Knits for the Holidays
Wednesday October 17, 2007
I am busy barreling toward a book deadline that hits right after Thanksgiving, so I haven't had much time to think about holiday knitting yet. But I know some of you are already thinking about it (and some of you are probably already doing it), so I thought I'd ask how many people you're knitting for this holiday season.
If you'd like to share a story of holiday knitting, maybe your most ambitious project or what you're planning this year, please do so in the comments.
Poll: Are you planning holiday knitting?
If you'd like to share a story of holiday knitting, maybe your most ambitious project or what you're planning this year, please do so in the comments.
Poll: Are you planning holiday knitting?
- Yes, for one person.
- Yes, for a couple of people.
- Yes, for several people.
- Yes, for most everyone on my list.
- Yes, for everyone on my list.
- Only for myself.
- No.
- I've already got my holiday knitting done.
- Some other answer.
Comments
I only took up knitting earlier this year but it just took off for me, I absolutely love it!! So I plan to knit for everyone on my list. However there is the slight (read: almost certain) possibility I might not have time between now and December 25. I still intend to try though.
I plan to knit dishcloths for almost everyone on my list. To this end, I have been asking everyone about the colors in their kitchens. Everyone is mystified and thinks I’m plotting something tricky and/or evil….
I’m only knitting for the people I know will appreciate it. The year I learned to knit I knitted for everyone, and only 1 person out of the 8 or so people I knit for has ever used their gift, despite the fact that I asked people what they wanted and in what colours, then got their opinion on the yarn. So a word of advice: don’t waste the effort on people who won’t appreciate it.
Colder weather brings with it the need for hats and mittens. I work with other volunteers and knit double yarn mittens for children at our local elementary schools. Other knitters work on hats and scarves. We like to deliver them before Christmas and always have a nice variety of sizes and colors. Teachers help to distribute them to those in need.
I am knitting an afghan for my mother. It is a really ambitious project I started back in May and I am about half way through (I keep getting distracted because it doesn’t travel well, it is 10 balls each a different color and i have to change color every four rows). I need to concentrate on it more in order to get it done for the holidays. Last year I knit my sister-in-law a Harry Potter scarf which she uses routinely and my boyfriend a vertical stripped hat.
I’m busy knitting & crocheting all sorts of items for a Holiday Boutique that a group in my church is having Nov. 6th. The monies raised will be used to help women and their children at Christmas time through the Orange County Rescue Mission. I’m doing scarves, hats, purses, dolls, teddy bears, and Christmas layette sets for babies. I do most all my knitting in the evenings while watching TV as I work during the day so time is limited.
A few years ago I started knitting scarves for my grandchildren to give to their teachers as holidays gifts. It has now become a tradition. They love helping me pick out the materials and watching the projects grow. And the teachers are thrilled with the handmade items.
I am making slipper socks for all my co-workers - 16 including my boss - and all my children - another 6. I was making a pair for my daughter and worked on it over my lunch break at work. Everyone fell in love with the self-striping yarn and asked (some begging went on too!) for socks as my “everybody” gift. I have been doing at least a pair a week and should be done by Thanksgiving unless I have a sock melt-down before I finish. I have even gotten orders for socks from my co-workers so I can do them in my sleep - not really, but it seems like it. This is my most ambitious year knitting for everyone, but I have always done several things each for my family members for Christmas.
Because I had to retire early, there will be no Christmas Club check to help “Santa” supply gifts for friends and family. So since I now have the time, everyone will be getting ski masks, socks, mittens headbands etc… No only will they be warm, my stash will be used too!
I knit two colorful cribs size blankets for Project Linus (thanks for setting me on to that charity).Now I have just finished 16 fun fur scarves for all the girls in the family. The boys get hats at Christmas. Each year it is always a hand knit item for everyone.
This year, I’ve parred down who I will knit for (read: men just don’t appreciate all that effort on sweaters and other limited knit-for-men projects!) and, yet, there seems to be more to do on the list than in previous years.
I’ve already crocheted a dress for my daughter. I need to spend 20 minutes making a quick strap, wash/block and it’s done. I’m also knitting a belt of my own design (which requires felting, embroidery and beading [not NEARLY as hard as it sounds, really!]), and working on a lace sampler shrug — that I saw on Knitty Gritty on DIY — to complete the ensemble! I’m also making fashion belts (refer to above) for friends of my daughter and of the family. One poor young lady is so small that she must buy all her clothes from the Young Men’s dept. (Love the girl, “HATE” that anyone is THAT skinny and still healthy!) Victoria has really been a lifesaver for my family this year, so I thought I’d make her some extra special feminine style clothing to add to her wardrobe. I’m making her a shrug, the fashion belt and this cool tank/corset.
One other weekend (or less) project … several years ago, my mom bought us all the most wonderful slippers that actually went up to the knee (no chill-zone betwee the nightie and the ankle!). Everyone loved them, so, of course, the company quit making them. This year I found some quality/inexpensive fabric slippers that stop just below the ankle (let’s add to the chill-zone!). I’ve used a crochet cast on and, using leftover fibers, knitting them up to the knee. I feel so clever! (Also my own design!)
For you beginners out there, I know all of this sounds difficult, but these are all actually really quick, do-able projects and are so much easier to do than it looks or “sounds.” For instance, I’ve been avoiding knitted lace because it looked so danged hard to do ever since I took up two needles (knitting instead of crochet), but really longed to do it since I like quality lace (no, not the frilly fru-fru crap). I’ve discovered nine-tenths of the problem was allowing myself to read and understand what all of the directions meant. Basically, ladies (folks?), if you can knit, purl, increase and decrease (just variations of knit and purl) then making lace is so simple! Simple enough that some of the shrugs I’m making for friends, etc. are lace of my own design. No, I’m not Stupor-Woman with nothing but time to knit. I’m a novelist with two books overdue to my publisher, sick parents, and health problems of my own. Knitting is so therapeutic — especially when you can find ways to bring a project in something the size of a lunch-box while you’re waiting on someone else’s schedule and whim.
Merry Holiday planning!