Christmas in the Making

I've just spent five minutes gazing around my living room, looking for inspiration for my very first blog post.  "First Blog Post" seemed a bit obvious.  "Searching for Peace" seemed a little philosophical for post #1.  "The Creative Life" seemed, well, just a bit poncy.  (Is that how to spell poncy?!)  Probably best to just tell you about what I'm making at the moment, and let the words flow from there...

I've started the Christmas Making.  It's only October, but my sister pointed out last weekend that it's only a matter of weeks (8 - I just counted and now feel slightly panicked) until the Big Day.  My birthday, in fact.  A source of much joy at huge heaps of presents when I was a child.  Now, more like a source of frustration - because at my in-laws house I don't want the day to be about me, it should be about their family traditions (even if these consist of endless games which I hate to lose but invariably do) - and because at my family's house it should be about the kiddies.

And now I've just made this post about my birthday rather than about Christmas.  
Can't help it.

Back to Christmas.  Said sister asked if I had been planning to make anything for her little one, and suggested I make a bigger version of a hat I'd given her a couple of years ago.  At the time I thought the hat was quite stretchy - apparently children grow quite fast...  Anyway, this is my first Christmas Make - the simplest hat possible, because you basically knit a long rectangle, fold it in half and sew the seams, and Hey Presto! you have some CUTE little ears.  Little niece is going to look GORGEOUS!
[Find a version of the hat here https://www.etsy.com/listing/96076630/childs-blue-knitted-hat-with-ears but imagine it even cuter with little tassles on the ears :-)]

The beginning of Christmas Making period has reminded me of how darned slow knitting is.  Especially in moss stitch.  Worth it for the lovely bobbly effect but I'm waiting eagerly for the lovely stocking stitch which grows an inch or two every time I sit down to watch TV.

It has also reminded me that I should probably think about what else I'm going to make for relatives and friends (if they're lucky!).  Suggestions?  :-)  I was contemplating whether or not I could come up with a present for everyone that is: easy enough to make without buying the entire Stitchery and spending the whole of November sewing; quality enough that recipients will actually enjoy the gift rather than smile on 25th then quietly tuck it under the bed on the 26th; and cheap enough to make Making Christmas gifts financially worthwhile.  

Unfortunately, I was pondering this whilst trying to get to sleep and sleep won.  Things will probably end up like last year with a bit of a mishmash of Made and Bought and Ali sewing 'til 10.30pm on Christmas Eve before rushing out to Midnight Communion.  

Can't wait for Christmas...