What to do when you've run out of time for gift knitting

We’ve all been there. Watching the days tick down before the holiday period - acutely conscious that your pile of unfinished WIPs seems to be increasing as the big day approaches. Panic starts to set in as you realise that you have drastically over committed yourself and you start to send up fervent prayers to the Knitting Gods that next year, you promise you’ll start earlier. If only they could just grant you a few more hours of knitting time.

I have to confess that I abandoned the concept of gift knitting a few years ago. It helps that my children are older and no longer expect the elves to bring striped socks on Christmas Eve -also their feet are much bigger than mine. I knit for loved ones throughout the year and if it happens to coincide with a birthday or special event then so much the better. But I don’t place that pressure and weight of expectation on myself anymore. It feels like a way to be kinder to myself at what can be an extremely stressful time of year.

If you are gift knitting though and keeping a firm eye on the diminishing hours, may I present my firmly tongue in cheek suggestions to power through your gift knitting.

1. Knit faster. Yes, I know it’s blindingly obvious but for me I know that I can speed knit in short bursts if I need to or if a deadline looms. I remove all the distractions, leave my phone in another room and put on a tried and tested box set to watch. Setting myself a goal of solid knitting for 1 or 2 episodes of Schitts Creek for example is an excellent way I’ve found to really get some solid inches in.

2. Stop cooking. Drastic, yes but desperate times call for desperate measures. More than once I have suggested we have a ‘picky tea’ - which is generally an invitation to raid the fridge/cupboards/leftovers and compile a meal from the harvest. When the kids were small I would put a picnic blanket on the living room and call it an indoor picnic. Either way, it freed up precious knitting time.

3. Crying and stress eating - not recommended obviously but I’ve definitely done this in extremis. It doesn’t get the knitting done any faster though.

4. Give an IOU. This is obviously the one I have had most success with and the one that I recommend most heartily to you. Unless the recipients are very small (and their gifts are also correspondingly tiny) I recommend taking the pressure off yourself. All good things come to those who wait, after all. By all means take a photo of what the intended item will be - or gift wrap half a sock if it makes you feel better. Those who are truly knitworthy in your life will appreciate that good knitwear doesn’t just fall off trees. And if they aren’t truly knitworthy then you could save yourself the trouble and just buy them a box of chocs instead.

Whatever you choose to do, may I take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very happy and peaceful Christmas, however you are spending it and to say a sincere thank you for being here with me this year.

Winter of Books and Yarn

You may remember that back in the summer I ran a really successful and enjoyable 6-week reading challenge - Summer of Books and Yarn.

I’m pleased to say that the readalong challenge is returning for the winter months with a similar format and an equally imaginative name - Winter of Books and Yarn.

Starting on Monday Dec 26 and running for 6 weeks, the challenge will feature:

• A weekly prompt theme (although actual book choice is up to you)

• A free knitting pattern for a cowl

• Daily chat and sharing of our reads in the Everyday Knitter Facebook Group

The weekly prompts (and the free pattern) will be sent out by email - make sure you register at the button below to receive them. Chat and general social shenanigans will mainly be in the Everyday Knitter Facebook group although I will also be talking about it over on my Twitter account - @EverydayKnitter and on Instagram @LouiseTilbrookDesigns with the hashtag #WinterOfBooksAndYarn

The weekly prompts/themes are entirely optional and I always include a wild card as well, so if you have a particular book you are keen to read you can include it. And any book counts - ebooks, audio books, paper books - all are equally valid and included here.

If you are interested and would like to be the first to get all the details, please just tap the button below. And if you have any questions please just ask.

How much do I love a cowl?

Tap to buy patterns

The answer is lots...apparently

I've written about my love of cowls versus shawls a few times before - at length - but it's really at this time of year that they come into their own.

Something you can just throw on in a morning as you dash out of the door. Those first few frosty mornings that catch you slightly unawares and can leave the knitter feeling exposed and slightly draughty at the bus stop.

Until I had knit a few I was unpersuaded by the joys of cowls, I thought they would feel bulky or constraining (I have an irrational fear of polo neck sweaters and anything too tight under my chin) but they have turned out to be a surprisingly versatile and well-worn addition to my wardrobe.

They are also pretty quick to knit - compared to a full on shawl - and 1 skein of DK can go a long way when you pair it with a stretchy, squishy stitch pattern.

As a winter treat I have put together a bundle of cowl patterns with the discount code COWL15 on my website. You can buy as many as you like - just add the code at the checkout.

Happy knitting

Journaling prompts to boost creativity

I think we have all felt a bit stuck in a creative rut at one time another. Particularly when I’ve reached the end of a long project or I am at the stage where I can’t (or won’t) make progress on long standing WIPs. There are times when, frustratingly I find myself with time on my hands and the desperate urge to create something, anything, but yet I’m almost paralysed by indecision and choice.

I tell myself I’ll just have a look through my yarn stash but an hour later I’m still there. Pawing through my stored yarn, thinking of plans, maybe starting a few but then ripping back and ending up back where I started. Just with a busier brain.

I’ve found that keeping a super long-term project on hand is really helpful for times like this. My giant granny square blanket for example can always be added too and it can keep my fingers busy and my brain distracted.

My other go-to solution is my journal. I grab my trusty notebook and pen and either free write (great for releasing frustration) or use a prompt that appeals to me.

Anything to get words and feelings out of my brain and to free up a bit of space for me to be me again.

If this sounds like something you might like I have put together a short, free PDF containing 5 of the prompts I use most often when I’m feeling in a creative rut.

You can tap the button below to download it, or save the Pinterest image for later.

PIN FOR LATER

Tips for avoiding seasonal overwhelm

Plain toe-up socks in WYS Gingerbread yarn.

I’m sure we all know those super prepared people - the ones who have all their Christmas cards written and presents bought by bonfire night, not to mention all of their knitted gifts done and dusted. If you are reading this though, then I’m sure you’ll be heartened to read that I am not one of those people.

Every year around this time of year I swear that next year will be different and that by 1st December I will be wearing a large, sparkly T shirt that says “I’m ready for Christmas”. And every year the festive season hits me like a tinsel covered tow truck. Every single bloody year.

Over the years I have gradually pared down the list of Christmas essentials, eliminating everything that doesn’t bring me joy or that causes undue stress. For your reading pleasure I present a short list of things I have found I can reduce or do without in hopes that it inspires you to declutter your festivities as well:

1. No knitting for others, unless I really want (and have time) to

2. No late-night shopping or activities after 7pm

3. No Christmas cards except for relatives and people I won’t see in person

4. No festive baking - unless I am really in the mood and I want the house to smell nice

5. Stepping away from social media the minute I find myself bookmarking Christmas decor ideas

6. No Elf on the shelf or Christmas Eve boxes - but we do give Christmas Eve books.

7. No hot chocolate stations or similar Pinterest-y fad of the year

8. No present buying for spouse (we each do a donation to Crisis instead)

9. Every Friday I replace my daily bullet journal to-do list with a ‘have done’ list. It’s easy to focus on everything that you haven’t done but I find when I look back at the week and list all the things that I have accomplished it gives me a really positive boost.

In case you think I’m a complete Grinch I do really enjoy (aspects of) Christmas. I just like to enjoy them on my own terms, in my own way and without putting pressure on myself and others. For this weekend that looks like buying mince pies and eating them under a blanket, whilst knitting on some more Christmas socks.

What kind of Christmas Knitter are you?

The Knitting Quiz rides again - this time I have redone it with a festive twist.

We all have varying attitudes to Christmas knitting - and just the mere mention of it in knitting circles, from September onwards is likely to generate a multitude of responses.

So, just for fun I put together a short, 2 minute quiz to see what kind of Christmas knitting category you fall into. We have The Grinch, The Elf, The Fairy and The Angel.

Want to see which type you are - just tap the button below to take the quiz - and please feel free to share it with a knitty friend or two.