Only 9 More Weeks Until Christmas!

Who’s freaking out yet about all the knitting you need to get done between now and then?

Personally, this was an eye opener for me. I was pleasantly scrolling through my newsfeed before digging into work for the day and it hit me. Someone shared a meme saying only 9 more Monday’s until Christmas. I scrambled to open up a calendar and check. And they’re right! It’s only 9 more weeks until Christmas! That’s not nearly enough time for all that I’d like to knit…let alone some of the other things that I need to squeeze in there.

So what’s a knitter to do with Christmas fast approaching?

Let’s take a few breaths and look at what we can accomplish between now and Christmas morning. In the post below are a few of my tips for getting a bunch of gifts finished before the holidays.

Tip 1: Look through your Pattern Libraries.

Yes there is that ever growing pattern library you have on Ravelry, maybe LoveKnitting, and there’s sure to be a Pinterest board or two in there as well. Rather than spend countless hours searching for new patterns, take a quick look back at the ones you’ve already fallen in love with. This will save you time searching and get your needles clicking faster – giving you more time to knit between now and Christmas.

Tip 2: Look for quick wins.

Yes sweaters and shawls are amazing to give as gifts around the holidays. If you haven’t already cast on yet though, there might not be enough time. Hats, mittens, (hat and mitten sets), slippers, etc. are lovely gifts as well. And let’s face it, as much as we wish people understood how much time and energy we spend on making a gift…it’s seldom understood. You can use this to your advantage though between now and Christmas. Whip up something fast but beautiful and your intended recipient will love it!

If you need a few quick patterns, here is my list of hat knitting patterns.

These patterns also tend to be stash busters. Using yarn you already have will save you additional time and money this holiday season. It will also make room for you to buy new yarn after Christmas!

Tip 3: Make a list.

It works for the big guy, why not you! Making a list will help you prioritize who you’ll be gifting handmade items to this year. I make a list that is broken into a few groups.

My Musts – these are my family members or people in gift exchanges that I have to knit for. These are the ones where you’ll really have egg on your face if you show up empty handed. You’ll knit these first.

Nice to haves: these are the people who are close to you, but that you might not be expecting a gift from. I have a few friends and cousins that fall into this group.

Extras: While these are my last to knit, these are some of my favorites. I love to whip up wine bottle sweaters, coasters, wash cloths, and ornament covers as extra gifts. This way, when I’m invited to a party I have a cute thoughtful hostess gift.

Now that you have your list, you can start to search for patterns from your library and match them up. It feels so good to cross these off the list as you finish them.

Tip 4: Skip the Gift wrapping.

Yes the surprise is nice, but you just spent hours crafting something beautiful only to cover it up. This Christmas, let the gorgeous texture of your knitting speak for itself. I love to fold or roll up what I’ve made and tie it up with a simple bow. It’s elegant and saves you time. And it helps limit the chance you’ll give the wrong gift to the wrong person…I’m unfortunately speaking from experience on that one.

Tip 5: Use your time wisely.

If I’m plopped down in front of the television with my husband or sipping coffee on the front porch with the dog, my knitting is in my lap. I like to take quick knitting breaks from other things as well. Working from home really affords me the opportunity to get a few rows in here and there, but you can take advantage of this too. If you don’t have hours to sit down and knock out large chunks of knitting, sneak a few rows in when you can.

Grab yourself a good knitting bag and take your smaller projects with you. This means that you can get in a few rows while you’re waiting for your coffee, the bus, your kids after school, etc. And in almost no time, you’ll have a gift finished.

PS: I’m a Catholic so Christmas is my holiday, but if you’re Jewish or celebrate a different holiday, these tips can still apply! I try not to be exclusive here but write from my own experiences so it’s a bit blurred for the holidays.