Here's something to ponder, from our 2017 A, C and N thread, dates changed to reflect 2025:
It's September and for many, planning for the holidays is in full swing. In The Holiday Grand Plan, the finish of List Week is 6 days away and Sunday, September 8 begins Question Week (asking ourselves WHAT IS DESIRED from observances/celebrations this year).
By the week beginning September 15, IF DESIRED, a HG Planner would hope to be ready to accomplish this assignment:
Buy all supplies for homemade gifts (or homemade decor). Package each project with directions and other information in zipper food storage bag and place in a basket or box in craft/sewing area.
Thoughts?
Here's a prompt for us... ... what if a friend asked for help/support that week, to accompany to stores, so you could BOTH purchase what you choose for this assignment? With that kind of reasoning from someone who really wants to get started (and not procrastinate), what would your Question Week for this assignment be like?
1) Thinking - what can I choose that I'll love doing but won't overwhelm
2) Planning - what do I already own, and can gather as supplies
3) Listing - "To Buy"s
4) Finding - hmmm ... ... where are some storage bags... ..
What do you need to do to get ready to ask the question? (This is where I am, btw.) Maybe some organization and straightening in that craft/sewing area? Discuss with the rest of the family so they know you want to prioritize some time for this?
Does a creative idea that's been percolating in your brain a while start coming to the surface? Are there more than one? Which is of first importance, in case "life happens" and you can't get to both?
How does your creativity fit into the calendar right now?
There are about 15 weeks to get ready for the most social, most likely gift-giving weekend of the year (the weekend of the 20th of December, btw, for 2025). Does it make you think of handmade gifts or decor? Decor is also worth considering for those of us who might be hosting Thanksgiving get-togethers and choose to create any of our own decor, like centerpieces or table-runners for those moments.
Please forgive me and know you are in my own company if you are thinking "let's not stress".
Just wanting to get those facts out into the open!
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My mending basket is down to one very manageable hemming. So that's a win for August.
Sewing machine area is relatively clear already because of ongoing mending. Just need to buckle down on clear cutting and pressing space.
So, for now, a couple weeks before HGPlan would have me accomplish all my planning of handmades, this is what I know:
I have decided on about 6 Magnolia (quilt pattern) ornaments as the priority because they will decorate Christmas presents. They are dearest to my heart so that a variety of family could have a little something that was handmade. I'm ready to make some specific cuts to jumpstart their finish. I've got that project in a small plastic storage box and it's not big enough. Time to admit that and get it stored in a larger one for enough convenient space to put in audition fabrics for the borders and backings.
Cards are the only other priority I'm going to let myself consider yet. Do we really want to do something creative? Is it worth pushing fabric creativity aside a bit to get that planned.
Trying to get the mile a minute crochet stitch back in my brain again.
OK on that stitch did the top neck part with it to start now on to the part
just before the shoulders.
Made some progress yea!
Might go back to the other knitting project a prayer shawl.
Worked on this one quite a bit during movie time.
Last edited by Nancy on Sat Sep 06, 2025 10:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
Hi all. This is the thread I keep meaning to keep more active. I need crafts. Gives me something to do besides doom scrolling nothing while resting.
My last winters blanket is holding up nicely and I have decided on another. A chevron pattern with a variegated fancy name for grey. I ordered a kit the other day from Mary maxim. It should be here soon.
In even bigger news though I almost have a craft room. Today's not too hard plan is getting dh help to put the shelf rails on the wall. I can put shelves up and sort my stuff. The other day I got most of the clutter out and sorted my yarn. I have to get a couple more small tote boxes. 6 smaller ones instead of the 2 giant ones then I can find what I want.
I can then set up my sewing machine and mend a few things. And use the desk for what I want.
Making progress. Yay
I've heard of mile a minute. I should look it up again. The pattern I really liked was knitted on circular needle but it looks too hard for me yet. Knit has been a long time.
Checking In / Made some progress and frogged it out two days in a row.
On the crochet cape I have it up the half way I think.
Designing as I go tweaked it some this weekend.
Have made it up to the next color section this yarn is better!
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My idea for time blocking is to cut out a dress instead of news after lunch.
I'll be knitting as well later on in my day.
The knit shawl project is apx. 3/4 ths of the way done.
I need crafts ... ..
I almost have a craft room. = Lauralind
How true for me! Both of those. Mary Maxim is a name with a good reputation.
Enjoy the clothes sewing, Nancy. The blouse sounds fun. I remember making a blouse with a jungle print with animal faces once and really just loving that blouse. Even wore it to church once. Probably wasn't the most practical but it made me smile.
If I do clothes sewing/crafting for the winter, I think I'll try making up one of those cardigans made from a sweatshirt. I used to have a small book on how to make changes to sweatshirts, but can't think where it would be now that we've moved. Or... .. was it a library book. Hmmm... ..
Today I got scraps sorted into sizes to feed the scrap baskets, and some put with blocks that have the same fabric, so if I do a sampler that will help blend them in with other patchwork around them. Had just a small amount of batting and got brave and tossed it rather than keep things to drive me crazy. The sewing machine table/desk is pretty much clear and ready.
Got out my ornament project and decided on a size of 4 inches each. I was going to make a special shape but thinking of the time involved when I made coasters earlier in the year ... .. nah. I think we're going square!
Made progress on the yellow dress yesterday ~
got it to the needs hem & pocket put on and neck trimmed before finishing that.
Did is earlier in the day.
Shorter days sure make one think about schedules differently.
Yea for progress.
