I’m in! My gift knitting this season will hopefully be manageable–fingerless mitts, hats, maybe some thicker socks…
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Step One… decide you don’t have exactly what you need in your yarn ROOM (!!), and make an emergency run to Michael’s.
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The yarn is a tweed, it just looks sparkly in the photograph.
Today I sat down and made my Christmas knitting list. Last Christmas I (once again) promised myself I’d knit gifts throughout the year so I wouldn’t be in a rush come autumn. I managed two shawls before getting distracted. (One shawl was from my handspun yarn, so I give myself extra points for that.) I knit half a pair of fingerless mitts today out of more handspun, so that’s three (almost) down. Still to complete: three pairs of mittens, fingerless mitts, those flip-top mitten/glove things, and two hats, plus figuring out what to make for the other nine people I intend to knit for. I have a lot of work to do.
The mittens will all be from Jorid Linvik’s Big Book of Knitted Mittens: 45 Distinctive Scandinavian Patterns, which I bought the day I read about it on Knitters Review. Definitely the horse mittens for one niece and the rockstar ones for another. Not sure yet about the rest - I need to gather my sock yarn together from the various places I have it squirreled away and Make Plans.
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I guess I’m in Group #1 - I started planning and knitting for this year’s Christmas in January 
I still have one more pair of socks, some golf club covers, a hat, and a baby vest on my list - so looking forward to knitting along!
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You can gin and knit? And for presents, impressive! I 'd sure have to ice mine down considerably or everything would have a knit-one-below look. Hey there’s something there I think…hmmmm
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I’m in! I had fully intended to start in January and knit one gift/month but that didn’t happen. But I did start in August and have knit a scarf for a friend who loves my handknits and hats for my three favorite fellas. For the gift basket, I’ve made a hat, a pair of fingerless mitts, headband/ear warmer, cowl, and footie socks. On the needles, I have two more pairs of fingerless mitts. But I still have several items to left to knit.
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Ah, tweed is also a perfect choice 
I’m actually starting to wonder if I’ve been getting up in my sleep and posting on here as Daisy Levy. We have the same ridiculous/brilliant approach to Project Management.
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That is such a sweet thing to hear! I have fond memories of The Summer of Mitered Hanging Towels, and Cristina cooking up the pattern, and trying to find a sunny but not shadowy/glare-y spot in the house to photograph them for the book…they are still favorite items because they make me think of my grandma. She always had a similar towel buttoned onto her stove. I don’t think she ever used them–just for decoration, because somebody gave them to her, I think.
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I’m in. I just finished winding balls of Malabrigo yarn for the first gift - the Jayne hat. I can not believe my hubs actually requested it. After 33 years together he can still surprise the heck out of me. So I am all in for the fun, zaniness of a Jayne. Then I need to knit a pair of fingerless mitts, pattern undecided, for my son’s girlfriend. And lastly, a pair of slippers for my mom, Again, no idea what pattern or yarn yet.
I look forward to casting on tomorrow and coming to sit for a spell in this funky little Lounge. Thanks for the invite and hosting.
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T’was the night before Giftalong and all through the house,
I’ve been tootling around Ravelry, using my mouse.
The patterns and needles are stacked up with care,
In hopes we can do this without losing our hair.
The stash has been tossed and lists have been written,
The yarn has been wound to the delight of the kitten.
With Ann at the ready and Kay as our muse,
We’re ready to knit, we have nothing to lose.
When up in The Lounge there arouse such a clatter,
I put down my wine to see what was the matter.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
The knitters are massing, it’s that time of year.
Now Mittens, now hats, now scarves and cute socks,
On cowls and dishcloths, on patterns that rock.
To the local yarn shop,
To the websites we hop,
Now knit away, knit away, knit away all!
Dinner’s been cooked, the laundry is done,
Tomorrow we start and it’s going to be fun.
We’ll all do our best and we’ll post what we’ve knit,
We’ll fix our mistakes without having a fit.
As the sun starts to settle, and we all snuggle in,
Tomorrow we’ll start and I hope we all win.
We’ll all be together which will shine a great light,
Merry Giftalong to all and to all a good night.
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Yesssss! Let’s make teeshirts.
You are a gifted giftalonger, kjt1211! I’m in just to see if you post any more poetry.
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I love this so much, Karen. (This is Karen, right?) I hope you don’t mind if I link to it in tomorrow’s article launching the Giftalong.
Just wonderful!
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What a wonderful poem! That has given me a broad grin this morning. Thank you. 
Can I join even though I’m half way through my gift list? I started in August, when I knit my sister a gathered blouse by Katya Frankel, and a Rain, Rain, Go Away hat by Laura Reid back, and my Mum has got a Sweet Disposition Cardigan by Daniele Polton, and a Lucy Hat by Carina Spencer. I am also most of the way through a fox cushion by Amanda Berry for my niece, a Mon Amy Breton top by von Hinter Stein for my boyfriend’s mum (this is the one giving me nightmares), and most of the way through a delikat lace collar by S(?) Ohman for my sister in law. Almost all of them need finishing of some kind though.
Still on the list are an imp emoji cushion for my nephew (I question his sanity) and a hair snood for my sister in law. And then I need to knit something for a baby yet to be born. Some ideas of something small and simple would be most appreciated, though luckily this can wait till the new year!
And I have to fight the urge to hunt through Raveley for a pattern for the 800 yards of silk fingering yarn I know my mum has bought me for Christmas!
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I’m in and a bit terrified. I feel like I am running around flailing my needles in the air.
Need to knit for husband, 2 sons, neighbours little boy and mum. I know what I’m going to knit but instead of focussing on one project I seem to have cast them all on and am flitting from one to the other.
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I don’t know why, but I find the MDK knitalongs so much more motivating than others I’ve joined. I think it’s the flexibility of the way they’re set up. Thank you Ann and Kay for providing another motivator!
This year I have a bunch of gifts, some already done.
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Socks, socks and more socks, for friends and for my partner. The partner-socks have been languishing on the needles since before February and really need to get done by the end of the year. It’s getting silly.
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Hat and cowl set for Cousin Rob. Using Jasper Hat and Cowl that a knitterly friend designed. Perfect style for the recipient and learning mosaic knitting was so interesting! I finished the knitting last night but it will need some serious blocking.
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Inspired by the chunky double-layer of wool/alpaca, partner decided he wanted one too so that’s on the list.
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I also have to knit a gossamer cowl object for Cousin Amy (don’t want Rob’s sister to feel left out) - must say I’m not looking forward to so much lace weight yarn but I think the finished object will be worth the fiddlyness.
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I also need to wash, block and pom-pom a Baa-ble hat for Kate, not necessarily a holiday project but at this rate it might as well have been.
So that’s 7 projects for 6 people. Still very doable since I have basically 2.5 items to go and a lot of blocking. Good luck and have fun out there everyone!
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Surely that should be mug cosies and hot chocolate?