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Gift giving stresses me out big time. I spend way too much time running around and deciding what to get people, feeling like my mind is a blank slate. I am awful at it. Small gifts is not my love language.
Occasionally I have pockets of inspiration, and I feel like queen of the world when I discover (or make!) a great gift that someone appreciates. Reading Marie Segares’ post last year on 7 Tips for Getting a Head Start on Holiday Crafting and DIY Gifts seriously helped me reframe how I view gift giving and holiday crafting. I highly recommend giving it a read!
Peering at this list and coming up with a few ideas of my own, I give you this year’s edition of:
3 Ways to Get Ahead on Holiday Crafting
1. Start Immediately
One of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is to Be Proactive, and that applies to Christmas crafting. We have a matter of weeks before the holiday is upon us, and if handmade projects like knit and crochet patterns take 1-2 weeks to complete, well, you can do the math! Starting now allows time to pick your projects, take breaks, make mistakes, fix them, and finish your presents.
2. Plan
Marie Segares talks about deciding who will get handmade gifts, and then planning what to make for them. Getting organized and writing out a plan (or pinning the projects you’d like to make, or crafting your plan in any manner of your choosing) will help you visually see how much time you have and how much crafting there is in store! My norm is to sit down and make as many scarves as possible (like my absolute favorite infinity scarf pattern by Fiber Flux, linked on AllFreeCrochet) and choose recipients after I finish the scarves. This is not the best method. It is, in fact, a terrible method. Be intentional with your gift giving and plan out your gifts and your recipients!
3. Have a Backup Plan
Maybe that crocheted afghan you wanted to give your best friend isn’t going to happen in time. Maybe you can’t knit 16 pairs of slippers before December 25. That’s okay! Be gentle with yourself, and consider an alternative like free printables for making wall art, quick knit or crochet projects, and any of the ideas below! If all else fails, a store bought item or gift card never hurts.
Quick Homemade Gift Ideas
- Knit Two Hours or Less Scarf
- 1-Hour Crochet Coffee Cozy
- Easy Dishcloth Knitting Pattern – fan favorite!
- 30 Minute Arm Knitted Scarf
- 5 Minute Duct Tape iPhone Case
- 10 Minute Dish Towel Apron
- Half Hour Jumbo Tote
- Super Easy Memory Wire Bracelet
- 55 Adult Coloring Book Pages – put them together for an easy gift!
- Editor’s Favorite Infinity Scarf
- Wintery DIY Wall Decor
- Tropical Leaf Watercolor Printable
- Snowflake DIY Candy Jar
- Reusable Crochet Scrubbies – I’m in love with this idea
What is the best gift you’ve ever received?
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Although the holidays are a complete excuse to spoil and shower each other in well – spent gift ideas, I have always personally preferred handmade and handcrafted gifts. They are personal and intimate; they are more than just a swipe of a credit card but something you know the person took the time to create JUST FOR YOU. My favorite gift I have ever received was a simple list of sticky notes of the reasons why my husband found me special. It did not cost anything, but it placed a smile on my face that felt like it could last a lifetime.
I think taking the time to plan out handcrafted and quick holidays gifts is a great tradition to start!
I notoriously underestimate how long a project will take. One Christmas, it was down to the wire – I was still knitting at the dinner table! Not only was this very anti-climactic for the gift recipient but did not reflect well upon my time management skills. Don’t make the same mistake, fellow crafters!
Great ideas! I think it’s important to have backup plans for crafts, too. What sounds like a doable project in September can morph into something much more difficult by December.
Here’s what I do: When I’m making craft gifts for multiple people, I purchase my materials all at once and even purchase a few extras, just in case. You don’t want to be knee-deep in a project only to find out that you can no longer get your hands on the particular color of yarn that you need!