Christmas starts in the heart! I believe in its magic. You think loving thoughts of all the people in your life. You want them to be happy and joyful and that is a real challenge in these unusual times.
With the economy taking a huge downturn and recovery out of sight, it may just be time to think creatively! Hit the reset button! Gift giving may change from conspicuous consumption to gifts from the heart and hand. Plus, homemade is comforting and may fill a void lost in the social distancing shuffle.
You’ve heard of Christmas in July? Well, my Christmas season starts in my heart and in August! Summer gives you a heck of a head start to reach your holiday goals!
Here's how
First, make a list of everyone you care about, near or far! Think of family, friends, teachers, the postman and any other people who touch your life!
Second, start thinking what do they need? Emphasis on need… everyone will need warm clothing in the winter, hats, scarves, cowls, vests, sweaters, mittens, hand-warmers, socks. Children need toys…comforting dolls and snuggly warm afghans! We all need our spirits lifted, so don’t forget heart-felt little gifts like Christmas ornaments, bookmarks and other treasures. At this stage, don’t worry if your gift list is complete or not, just brainstorm right now!
Third, assess your resources! Before you leave the house, look at what you have on hand! A half skein here could be combined with a half skein there! Make a scrap happy afghan, a smidgeon scarf or a striped hat! Also, assess your time. How much do your plan to devote. Crafting puts control back in your life so you may just want to consider spending more time crafting!
Fourth, if you must shop for supplies, determine your budget! If you lost your job in the pandemic, it’s okay to be conservative. Watch for sales and coupons. Shop thrift stores for yarn. I recently found 10 matching skeins of microfiber yarn for $2.00 total (a $60 value). Enough to make an elegant top! I could not pass it up.
Then, look for other supplies that you might need, knitting needles or crochet hooks, measuring tape, stitch markers, buttons. I found a hook for 50 cents and new zippers for pennies! I love looking at baskets of notions, you never know what will inspire you!
Fifth, share your time with your children! Teach them the lifelong skills of knitting and crochet! Even crafting supplies can make great gifts. Delight the kids with a basket of yarn, a hook and your time.
Lastly, look for suitable patterns. TwistedYarns.com offers many free patterns and lots of ideas! Peruse the collection of patterns and watch for new Christmas patterns each week. Designed to be easy-to-do, progress will be rapid. Then checkout the Twisted Yarns YouTube channel for detailed how-tos.
