18 weeks until December 1st and I have no idea what and who are on my lists to make. I imagine some kind of sock situation will present itself, but otherwise I am stalled. I am working on 2 more of the 6 baby blankets needed for this summer (one singleton already gifted (frog blanket), a set of triplets who are already born and ready for blankies, and a set of twins due later this year) and the cat rescue I value has an auction in the fall for which I would like to make some things. Christmas seems so far away, but in Crafting Days it really isn’t so today I will mull over the lists. If I can at least spotlight the people on it then I can debate crafts/patterns more effectively.
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I’m starting small, last year I made Elf hats for several babies, I still have white/red/green leftovers so I will make another one for my niece. If there’s leftover yarn, elf booties too.
I’m already working on a shawl for my mum, from stash too, so that can be a Christmas gift.
Maybe this year I could truly finish that pile of ornaments that I’ve been wanting to finish for a long time.
Other ideas TBA 
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Twelve weeks until December first!
Anyone getting stuff done yet? I have been in the weeds all summer with boring adulty stuff and family medical adventures so I am trying to redirect my energies to happier things. The budget is way tighter as of this moment (due to said medical adventures) so home-made is to be a big presence in my presents this year. Show me your stuff! 
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I’m still in Halloween mode, no Christmas crafting yet, but I will make an Elf hat for my baby niece (bonus: from scraps! I made Elf hats for several babies last year).
I’m still trying to decide about other gifts. Mr Imma has a milestone birthday this winter and my mum will retire, so lots of events that deserve gifts.
I have been canning a lot lately and that could be a gift, but meals-in-a-jar type cans look pretty ugly, unlike jams and such. I’d be very happy to receive something like that but I might be the only one.
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I suppose you could dress them up with cute ribbons and fabric tucked over the lids, maybe. But I agree, there’s a definite audience that would turn their noses up at good sense gifts like that.
I think I’ll grab a cuppa and a notebook to brainstorm recipients and gift ideas. Dinner is leftovers tonight so I’m gifted the time it would have taken to cook from scratch.
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I hadn’t really thought about it until I received a few jars of jam and cookie mix for my birthday and I thought that was such a great gift, but meals would be even better than snacks. But I can already hear Mr Imma say “normal people just order takeout”.
I just came up with another baby idea. I could take a leaf out of your book and turn a scrap of Christmas sock yarn into cute baby socks. That just leaves me with all the adults lol.
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That reminds me, I need to have Kidlet try hers on to see if I need to work another pair into my agenda.
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I got sidetracked and had a busy, rough summer. Did not start the vanilla like I had planned to. Maybe next year.
My list:
- My sons (15, 11):
- My daughters (7, 9): Choso Shirt for 9 yr old.
- My nephew (15), & My sister: Puerto Rican Chocolate Caliente mix. It’s just Puerto Rican hot chocolate. It’s different than American and slightly different than Mexican. Usually they are made with chocolate bars melted in milk on the stove, however, I developed a recipe to make a mix to gift them. I’ll share that later. + Homemade Queso or bought- queso. Because Puerto Rican culture is to put a small block of queso in your chocolate caliente. Then eat the queso from it. Anyway, they’ll like it and it’s just different.
- Mom: Dreamsicle Bar mix - in a jar. Recipe from the book Gifts-in-a-jar Bars & Brownies. I have everything for it already except the white chocolate chips.
- Dad: He asked me for frosted sugar cookies, so I’ll do that.
- 3 older gentlemen - I’ll make them something edible. They will eat anything I send them.
- Gift for our immediate family gift exchange; could be Mr. Dragon, any son, any daughter.
- Stocking stuffers: Right now, I’m thinking I’ll make them Rice Krispies treats.
I also have 3 December birthdays that I lump into my Christmas crafting.
- Son turning 11
- Daughter turning 9
- My Dad
And I should add that I might add/change as I go along. I’ve had the urge to crochet. I’m tinkering with working on a C2C or similar. Maybe I’ll make my mom some washcloths to go with her jar mix. I’ve been considering fingerless gloves for mom and sister too. I always want to make hats. lol I’ll see where I end up.
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Is it too late for vanilla? I should go look that up, actually …
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No. You can make it and let it sit for at least 8 weeks. You can make it with less time with a little note to let it age however long. I just wanted to make it with 6+ months to sit. I could still make it now. I probably won’t. If I do it will be a smaller batch.
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I found a blank hardcover scrapbook, I decided that I will go and make a scrapbook for all the trips Mr. Imma and I took together! It will either be for Christmas or for his milestone birthday. I made a long list of all the trips we’ve been on together, it’s a lot. We’ve not travelled to very far or exotic locations but I’ve included festivals, weekends in other cities, visits to friends in other countries, so I’ve got enough to fill an album. Actually it would be fine if there were some blank pages at the end, to be continued …
We’re not really the kind of people that take loads of pictures or make loads of notes so it took me quite a bit of digging through my e-mail to compile the list. Hopefully I can find a few pictures for every trip and otherwise I could always just find them on the internet. It’s also a great reason to declutter my desk drawer, I might find trip-related ephemera there.
The pages in my scrapbook are standard scrapbooking paper size, and I’ve bought enough fancy papers over the years that there’s no excuse to buy new. Other than the cost of printing off pictures and maybe a new bottle of glue, it will be free.
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I spent some more time thinking about Christmas gifts last night.
For baby niece:
- Christmas stocking (matching mum and dad’s stocking that I made some years ago, still have fabric in stash)
- Knitted elf hat from this pattern: Christmas Elf Stocking Cap Hat Free Knitting Pattern – Fox & Pine Stitches® (made 3 last year, still have yarn left)
For Mr. Imma:
- Vacation picture scrapbook
- Might be time for new Christmas PJ pants too
For myself:
- If I make PJ pants for him, I’ll have to make matching ones for me
Decoration:
- Need to finish a bunch of them that have been stitched up for a while (some for literal years) and this will be the years I’m finally going to finish them
- Frame the things I didn’t get around to framing last year
For Mum:
- Shawl
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Great list! We have 10 weeks/70 days until December 1st so it’s time I get my brain switching into gear here, too.
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I am still in Halloween/Thanksgiving mode! I started thinking of ideas for cash gift cards and holiday cards for Happy Mail, but not really anything decor wise.
Like you, I have a few needlework items that I need to finish up, frame, etc.
Did you post your finished shawl for your mom?
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This week I started planning most of my handmade Christmas presents this week. Maybe I should post a list here.
@Immaculata I had to laugh so hard when I read your list. Because I just compiled our vacation pics for the book I plan to make for my man. And he will definitely get several new PJ pants, too.
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My brain has shifted into Christmas gift mode as of two days ago. Making my lists (checking them twice!). I’m going to try to post on here for accountability.
What’s everyone’s current project? I’m finishing up a casserole “hot pad” I started for my MIL *last year *, but it gave me a head start on this year, right?
I’m going to try for more art and sewing rather than cross stitching (because I would surely run out of time).
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It definitely is not perfect, but I think it turned out cute! We do a lot of get together potlucks so I think my MIL will like it. It has a layer of cotton batting and a layer of that hot pad holder “fabric” in it. Think I’ll make one for everyone, but will definitely pick easier quilting patterns. It’s giving me practice!
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Very nice!
I always think about these when we have family dinners during the holidays. Everyone has to grab two potholders or a few towels to set down the casserole dishes. Of course, then I forget until next year.
Yours turned out so lovely! Making myself a note to add it THIS year.
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