In January, I introduced a monthly section on my blog devoted to helping you become a crafting master and increasing your ability to craft for everyone on your list. January’s task was to just start thinking. No need to start crafting yet (unless you were feeling very ambitious), just making lists of people that you would like to craft for and also gathering ideas of things that you would like to craft.
Before we move on to February’s goals and tasks, I would like to share with you my work done in January so that you can kind of get an idea about what goes on in my head when planning for Christmas all year long.
First up, my list of people whom I would like to craft for this year (nicknames have been provided to protect the innocent)
Must Craft For:
Queen Bee
Striker
Lily
Lulu
MIL
SIL
Linney
Hubs
Would like to craft for:
Aud
Kynz
Efan
Humph
Shep
V
FIL
GGJ
STLM
Now before I share the second stage of my list (which is very very messy) I would like to share with you how I keep my madness organized- First I have a pinterest board full of Christmas Crafting ideas. Some of these I have found and marked with particular people in mind and others I have pinned just to have a general sense of some of the ideas that I would like to try. Second, I start making notes- about comments people have made, prior years gifts (ie who has received a blanket from me before, as I try to cycle those), and other personality quirks and likes that I know my friends and family have.
Now here’s where the fun comes in. I have my first list again, this time with my possible gift ideas written next to each name. Some names may have lots of items, and others may have none at all. None of these are set in stone- they can change based on my mood, other projects that come along and many other fleeting things that happen in my life (so in other words, if you think you’re on this list- you may or may not get anything on this list, instead you might get coal.) The notes in parentheses are core requirements for whatever I make, if there are any.
Must Craft For:
Queen Bee - Shawl like black and white one/ oval doily/ bath stuff/ {blanket 2012}
Striker – single serving treats/pies in jars/something food? {blanket 2013}
Lily – tiny animals, totoro set, a bed sized blanket
Lucy – animals, aquabats anything, TMBG dolls, bed sized blanket
MIL - {blanket 2012}
SIL - {blanket 2013}
Linney – (something knit)
Hubs - Extra big & long blanket
Would like to craft for:
Aud - (something knit)
Kynz -
Efan -
Humph -
Shep -
V -
FIL – Green Bay Packers Blanket
STLM - {blanket 2013}
I will continue to add to this list as the year progresses, as I find projects to start and things that inspire me.
Next up, I always make a list of cool "group" gifts- gifts that can be made in larger quantities and gift to multiple people. At the top of my list this year are cooking and baking ideas, followed by bath and then home decor. In the end, what I do will all depend on how my mood fluctuates throughout the year.
Now.... You've got a list started, you've got some vague ideas from a pinterest board... where to move from here? How do you start working on things for Christmas this early? Well, start with what is fun, what makes the most sense or what strikes you at the moment. It's cold out now, and if you're a yarn crafter, that means it is the best time of the year to start working on blankets or sweaters- plus, these items can sometimes take a great deal of time, and starting on them now will ensure that you have them all done by the time Christmas comes around (or if not, you'll have enough time to at least know that you'll need to ditch it and head toward something easier for that person!)
So this brings me to your goals for February (being that it's so late in the month already, be thankful that your goals are easy)
1) Keep working on identifying gifts that could be nice to give to people. Keep pinning and making notes.
2) If you find something that you love, or that is particularly seasonal in crafting (ie blankets and sweaters as I discussed before), start working on it! Don't delay if you don't have to! There's nothing wrong with getting a Christmas present done early!
Your main goal is to have all of your big ideas sorted out early. This way you can get started on them in the first part of the year rather than later!
In March, we'll see where my list has progressed and start organizing and checking items off our list!