Crack on with Christmas! (Planning, Prepping & Projects)

Well, today I‘ve saved a 2nd mayonnaise jar, for Delia’s 🎄 mincemeat that I’ll be making in late September. And later I shall start knitting a 2nd Wise Man, the one with the white beard and clad in dark red and purple. I think he will be Balthazar - IMO it sounds more elderly than Caspar or Melchior (both of whom will have black beards).

twinnytwin - here’s a downloadable free pattern with a camel -

www.gathered.how/knitting-and-crochet/knitting/knitted-nativity-pattern/

Nipped into Home Bargains yesterday - Christmas has come there too!

Good idea ParlorGames. I’m liking reading the ideas here.
Happy sewing Casdon 😀

Thanks for all your good wishes and tips, I’m grateful as a complete novice. It’s a good idea to make the bags reversible, but I’ll need to buy some more fabric to do that - I might try one first with an old tea towel or similar to see if I can make it work.

can I suggest that you line them with either plain or a non-christmas themed fabric which will make them reversible and all the more re-usable.

I wish I had thought of that when I made mine about five years ago. They are still in use at Christmas but could have been used for birthdays as well.

Casdon I use old pillowcases and sheets to make patterns for things.

Although I’d told myself I wouldn’t be knitting any more 🎄things than what I’ve already started, after some idle browsing the other day, in a mad moment I ordered a whole 🎄knits booklet, just for this - because I’ve got a load of yarn in different coloured greens to use up.

There’s nothing else in the booklet I’d really want to make.
I’m not sure I even like the thing now.

Still, if anyone else would like to make a Christmas pudding or Rudolph tea cosy, or a very complicated looking 🎄table runner, etc., please feel free to PM me and I’ll post it to you!

They look so lovely though Witzend, it is soooo hard to resist a
'mad moment' of temptation isn't it? You know really do need a Rudolph tea cosy. Then you'll be tempted by the matching mug cosies......

keepcalmandcavachon, we never use a teapot! I only have one because a former fairly frequent guest (no longer with us) had to have his pot of tea in the early morning. I also had to buy biscuits, which I’d hardly ever buy otherwise’, because he had to have biscuits with it.
‘Where’s your biscuit tin?’ he asked during a first visit.
Er…..

We hadn’t got a fire surround so DH made me a fake one to use at Christmas. For years I’ve put out the same things and last year fancied a mantle of trees. I’ve got a few but on the whole left it too late. I’m going to make more effort this year.

We are celebrating Christmas on 10th December with 4 wonderful friends. I have made photo booth props, almost finished the crackers and getting the fabric together to make us all a stocking. I have to do one thing at a time otherwise I get overwhelmed and end up with lots of half made projects.
Happy Christmas crafting. 🎄

Beechnut

We hadn’t got a fire surround so DH made me a fake one to use at Christmas. For years I’ve put out the same things and last year fancied a mantle of trees. I’ve got a few but on the whole left it too late. I’m going to make more effort this year.

What is a mantle of trees, please? I can’t picture it!

My DD has started to crochet recently so i think we are all getting a crocheted item for christmas😂

Noooo, it’s too early!
I’ll make my cake in October.
I buy mincemeat.
I’m going to my son’s on Christmas Day so don’t need a pudding.
Then we’re off to New Zealand for New Year and the next six weeks.

Your sprouts should be on by now!

Can I say that we have just booked our Early Bird hotel to be near our only son and family for Christmas. I know it is early but I want to spend Christmas with the ones I love , without putting a strain on their growing family. Places do get booked up, so it’s worth planning ahead!

I absolutely love wrapping up Christmas presents, I do mine very early and then early Nov I wrap for a local charity, I have the gifts delivered to our hone, there are three gifts per person in each Christmas bag, each gift has to be individually wrapped in different paper, I make 100'sof 4x4 Christmas cards & I make the tags from old Christmas cards usually donated. It makes me feel like a better person, doing things for those less fortunate than myself, I also donate things to the charity, things like soap, socks, puzzle books. The charity is called "Santa's Seniors" the gifts go to centres such as luncheon clubs....on a different note I also donate gifts to the local Ukrainian club that go to orphanages, I've only done this one, two years, but Santa's Seniors about six years..when all this is done it's Lanzarote for two weeks over Christmas...

Foxygloves: I think u can leave doing the sprouts till late August, if u're also planning to roast them afterwards, lol.

Witzend

Beechnut

We hadn’t got a fire surround so DH made me a fake one to use at Christmas. For years I’ve put out the same things and last year fancied a mantle of trees. I’ve got a few but on the whole left it too late. I’m going to make more effort this year.

What is a mantle of trees, please? I can’t picture it!

Lots of trees on the mantelpiece. Hopefully made out of different thing’s craft wise. If I remember nearer Christmas I’ll post a photo.

I made a huge set of Bags in Christmas themed fabrics about 45 years ago and have used them ever since, periodically washing and mending them and renewing ribbon drawstrings as needed. I can't think how much time and money these have saved. I also made complete sets for both daughters at their request. The married granddaughter now wants a set...

I’m in a quandary about Christmas ….. my DD has informed me she no longer will be doing Christmas …. Doesn’t want to give or receive presents …. also her birthday is Christmas Day and the same applies …. plus she wants to change her birthdate to March. The reason is her daughter, my GD, passed away suddenly last Christmas Day. I sort of understand but feel sad that she’s taken this decision. I still want to give her presents as I feel you can’t change these dates so intend to do so and say to her that she doesn’t have to open them until she chooses. What do you think fellow gransnetters??

I’m so sorry Nansypansy. I understand why your daughter has come to this decision because she lost her daughter (and you your granddaughter) only last Christmas. She is still grieving. She’ll never get over this loss but will over years come live with it. You need to respect her decisions at this time. Christmas Day will be a horribly sad day for her, and for the rest of the family, yourself included. Do you have other children? You may wish to meet with your daughter to lay flowers or remember in some other way, but alternatively she may wish to be left completely alone. Go with whatever her wishes are. If you have other children you might want to spend some time with them, depending on what they’re doing.
I’m so sorry, it must be a very difficult time for you all

Ladies. Looking for a k urging pattern from the 80’s - I knitted a nativity set not Jean Greenhowe version - which had toilet roll middles instead of stuffing. It comes out every year and I’ve decided to make sets for grandchildren
Anyone have the pattern floating around. ? I think it was from a woman’s mag
Fingers crossed

storynanny, how about asking on the general Chat thread? It probably gets more ‘footfall’, so to speak.
I did ask Mr Google yesterday, but no luck alas.