It's Coming

Today we are 109 days away from Christmas*. This seems like plenty of time to finish our knitted wool goodies that will be passed around but don't let the calendar fool you. I have come up with a few tips to ease the stress of your holiday knitting. They are only guidelines, and do not need to be followed exactly.

*I have not included the year here as many a knitter have succumbed to Unfinished Project Syndrome and will be too exhausted/fed up with/weaving in the ends of their many knits to have them completed by this Christmas. If this describes you or someone you know, don't fret, this day comes every year and means that the projects you knitted up for this season, will only give a head start for your list next year.

Step 1) Assemble all necessary materials and equipment for your Christmas knits. If you need to get more yarn, do it now. Make sure that all of your yarn is in the same dye lot. It doesn't hurt to buy and extra skein (or twelve) to be certain you will not run out of yarn.

Step 2) Immediately cast on your projects. My list has around ten people every year that receive two hand knits apiece. Most of them are small, portable projects like socks or mittens. Save these (if they are on your list) for the later knitting. They are quicker to finish before a gather than say, a sweater cast on a week before.

Step 3) Admire the progress you have made on your projects.

Step 4) Allow ample time for mistakes and do-overs. If it's something small, like a purled stitch instead of a knitted stitch, and it's twenty seven rows back, don't fret. Nobody will notice and time is of the essence.

If the error is very noticeable, like a miscrossed cable or straight knitted stitches where your lace work should be, get some chocolate and lock yourself somewhere where the children/cat/husband can't bother you and do what you can to fix it. I don't recommend using the only bathroom in the house as your hidey-hole.

Step 5) Be sure you make time for your loved ones. For many of us, chopping down/decorating a tree, baking cookies, and attending parties is a large part of the season. The best part is that you can take your knitting with you. Remember, if you are on the go, take one of your small projects.

Step 6) The week before Christmas, the majority of the gifts should be finished. I try to wash and block before wrapping, but this is not necessary for all projects, like the cotton dishcloths I plan to knit this year.

Step 7) Be sure to label the gifts according to the recipient. I wrap everything the same, so having the right name and gift is important.

Step 8) By now, there should be a bout three days before Christmas. If you haven't already, explain again to your family that they need to cook for themselves while you (still) work on the sweater for your sister that was started almost 8 months ago.

Step 9) Finish the sweater at 3am Christmas morning and wrap it in something pretty.

Step 10) Enjoy the day! **Everyone will be so impressed that this year, they received something knit with love. Something that took hours of your time and that you are proud of.

**If you weren't able to finish quite everything, don't fret. You have a headstart for next year.