I know we’re all used to seeing Michelewln’s pretty paintings on a Sunday afternoon. I don’t paint (I used to draw with pencil but no colors) but I do create things, just in the air instead of on canvas. We’re all hoping Michelewln will feel better soon and be back with us.
For the winter holidays, I exchange gifts with, or just give things to, some people who you might not expect would be on my list. A friend I met in 1954, when we were in elementary school (and her husband, and one of her daughters). My uncle and whichever of his children and grandchildren are with him, and his home helper. An older neighbor who every Christmas has some homemade sweets for me and who always remembers my birthday. And my daughter's in-laws.
About that last group: My son-in-law is from Pakistan. In the old way, they live with and care for his elderly parents, with a niece, in a Dallas suburb. As Muslims, they don't exactly celebrate Christmas but they did want my daughter to be able to continue celebrating her traditions. (If you will remember, a very few years ago Christmas and Hanukkah came at the same time. So my daughter had all those Muslims sitting on the floor in front of the Christmas tree where she taught them to play dreidel.) I don't in any way name the gifts as Christmas presents; the wrapping is strictly winter-themed. We all celebrate it as the national gift-giving day it has become for so many.
With so many people to gift, and with the not-so-close relationships, I have found ways to make very small things that are made quickly and cost very little. Everyone in my daughter's family has at least one large item I've made over the years, an afghan that will last. But generally, I give more token gifts than big, splashy things.
Like a lot of people who are serious about their knitting or crocheting, I have a supply of yarn left from projects I've done over the years. So first I go through the storage tubs to find those left-overs to make gifts. One year I was very pleased that I spent exactly $0 for the things I made!
So, with Thanksgiving now past and the winter holidays coming up so soon, I have some ideas for things that can be made quickly and cost very little. If you actually want directions for any of these things, you can let me know.
Hats: Although I usually like to make different things, one year I got very busy in the summer using up leftover yarn and making these hats. In fact, I made almost 90 of them and reduced my stash by half a storage bin. I gave 50 to a center for homeless vets, sent 25 out with friends who deliver meals to homeless camps, and gave the rest to family and friends. When my uncle, who had been in the navy, opened his, he exclaimed, "A watch cap!" These take about 5 hours to make, so that's a long afternoon or a couple of evenings after dinner. This is great for leftover yarn as it takes two half skeins, and it fits into a take-along bag easily. I knit in the round on size 8 (5mm) needles with worsted yarn doubled, but you could also knit flat on two needles and sew a seam.
Potholders: I use the cotton kitchen craft yarn even though it's not the easiest to manage on the needles. If you buy the large skeins or the cones, you can make so many that the cost is almost negligible for each one (coupons!). I've known people who just use three strands and knit garter stitch until it's the size they want. That would bore the socks off of me. I do various things, including using stockinette to make a color pattern; two color bee stitch (the prettiest); and my favorite, half fisherman's rib, the most functional. I always use the yarn at least doubled and size 7 needles. And I finish the edge and add a loop for hanging with crochet. If you crochet but don't knit, you can make two the same size and then join them with a crochet border all around. That’s the way it used to be done. An important note here: Some of those yarns bleed a lot, so be careful. And it may not just be the dark colors. I've had pink bleed all over. If you wash these before giving, remove them from the dryer while slightly damp and stretch them back into shape to air dry. Experience taught me that the name brand yarns are much sturdier than the store brands.
Dishcloths: Just kidding. Some people don't mind using their time to make something so disposable. Not me. If you want to make these, choose the strongest cotton yarn you can find and make them in the same way as the spa cloths below.
Washcloths or spa/face cloths: This is a great place to get creative. I always crochet these although you could knit them. It's a good way to try out new or pretty stitches, and I've done that. But my favorite is the simple half-double crochet. It's a close stitch, which is important. You don't want work that is so open that fingers can go through. This is the one thing that I have to buy yarn specifically to make. That cotton sold in the craft stores is pretty rough, so unless your recipient is used to something like a commercial loofa sponge, you will probably want to order yarn online. I use a cotton/linen blend that is a lighter weight. It's smooth enough to use on your face and has a real luxury feel. If you knit stockinette stitch, with a smooth right side, it's smooth enough for a baby. The cost is still reasonable. If you use one color and are paying full price, it's $3 for each 50 gm ball, which makes one cloth. If you order two colors, you can make two of reverse coloring like I'm doing in the pictures, and it's still $3 for each one. These take an afternoon to make. I'm always afraid someone will mistake this for a dishcloth (see above), so I usually tuck in a small luxury or decorative soap or a handmade soap as a hint and reminder. Not my handmade soap. I buy it from a person who raises sheep and makes it from sheep's milk. Or I buy it from craft booths.
Socks: A pair of socks from my preferred washable wool blend yarn can cost as little as $2.50 a pair (those coupons again!). Even for larger sizes, like for my very tall nephew, where I have to use two balls of the yarn, there is enough left from each one to make a smaller sock with a shorter top so I still get to the lower price per pair. Depending on size, a pair of socks can be done in 2-3 days. I have some ideas, from experience, for unusual ribbing with enough stretch if anyone is interested. And one really good tube sock, so no heel to turn. I’ve also written a pattern for compression socks, for a diabetic friend and for my brother, who has neuropathy.
Dish towels: The huck towels are made quickly, but they do take some planning since you absolutely have to order the fabric online. But it ships right away, so you do still have time. And they take coupons.
It's important to note here that almost everything I give is easy care. You might as well start with that in mind, since you don't want to have your pretty things ruined the first time they go into the washer and dryer, which I guarantee will happen.
And the thread is now open.