help with making the stable, so results may be less
They could be less altogether - 'one for the stable, one in the mouth'

Sometimes the sewing up of all these nice knitted animals and people takes longer than the knitting!

Just read that again - I meant I’m really busy not that the Grim Reaper was hovering!

What a lovely thread! Some of the descriptions have made me giggle over my morning cuppa. Gruesome hybrids and knock kneed donkeys! I crochet more than knit nowadays. but I did knit a Tiny Clanger last year for dgs. I’d love to have a go at this but, unfortunately. time isn’t on my side.