For many of us, the thought of anything remotely to do with Christmas sends a shiver of dread through us. There’s always plans to make, dates flying around everywhere and the dreaded pressie list to think of. Although it feels way too early to be thinking about the festive season, for many of us crafters, our proverbial workshops will be opening shortly.
If you’re new to making things for friends and loved ones for Christmas or have just had a couple of years off in doing so, we’ve got a few tips for you in easing yourself into your makes nice and early. So rather than you becoming as stressed as an elf on the 24th of December, you can relax knowing that the planning you did was all worth it in the end.
Making A List, Checking It Twice…📝
Look, we get it, a Christmas list is hardly the thing you want to be writing this time of year, but step one really is in the planning. Now we’re not saying to get snowed under (apols, there will be seasonal puns here – we couldn’t resist!) and write down every single thing you want to get everyone, but it’s worth sitting down with your favourite drink and noting down of who you’re thinking of giving a gift to.
Remember, this is all about avoiding as much stress as possible, so if you’re now looking at your list with nothing but dread, the key is to whittle it down to who you’re drawn to making a gift for. While we all have lofty plans every now and again, it’s always worth having a word with yourself and asking the question as to whether you actually have the time to complete these projects. We’re all guilty of overstretching ourselves, especially at that time of year, so be sure to take a moment and think about what YOU actually want to do, rather than what you feel obligated to achieve.
Getting the Snowball Rolling 🏂
Right, so you’ve got your list – now you just need to make the thing. The next step? Gather your materials.
Not only is starting early a great way to offer yourself a sense of serenity over the festive period, it’s a brilliant way to spread the cost if you need to purchase anything. It also encourages you to have a raid through your stashes and use what you may already have.
It’s easy to think that you need a restock or feel the need to buy something brand new for someone, yet the chances are, most of us crafters will have some materials left over that can be put to good use for another project. Once you’ve gathered or bought whatever you need to top up on, it’s a good idea to take another look at your list and patterns and decide which one you’re going to tackle first.
If you’ve got multiple projects planned, it might be worth ‘kitting’ them up where space and resources allow. For example, if I’m working on a couple of cross stitch projects at a time, I’ll use a project bag for each one. Each of the bags will include my fabric, a hoop, scissors, threads and spare needles, my pattern and a pen to mark it off with. That way, I can easily grab the bag that I’m wanting to work on, knowing that all my materials are inside. It takes the guess work out of things and wondering as to whether you’re set up and ready to go.
Of course, different projects such as a large crochet blanket may not allow you to do the exact same thing, but having a designated area or bag to keep your bits and bobs in is always a help. Why not reuse one of your organza bags from a previous Wool Warehouse order? Those drawstring bags always come in useful somewhere!
Santa’s Workshop 🧶
We’re all so wonderfully different and the ways we work towards our projects are sure to be, too. There’s no real linear way of doing things; some may find working on all of them a little at a time helps them keep track of their progress, others find it easier to work on one thing at a time. It really is up to you.
However with us always keen to share some inspiration and tips, this section is no different. Personally, I would take stock of what I’ve got planned and tackle the longest or most complicated project first. The months pass incredibly quickly as it is and the ‘ber’ months absolutely zip by, typically leaving us with way less time than we first thought to complete anything. You know yourself and your speediness better than anyone, but it’s worth weighing up these options before you get started.
With all that said, now it’s over to you! We’re certain you’ve got this in the bag, but if you’ve already found your rhythm and would like to share your tips with fellow crafters, be sure to tag us in your photos using #WoolWarehouseCrafters and we’ll share some of our favourites. We hope whatever you’ve got planned for your loved ones, you’re sure to take care and carve out time for yourself, too.
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