Christmas gifts ???

Hi everyone,

Well, whether you like it or not—Christmas is just 7 weeks away! Sure, we read a lot about it here, and the supermarkets are already stocked with gingerbread and Dominos cookies. But have you really realized that it’s not that far off anymore?

Have you already gathered all the gifts for the people you want to give presents to? Or are you just giving gift cards? And do you wrap those gift cards extra nicely? Are there still things you need to knit, crochet, make with bobbin lace, or craft to give as gifts? How are things going for you?

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I’m still working on everything. I’ve picked out some lovely things for my favorite people. But I think of these ideas throughout the year and buy them in advance to stock up. They go into my gift closet. I also make any handmade items that people have requested throughout the year, so I can give them as gifts at Christmas. That way, I have less stress and can focus more on wrapping.

But there are still a few gaps where I haven’t come up with the right idea yet. I always want to give something special and can’t settle for something “ordinary.”

That’s why I’m doing this little survey to see how things are going for you.

Best wishes, Ina

I’m not worrying about Christmas just yet—there’s still plenty of time for that. My husband and I have stopped stressing about it since we retired.
Since my oldest grandson (26) is now taking care of himself when it comes to cooking and such, I’m going to sew him an apron with matching potholders; as for his sister, we’ll see—I’ll have to ask my daughter what’s the situation with her at the moment. I’ll also ask about my oldest daughter’s two sons, and the same goes for my youngest grandson. Since we’re barely leaving the house again due to the high infection rate, I have plenty of time and leisure to do some sewing. And as for the adults (my daughters and their partners), I’ll have to go through my notes—I always make them whenever they mention something along those lines.

Best regards, Inge

Yes, Christmas is just around the corner again. I only buy gifts for the kids—I plan what I’m going to crochet all year long. I always have a theme; this year, for example, for my niece, it’s mermaids and seahorses. I crochet those, and then I add a matching book, a coloring book, and little trinkets I find that fit the theme. I never give gift cards—I find them so impersonal. We adults always do a “junk Secret Santa” on Christmas Eve, so everyone looks for something at home they no longer want and wraps it up, then we roll the dice, and whoever rolls a six gets to take one. It’s always pretty fun.

There are just the two of us, and we stopped exchanging gifts years ago.

I usually participate in a Secret Santa group.
But this year it’s canceled because we just moved.

We give gifts to everyone. Not much, often just little things, often something homemade. 
Right now, we’re all together for the long weekend. I’ve taken lots of pictures, so my son and daughter will both get a little photo album as a keepsake. I always come up with something or find something suitable. 

For the past two years, they’ve been wrapped in gift bags that I decorate/appliqué with Christmas motifs.

I already really enjoy the preparation. 

Those are all really nice ideas you’re sharing. I like the idea of a fun Secret Santa exchange, themed gifts, and wrapping them in gift bags. I also think the keepsake photo album is a lovely idea.

I don’t like to leave everything to the last minute—that way, I have more time to find or make gifts and also more time to enjoy the anticipation of giving. That’s why I have my gift cabinet, where I store treasures throughout the year. And only I have access to it :-)

The only person who gets a gift every year is my husband.
This time, he’s getting a homemade plush penguin. If you’re familiar with the Linux mascot Tux—our two plush Tuxes will be joined by another one in a color scheme more reminiscent of a little penguin :-)
I’ve got the fabric ready now, and next I need to add seam allowances to the pattern and have my mom sew on an eye for me using her sewing machine—I positioned it too close to the cut line.

I’m crocheting my first triangular shawl for a friend (I’m about halfway done), but that’s a surprise and it’s okay if it’s a little late.

Unfortunately, I can’t start too early on getting Christmas gifts because so many people in our family are so impatient that they end up buying themselves what they really want sooner or later—especially now that Black Friday always comes at the end of November. I’ve fallen into that trap a few times already. But starting with the first Sunday of Advent, it’s forbidden in our family to shop for yourself.

Hi notnadel, that sounds like really personalized gifts. But you know the recipients will be happy with them. It’s worth the effort.

Hi Ruth, yes, I’ve had that problem before, too. And I’m always nervous beforehand that they might buy it for themselves. But this time I’m absolutely sure. Well, I hope so, anyway :-)

My daughter gave me some suggestions for the children: books for her children, since two of them go to school (they are currently being taught at home).

We don’t give each other anything.

Best wishes, Gabi

You all have great ideas. I also always love photo albums—they’re so personal.
I’ve heard of a white elephant gift exchange before, but I’ve never taken part myself.
At work, we always did a Secret Santa at our Christmas parties. We’d put all our coworkers’ names in a pot, and everyone would draw a name; then you’d put together a small Secret Santa gift for the person whose name you drew, anonymously. It was really fun.

I don’t have a plan for Christmas gifts yet. I think the greatest gift is when the family can celebrate the holidays together again. Of course, there are little things—something homemade or crocheted. The younger ones usually want money. But it’ll all work out.
There’s still time until then. More than anything, I’m looking forward to a real Christmas market again, with real mulled wine and a shot in it.

Other than that, we don’t really give each other big gifts. The main thing is that everyone is healthy.

We do a white elephant gift exchange every year in a larger group, usually around 30 people. It’s always a lot of fun, and sometimes there are really totally bizarre things in the mix that are so odd they’re actually great.

We only give gifts to our kids, in-laws, niece, nephew, and husband these days. The kids all just want money or gift cards. It’s been that way for years. That’s super boring. On the other hand, it works out well for me, because I’ve always been this way. I envy people who always have so many ideas for everything.
I wanted to crochet an owl for my daughter. I’m not a total beginner, but I haven’t done this in a long time. Unfortunately, I’m having a lot of trouble with the pattern. 👀👀

@Silke69,
welcome to our community.
Is the pattern you’re having trouble with from Crazypatterns?
Then you can ask the author for help.
If the pattern isn’t from here, you can also create your own thread and ask the readers in the forum for help, but the author can usually help best, and no images from the pattern and no texts from the pattern may be published in the forum.

I’ve really cut back on gift-giving. Now that I’ve unfortunately been forced to leave my beloved dance group, there are also a few gifts I no longer need to buy.
A few things are sitting in the box as PiAs, and I’ll probably still finish some of them for Christmas after all. That’s the plan, anyway, but with all these lovely new patterns here....

Best regards, Marlies

PiA’s? Marlies, what is that? A work-in-progress? But then what’s the difference between that and a UFO? 

@ Petra
Exactly, that’s it—it doesn’t sound as unfinished to me as UFOs do... grin.