Thursday, December 11, 2008

Throwing in the Needles

I'm gonna be up front and tell you all a little something about me. I'm not a fan of big holidays. I especially don't like the big ones that slip up on me when I'm not looking. I found myself at a loss for words today when trying to explain to a friend how I could not know that Christmas was only two weeks away. But such is my life.

I was chatting with one of my son's teachers this morning (one that I was going to knit up some cute Koigu mitts for) and became painfully ashamed of my empty hands as her other students traipsed in the room with gifts. Today was the last day of classes before Christmas! I re-lived this experience 3 more times over the course of the day. The last being when I dropped off my youngest for Awana and realized that we never did make the cocoa-in-a-jar gift that we were going to make together for his leader. (Actually, I think he has one more week of Awana so I may be okay here.)

Anyway, I have managed to knit one gift. But aside from that, if you think you might be getting something handknit from me this year... think again. I give up. I tell myself every year I'm not going to knit gifts and then I get all crazy and go for it anyway. But I'm stopping the insanity now and returning to the relaxing, selfish knitting that brings sanity and justice to my world.

And since Christmas is only 2 weeks ago, I'm thinking we better get a tree. I'm pretty sure there's no way around that one.



11 comments:

Dawn said...

I'll remember this no knitting rule next year...I'm soooo sore!

We have an artificial tree and right now its up but thats it...might get some ornaments on there yet....still need to shop/wrap etc....So busy homeschooling that theres no time! I wasn't going to give a break but geez I'm needing one!:)

Laura said...

I am not knitting gifts for anyone - that I'm giving gifts to. However, a cousin of mine asked me a week ago if I would knit a scarf and hat for her son who's moving to London - if I had any time between then and Christmas. That was December 3rd. On December 10 a friend called and asked if I would knit three pairs of socks for her to give as gifts to her sisters. I'll have to have them finished and in the mail to her by Dec. 19. I said yes to both.

It's crazy!

Heather said...

I am with you. I think I have a finely cultivated sense of denial about the holidays this year. Not grinchy, just not feeling guilty about caring less.

Becca said...

This year has been particularly bad about sneaking up! All of sudden, it was holiday panic time. 2 more weeks? Really? That just can't be right.

If I don't go shopping soon, every one is going to end up with a skein of sock yarn under the tree. Which I would love, but the others probably not. I am so glad that I eliminated all but 2 gifts for Christmas knitting. My kids did the entire decorating of the tree for me, or it would still be bare in the corner.

I think Heather's right. We've all got some sort of special holiday denial going on.

marit said...

I have a kid that has been planning gifts and wrapping gifts for a month now...still I'm in denial:-D
The tree won't come up until DEc.23rd. That's the tradition.

Tammy said...

I am living in the land of denial with my lists in hand. I keep feeling like I'm making good progress until I look at the current date :::thud::: Oh well...it all seems to get done in time anyways, right?

I do have ONE knitting project, aren't you proud of me? I'm going to knit a Barbie afghan as my granddaughter's other grandparents are going to give her some wooden Barbie furniture. Figured she'd need an afghan for the couch :-) I think I should be able to handle that project before Christmas, eh?

Blessings,
Tammy ~@~

Becky G said...

What????? It's only TWO WEEKS until Christmas????? I hate it when they sneak up on me like that!

I don't knit Christmas gifts, though I often give things I've knitted throughout the year. I'm such a slow knitter that I'd be 8 years behind by the end of the season!

Auntie Pudentaine said...

What?! I'm not getting that hand knit lace table cloth for my formal dining table, sized to fit the table with all the extra leaves added? Sheesh!

(as if I even have that kind of table)

Good Yarns said...

Talk about behind...I am trying to make (economical) gifts for our family and friends and then try to get them sent in time. By the time I finish them, it'll probably take $50 per $3 gift to get them there in time. Ugh.

Sarah said...

I'm working on a scarf that's going into the big bin for next year's gifts. The crafty mojo is not in this house. I need to finish DH's socks and that's the only knit gift this year.

Angelika said...

Hey, not everybody deserves hand knit items. After all, they take time. It's not like going to a dollar store and getting something small and cute their. Whoever gets something knitted from me has to wait until after the holidays, because I'm busy.