On the Second Day of Sock Yarn, Simply Sock Yarn gave to me...
three balls of Crystal Palace Mini Mochi (color 114).
To win these three balls of yarn, plenty to make a loooong pair of socks or a thick scarf or any of these free patterns, simply answer the following question in the comments section below:
When do you start knitting your holiday gifts for the next year? Do you a) start as soon as Dec 26, b) start to think about it in the spring, c) start panic-stricken after Thanksgiving, or d) none of the above.
Since I'm refilling my own sock drawer and knitting only for myself in 2010, with this one special exception, my answer would be d) none of the above. And I don't regret any of it. As I'm typing this and wearing my Opal Hundertwasser 3 socks (color 750), my feet are warm and toasty because I was selfish for just this one year. And while I do hope to knit for a few others next year, I think I've found that knitting projects just for myself has renewed my love of knitting becuase I'm picking out things that I really like, rather than trying to knit a color or pattern (like yet another simple pair of charcoal gray socks for my husband) that I find boring or uninspiring.
I loved reading through your yarn decoration ideas from yesterday. If you haven't had a chance to read through all 100+ ideas, I recommend it because you'll find many awesome tricks. And I think it's funny that some of you have already commented and e-mailed that you are totally going to "steal" so-and-so's idea. One of my favorite Christmas traditions is giving James and Joe special PJ's to wear on Christmas morning. And that's something that came from one of you two years ago!
There is nothing better than a warm pair of socks. even here in Florida tonight....it's now 41 and going down...brrrr
Posted by: Cathy Goldman | December 14, 2010 at 07:38 PM
I start in the Summer. I have too many family birthdays in March, April and May to knit gifts for to start any earlier. Usually 4-5 projects on the needles.
Posted by: Linda Fields | December 14, 2010 at 07:41 PM
We don't have Thanksgiving here in the UK, so there is no holiday that says "hello you are near Christmas - panic now!"
So I just start when I feel that the time is coming, and sort out what I'm knitting for everyone. It's usually end of October looking for yarn and thinking what people would like.
Not sure if I'll get everyones pressies done this year, but husband and daughter can wait a few days as they both have plenty to open. :)
Posted by: susan | December 14, 2010 at 07:50 PM
I guess I'm none of the above - I have a self-imposed Christmas gift knitting limit of two knitted items - one small gift for my book club gift exchange (fingerless mittens, a hat, or something similar) and one gift for someone else. I'm working through all my friends and family - eventually everyone will get something!
Posted by: Rachel | December 14, 2010 at 08:01 PM
I actually start in the summer when I have long weekends at the lake and can relax and knit.
Posted by: Shirley | December 14, 2010 at 08:03 PM
Well, I usually start thinking about holiday knitting toward the end of August, and the panic kicks into overdrive in mid-November. This year, though, I took a break to finish WIP's. So, if everything works out, holiday knitting will be able to commence early in the year.
Posted by: Kathy | December 14, 2010 at 08:15 PM
I think it would have to be d) none of the above for me too - I start before Thanksgiving, though not usually before November. And I don't knit a lot of Christmas things, because I don't give a lot of Christmas gifts - my family does a non-secret Santa thing for the grownups, so I only have a few adults to give to, and I tend not to knit for the kids for Christmas. I do knit for birthdays and other holidays, but those are much more conveniently spread out through the year.
Posted by: Karalee | December 14, 2010 at 08:38 PM
C. Panic-stricken sums it up.
Posted by: Vicki | December 14, 2010 at 08:55 PM
I would (unfortunately) have to go with c, just after Thanksgiving. I usually over plan myself and think I can somehow knit about 14 projects in a month's time and then knit like a fiend for the 48 hours before Christmas while things are baking in the oven!
Posted by: Emily S. | December 14, 2010 at 09:08 PM
I usually start sometime in January and then hold them till needed.
Posted by: Gabriele | December 14, 2010 at 09:21 PM
close to a) for me - I start in January with an assortment of projects, and then divvy them up in Decejber!
Posted by: Kathy Nielsen | December 14, 2010 at 09:29 PM
I have to answer "D". I knit all year long and if I'm knitting for someone besides myself, they usually get it as soon as I finish.
Posted by: Kay | December 14, 2010 at 09:35 PM
I always have great plans to start in January...right after I knit a little something just for me... However, the fact that I realized yesterday I needed 2 pairs of adult felted clogs and 3 kids size pairs by Christmas Eve, tells me that somewhere along the way (probably about mid-January) my plan goes awry!
Posted by: Brenda | December 14, 2010 at 09:43 PM
Although I don't have a formal plan, if I'm knitting a gift it usually gets started between Halloween and Thanksgiving. But then again you know about the best laid plans...etc!
Posted by: Linda B | December 14, 2010 at 09:52 PM
I knit for fun so I make Christmas gifts whenever I find the perfect pattern. There are enough other deadlines so I don't make knitting ones.
Posted by: Anne | December 14, 2010 at 09:56 PM
None of the above for me. With a rare exception I don't knit any holiday gifts. But if I did, they'd be pretty much done just in time.
Posted by: Merna | December 14, 2010 at 10:00 PM
I start knitting when i get an idea what i want to do for christmas. I have to know exactly what i am making for someone. also, i need to be put under pressure, otherwise i will procrastinate.
Posted by: Tina Smith | December 14, 2010 at 10:13 PM
I usually start in Jan but a lot of times I can't wait until Christmas so they get the gift early. But, I've learned over the past two years to not panic, not stress, and if the knitted gift gets done in time for Christmas then great! if not, then it is a head start on next year.
Posted by: SusanB-knits | December 14, 2010 at 10:23 PM
Probably c, but its more like December 10th in my house.
Posted by: Lisa | December 14, 2010 at 11:12 PM
I usually start in the summer, but get so excited about the gifting that I end up giving many of the gifts by mid-fall.
Posted by: Stacey | December 15, 2010 at 12:02 AM
Halloween seems to be when I usually start working on projects although I try to limit the number of projects so that I still have a little sanity by christmas time.
Posted by: Tamlin | December 15, 2010 at 12:22 AM
I start thinking of Chritmas knitting in the spring. Then I run around trying to knit them all for Christmas.
Posted by: Brenda | December 15, 2010 at 12:26 AM
I usually start stressing right after Thanksgiving. This year I decided to be proactive and start knitting in Oct. It didn't matter...along the tradition of my eyes being bigger than my stomach, my list of gifts was my greater than my available time. I am, once again, really behind in my knitting. If only I can figure out how to not sleep for the next two weeks, I might finish in time.
Posted by: becky | December 15, 2010 at 12:46 AM
I don't know if it's luck or not, it doesn't feel like it, but my gift list is short and not many people on it really want knitted gifts. So if I do have any to knit, I can start, safely, in the spring.
Posted by: Jaye | December 15, 2010 at 01:17 AM
I would have to say in general - start panic stricken after Thanksgiving. Why do today what can be put off till tomorrow... :) just kidding.
Posted by: Renee' | December 15, 2010 at 01:48 AM
d - usually sometime in the fall before Thanksgiving - but I'm in crunch time now!
Posted by: Ruth Anne | December 15, 2010 at 07:09 AM
I start planning everything by the first of the year.
Posted by: LizzieK8 | December 15, 2010 at 07:27 AM
I knit for people whenever the urge strikes, and I give them what I make as soon as it's done. None of this save-it-all-up-for-December nonsense. I'd rather have it somewhere else and in use than taking up space in my house.
Posted by: Melissa | December 15, 2010 at 10:14 AM
I celebrate Chanukah and start knitting for it on spring break, Since Chanukah can occur anytime from late Nov, to late Dec. I try to do the tank tops in summer and the socks
Posted by: Robin F. | December 15, 2010 at 01:55 PM
I usually start to think about it late spring. The operative word is "think". I don't usually get started until Oct/Nov.
Posted by: Patricia Richardson | December 15, 2010 at 05:23 PM
This year I started in August. I've now got 6 hats done for all my co-workers. Debbie in Alaska
Posted by: Debbie H | December 15, 2010 at 09:55 PM
My answer is D. I don't have many people who appreciate hand knit gifts so I tend to give a few spontaneously throughout the year instead of planning knitted gifts.
Posted by: Betty | December 15, 2010 at 11:45 PM
Good
Posted by: Mosha | December 16, 2010 at 03:47 AM
My answer is b. I always knit in spring time. Thats my best time to do. www.vivamagonline.com I already have one little bag done. Very nice and interesting question. Thanks for the great article.
Posted by: Yarn gift | December 16, 2010 at 03:59 AM
I don't usually knit Xmas presents. I did make felted oven mitts for all my nieces & nephews a few years ago but usually I avoid putting that extra stress on myself.
Posted by: Donna | December 16, 2010 at 09:32 PM
Last year I started knitting in January and it was such a good idea that I'm going to do so again this year.
Posted by: Maureen L | December 17, 2010 at 02:19 AM
I'd like to believe I will start in July or August, but I usually don't start until october or november. We will see!
Posted by: nicky | December 17, 2010 at 01:42 PM
I don't really knit for other people. I did knit baby blankets for my nieces and nephews. I just want to finish all my works in progress.
Posted by: Holly | December 17, 2010 at 08:38 PM
B!
Posted by: Stephanie Miller | December 17, 2010 at 09:35 PM