It’s December already! Time to get to work on holiday gifts if you haven’t already (unless you’re already done because Hanukkah was so early this year). If you’re crafting, the days are just flying by, aren’t they?
Usually I fall back on cross-stitch for homemade gifts, but there’s only so much you can do year after year. I just learned to crochet, though, so my family gets something new this year! My Secret Santa gift just needs to be washed and blocked, I’m finishing up a quick scarf for my sister and still have to make one for my mom, my mother-in-law requested a cowl, and I still have to figure out WTF to make for the menfolk in the family. I checked out a book of crochet thread snowflake patterns from the library, so random people may get those too.
Are you DIY-ing any gifts this year? Share them in the comments!
4 replies on “Lunchtime Poll: Crafty Christmas”
Oh dear. I just spent two weeks crocheting tree ornaments (snowflakes, incidentally) for my kid’s school fair, only for it to bomb horrifically. I sold 3 of them. 3! So now I’m sitting here with 44 ornaments and no need to crochet anything else for anyone. People will love me ;)
I’ll make some wristers for my sister though, and scarves and blankets for various dolls. As for the men, I have no idea…
I haven’t decided yet if I’ll be crafting this year. Last year, I canned a whole bunch of homemade jam and gave that away along with personalized Christmas ornaments. It was cheap, fun to do, but a little time consuming, so I’m not sure if I’m going to go that route. I just never know what to get people for Christmas, and finances are a whole lot tighter this year than last year. :P
I’m knitting mittens for my sister-in-law, but most of my friends and relatives are getting bean-filled microwaveable hot packs. They’re real easy:
1. Cut a piece of cotton fabric into a rectangle twice the size of what you want your finished product to be.
2. Fold in half, and sew two sides and half of the third together wrong side out. Turn inside out.
3. Fill 1/2 or 3/4 of the way with beans. (I’m using pintos, but anything will work)
4. Fold the remaining half side inward so that it matches with the already sew sides, and pin into place. Either hand sew it or sew on a machine. You want to be able to take this seam out at a future date to replace the filling.
5. Heat in the microwave at 60 second intervals until hot, or stick in a 350 F degree oven until hot.
That’s a really good idea! I’ve never heard of using beans for filling for hot packs, only rice. Is there any reason why you use beans?