The grand Christmas challenge 2011

During my recent move, a certain fact became very clear to me.  It's not like I didn't know it already, but there's a certain something about seeing it for fact, in person, a tangiable, undeniable fact.  I have silly amounts of yarn and fibre.  I mean there's having stash, pretty to pet and indulge in... but then there's having an addiction - where it just bulges out of every storage space in your tiny little flat.  When did this happen?  And how much have I spent!?

A second fact has also become very clear since the move.  That is the fact that I've had a pay cut and at the same time, an increase in expenses - more rent, more bills, bus fare.  Suddenly, I'm living a very close existance!  I mean, there's nothing to really complain about, but I've gotten used to a certain level of disposal income, which I don't really have any more, and I forget this, and end up broke, or at least very near to it by mid-month.

Now, I'm not telling you these things as a moaning outlet or a boast or anything of those sorts.  I'm setting a scene.  So, what happens when these things combine?  I fun crafting challenge! 

I hereby pledge that everyone on my Christmas gift list will be getting handmade items using fibre and yarn I already own.

The rules -
1) No fibre or yarn is to be brought - I'm on a strict yarn and fibre diet until the new year, at least.  I have to make up some more room first!  The only exceptions are the two clubs that I belong to - my Wildcraft fibre and spindle subscription which runs every other month, and my Piperfic's luxuary fibre club.
2) I can buy patterns, buttons and the like.  Only essential "notions".
3)  Any craft will be permitted - knitting, crochet, felting.  I'm going to try and knit with as much of my handspun as possible.
4) Everyone on my list has to get at least one item, the adults will most likely only be getting small things - hats, scarves, mitts, shawls.
5) If I decide to get someone a Christmas present, a part of it must involve an item fitting the above criteria, i.e. any last minute "Oh, I was going to give so-and-so a pressie" must get something made from my stash.

And as for my list of Christmas recipients.  Well, this is where it's potentially tricky.  If I'm going to be strict and stick to the rules, then I have to keep the list relatively small.  But here's my initial thoughts:
1) Both parents, although not sure what I'll do for my dad.
2) Grandparents (UK ones only, it's not practical to get the SA ones things)
3) Brother - although haven't given it much thought as to what.
4) Aunt and cousin
5) Sarah and Martin
6) The Clark girls
7) The Clark baby
8) Conner
(6, 7, 8 are all little kids, so they are to get a cardigan or sweater each, make this rule 6!)
9) Emma
10) Lorri
11) Sam and Kev
12) Mary
13) Fiona
14) Mrs Spoon

And I think that's enough to get started with... right?  I'm sure I may yet think of a couple others!

And so it begins... or rather, so it has begun.  I've made a start - it's a lot of crafting to get through before Christmas.  And I'll keep the blogosphere updated on it.

Mmm, spent Christmas just as I needed to, but not as I expected to!

Merry Christmas everyone.  I hope that you all had lovely days with your loved ones and that you had wonderful pressies and tasty food. 

I spent most of the early hours of Christmas day in the bathroom with a lovely dose of D&V, so I unfortunately spent the vast majority of Christmas day in bed asleep.  I went downstairs for about half an hour for pressie exchanging, and then briefly to talk to my ouma and oupa in South Africa on Skype.  And that was about it.  I would have felt dreadfully unsocial if it were not for the fact that I actually slept most of the day!  And also didn't really want to give everyone else gastro as a delayed Christmas present.  I do feel slightly guilty that I didn't really feel enthusiastic at present time, I really did love my gifts, just didn't really feel energetic enough at the time to express that!

Now that I have given them all away, I can put up some pics of the Christmas presents that I have spent the last month working on (oh, and Emma's birthday present).

 

Slippers made for Morgan (red) and Jenna (pink).  They're made out of 100% wool, and Sarah has since felted them (which I was very impressed with, can't believe she found the time already!) thus they may look ginormous here, but they have shrunk alot.  I will get photos of the finished items when I can.

The quwerky present I mentioned and showed a teaser of was this - a dodecohedran, a.k.a. a twelve pointed star, with each point a different colour.  It was a great way to use up some of my odds and ends, and was very happily recieved by Emma on Connor's behalf, as were these socks, which should just about still fit:

Then carrying on the sock theme, I made Rowan a set of three colour co-ordinated but non-matching socks, which hopefully should fit:

Then to use up some of the wool left over from Rowan's aran cardigan, I made Sarah some wrist warmers (awww, bless, potential for co-ordinating mummy and daughter!).

 

 And finally, Emma's scarf.  This I actually crocheted for a change.  It was one of my favourite wools that I've used so far.  It wasn't the softest of wools, but it is 100% pure wool that has been hand spun and hand dyed in such a beautiful colour set, with plenty of green.  I love that it has such a natural feel to it (in fact spent a lot of time during making it picking out little bits of twig and straw) and the fact that it is truely a unique wool, with varying thickness and colours.