Jillian’s Spinning: How I’m Getting Through the Holidaze This Year

This year has been especially crazy for me, nothing traumatic,  just extra busy.

I have found a way to make this year’s gift giving  holidays less stressful for me – no handmade gifts. Yep, send out the craft police. I’m not making any presents.

Over the years I have paired down the number of handmade gifts to one or two per year, rotating through the people who really love and appreciate the work that goes into handmade things.

This year it started as an accident – the planning never made it onto my radar. When I realized, I first felt crappy about it. I love knitting and making and I love all of my people, surely this means I’m a bad crafter. Then I became resigned to it. Then I had my Grinch moment, no one else measures my love in handmade gifts, why should I?

I may make some things for people I love this winter, but in a more organic way, not under a stress fest of a deadline.

Right now I am spinning just to spin.

December in Michigan where I live is so grey it’s like living inside of a Tupperware bowl with the lid on.

So I pulled this out of my stash

Dyeabolical merino/bamboo in Blood Orange

It makes my eyes dance with delight and it is so soft.

I spun it into a woolen 3-ply, about 12 WPI. It will be a simple cowl in moss stitch or a simple slip stitch. Maybe, I’ll end up giving it away this winter.

Blood Orange yarn.

How are all of you staying sane this crazy time of year?