Christmas!

Is anyone knitting presents?

I'm making socks for my family. I have 1 of 15 pairs done. (I have a big family, plus in-laws.)

My big Loopy Ewe order should arrive today or tomorrow, full of the sock yarn I'll be using for all these socks. I can't wait to open the box! It'll be like Christmas in October! :D

I'll be knitting a few presents for people, but I've made it a policy of mine to only knit for people who will appreciate the time and effort that goes into the gift. While I love knitting, I know plenty of people who would be just as happy (if not moreso) with a gift I purchase for them.

So I knit for the people I know will love getting a hand knit present.

I've been working on several projects for this Christmas - I'm trying to make something for everyone in the family, and most of it is knitted stuff (the other stuff is either cross-stitched or sewn). I've finished afghans for several people, a hat and scarf for my sister-in-law, and I plan on making socks for some people too. I'm with you, lefty, that opening a big box of yarn for a new project is just as much a present for me as it is for whomever I'm making the project for!

I'm making a scarf at the moment -- not for Christmas but for someone who's moving up to colder climes -- but it's a great easy pattern that is perfect as relatively-mindless-but-not-so- mindless-you-die-of-boredom knitting (ideal for watching TV or other activities that engage part of your brain) -- it's called a multidirectional diagonal scarf and you can get the directions if you google that phrase. It works particularly well with variegated yarns such as Noro Kureyon.

keywestnan: I just finished a felted saddle blanket for my sister using Noro Kureyon - it's such a great yarn and felts really well. I love working with it - I bet that scarf will be beautiful!

#2 Shadrach, I completely understand only making things for those who will appreciate it having been made! I make something for my immediate family every year since they do enjoy it. I added husband's parents when we got married and this year I'm including husband's brothers as well. You're right: for the time it takes to make something, it had better be for someone who appreciates handmade items.

There wasn't a box waiting for me when I got home yesterday. :/ Maybe today!

Ooo, a saddle blanket. That's a neat idea, scaifea! I've lived on a horse farm for 4 years but I never thought of making a felted saddle blanket.

I knit blankets for everyone for every occasion. I'm working on one for my sister's baby shower. Next up is for the priest who did my mother-in-law's funeral.
I gave my friends a blanket as a wedding present and every time I'm over there, they bring it out and show it to everyone else who is there. I've gotten several 'orders' like that....

keywestnan: I'm going to have to google that! I have lots of variegated yarn left over from a couple blankets...

lefty: If you're interested, the pattern for the saddle blanket is in Greetings from Knit Cafe. Here's my finished product:

Nice picture scaifea, I love paterns that create a scallop edge like that and I am fond of chevron patterns.

I am finishing a hat and a lacey scarf. I will probably make another button over cowl for friends.

Lefty I can identify with the box of yarn being a present. Last year I got my sister (who is a knitter) -a box with yarn for two sweaters. For most people that would be like saying "here knit your own sweater" but she was excited as I would have been.

I'm getting ready to start knitting a purse for my daughter. Last year I made scarves for both my daughter and my niece. My daughter got upset with me last year as she thought I hadn't made her anything (she likes to receive homemade gifts as well as store bought). Told me she loved the scarf, but would have preferred a homemade one. I had to smile as I told her that her "new knitter" mom had actually made it!
P.S. That is absolutely beautiful scaifea!!
#1 lefty33 - I'm hoping to gear myself up to trying socks next year.

edited for P.S.

I'm knitting many of my gifts this year. So far, I've finished:
Two hats
A pair of slippers
A pair of wrist warmers
A stuffed owl
And I'm finishing a stuffed cat.

8- That is beautiful, scaifea! I love the colors.

I just finished a Christmas stocking (traditional green/red/white with candlesticks, trees and wreath) for my new daughter-in-law. I gave it to her on her birthday, NOV. 28. It's another way to make her feel part of the family. :-}.

No knitted gifts this year. I have been sewing tote bags for several of my female relatives.

My sisters and a few aunts are getting reversible totes (3 batiks on one side, 3 conventional fabrics on the other side), using a modified version of the Six Pack Tote from Whistlepig Creek Productions. If anyone wants to try this pattern, I would strongly recommend using a medium weight fusible interfacing instead of the fleece, unless you have time to quilt it. I made one bag with the fleece, and had to quilt it because the fleece does not add strength or stiffness. It looks great, but if I had to quilt every bag, I would never get all of them finished.

My nieces are getting Tukaway Totes in batiks.