It’s The Second Most Wonderful Time of the Year

The original Most Wonderful Time of the Year being Christmas of course. But if you’re a diy-er/crafter/planner extraordinaire, this is the Second Most Wonderful Time – all the gift planning!

I know it’s early by most standards to be thinking of Christmas, but for diy-ers, you can never have too much time for a project.  I learned this the hard way.  Need some evidence?

Last year I started this scarf in September and finished it the last part of November.

Then I started all of these projects in December and finished them before Christmas:

Not pictured were two more headbands, some earwarmers, and a neckwarmer/ascot thing.

A little unbalanced, don’t you think?  I had so much I wanted to cram into that last month that knitting became a little less fun than normal.  So this year I’m trying to do better.

I absolutely love handmade gifts, and I really enjoy giving them.  Part of the present is all the time and care you devoted to the gift.  This year I’ve been planning Christmas gifts like crazy. While I’m planning on creating/sewing/crocheting/whatever-ing a variety of handmade gifts,  knitting just calls to me.  I mean, it’s Christmas.  Doesn’t it practically beg for warm, cushy presents?  I just want to knit my entire family sweaters of love.  (Kidding.  Sorta.)

Anyway, I thought I’d share with you all a few tips on getting ahead of the knit gift giving.  All of which I learned the hard way last year by becoming a crazy woman.

1) Think of the Recipient

My family celebrates things hard core.  We like to be jolly and buy presents for everyone.  But not everyone will love a handmade gift, let alone a knit one.  Take my brother, for instance.  Last Christmas he was 11.  He wanted Star Wars movies and nerf guns (I think).  Not a fluffy scarf or a pair of mittens.  So instead of spending time trying to make my craft “fit” into a good present for him, I spent more time making an adorable little owl hat for my baby cousin.  He didn’t care, but his mom loved it.  Bada bing, bada boom.

2) Make a List and Prioritize

I like to list everyone I’m buying for and then what I plan on giving them.  Then I make a special list (ocd much?) for everyone I’m knitting for.  I got to this point last year and stopped, but this year I’m taking it a step further and planning my knitting projects.  I like to have more than one going at a time, so while I’m working on a bigger project like a scarf or cowl, I can break it up with smaller projects like hats or mittens.  Prioritizing and time-lineing projects also gives you a clear view of how much you’re taking on and whether or not you need to edit.

3) Have Fun With It

When Christmas rolls around, people aren’t going to be over the moon about receiving your hand knit sweater if you’ve been a grouch for the past two weeks because you knit your fingers to the bone.  Making gifts should never feel like a chore.  That takes all the fun out of it.  You most likely will feel pushed for time or rushed to get a project done during the holiday season, but look at that as part of the adventure.

Last year amidst all the knitting, I loved the moments when I could sit down, watch a movie, and knit away.  It was relaxing, fun, I was making a present for someone I adored, and I was saving our family money while doing it.  Giving handmade is such a joy and delight.

So there’s just a few little things I learned last year about knitting gifts.  What about you guys?  Do you all have any tips about giving handmade presents, knits or otherwise?  Has anyone else started on Christmas gifts?

~Whitney