Fiber Fool

Wow, I didn’t intend to be absent a full week. Life continues to be a little crazy, perhaps even crazier the closer we get to the holiday. I’m feeling better than last week, but am still on the yuck-o meds. I really can’t wait to be done with those. Thanks to all of you who sent get well wishes my way. I appreciate and someday I will get back to replying to comments. I’ve been spending most of the day away from the computer, making candy and gifts for the holiday.

I am a big fan of handmade and consumables as gifts. Most of the people on my gift list really don’t need more “stuff.” So something that can be used and enjoyed and their container recycled or reused is optimum. Most of the edible gifts we give take much pre-planning, like gifts of preserves or homemade liqueur. But homemade spa accouterments often pull together pretty quickly and I love giving “hand care” packages to those who, like me, work with and abuse their hands.

1. Sugar scrub! I’m especially fond of giving this to knitters and hand spinners as it really helps keep the little snags on your fingers in check so you aren’t sticking to your yarn or fiber (especially silk and silk blends). If you keep it preservative free, tie a little cosmetic spatula or spoon with it to keep water and bacteria from your hands out of the jar and it’ll last for several months.

2. Lotion bars are nice for everyone. If you package it in a little tin it can be kept in an office drawer or in a purse so it is always handy. Bundle this up with the above sugar scrub, a nice nail file and some cotton manicure gloves and you have a nice little manicure kit.

3. Bath salts are a nice indulgence to give as well and the ingredients are quite inexpensive and can be found at your local grocery store (except perhaps the essential oil which you may have to go to a health food store for). It is ready to use right away too, unlike a bath oil blend that needs to mature for a week or two before using. You can package it in mason jars with a label and a ribbon tied around it.

4. Soap! The melt and pour variety that is. You can find several different bases at the large craft stores and it takes probably under an hour to make 6-12 bars depending on the size batch you opt for.

Of course I can’t have a list of last minute gifts to make and not include a few that use yarn can I?

5. In about 20 minutes (or less if done in mass production style) I can kick out a nice lavender (or cedar) sachet using fabric scraps and left over sock yarn. It makes a nice quick hostess gift, or a set of three or four might be great for someone who recently moved into a new home. Or a little something to kick a gift up a notch and dress up the present at the same time.

6. My Woodland Trails cowl was a pattern I designed last fall for gifting. It knits up in 4 hours or less, but looks like a complex cable and lace pattern, but it isn’t! The careful placement of the yarn overs and the decreases creates the illusion of cables! I gave a few for Christmas last year and I’ve been told they are in frequent rotation.

7. A hanging towel for the kitchen knits up in about 6 hours or so and pairs nicely with an edible gift for your kitchen.

8. I also like knitting up an A la Carte hat. I can knit one of these up in Cascade 220 in about 4-6 hours as well, depending upon the fair isle motif I choose. Knitting it top down eliminates the oft dreaded swatching which also saves you time. It is also multi-gauge so you can totally stash dive for these!

9. Knit in bulky yarn, the Laridae mitts are another knit that takes about 4 hours. You just have to love bulky yarns when you’re up against the clock!

10. Any of the Rugby Hats also knit up pretty quickly. The slouch and hat version are probably a bit quicker than the nightcap version.

Now through January 1st, use code LASTMINGIFTS to save 20% on any of the above patterns, plus Cargo Scarf (6-8 hr), Evergreen Copse (2-6 hr depending upon size), Spring Frills Hat (8 hours), Square Riot Hats (4-6 hrs depending upon size) and Sur la Tete Hat (8-12 hours).