Christmas Knitting: The Emotional Journey of Knitting For Christmas

We crafty types are super generous and love nothing more than giving a hand-knitted gift at this, the most wonderful time of the year. From classic knitting patterns to innovative ideas from independent designers we’re certainly spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding what to make. However, it turns out that choosing a pattern is often the least of our worries. To quote Ronan Keating, life is a rollercoaster. Especially a life filled with knitting. And especially at Christmas!

Inspired By Knitting Patterns
Flicking through knitting patterns is the knitter’s equivalent of going through the Argos catalogue at Christmas. There is so much to tempt you, where do you begin! We’ve got almost 2,000 patterns on this very website. Sign up to Let’s Knit Together for unlimited access! With your “who to knit for” list to hand - plus snacks - enjoy the experience of picking your patterns.

Enjoy Choosing Yarn
There are only two words to sum up that feeling you get when rummaging through your yarn stash - unbridled joy! To be seconded only by the sense of excitement when you realise that you don’t have a suitable yarn and will have to go to your local yarn shop instead. Woohoo!

Get Ready For Casting On
Riding on the motivational wave of selecting the perfect pattern and yarn combo for your chosen recipient, it’s such an exciting feeling to finally cast on. You’ve already allocated every spare waking moment to get this done, what could possibly go wrong!

Knitting: The Dawn of the Dread
A twisted loop here, a split strand there, an incorrect colour change ten rows previously. It might not be what the original knitting pattern designer had planned but just keep going. It’ll be fine. After all, it’s knitted with love in every stitch. That’s all that matters, right?

The Knitting Time Warp
It’s a strange quirk of science that when things are going well, you have plenty of time to do all your tasks and have hours to spare. However, when things start to go awry, time inexplicably speeds up. In addition to that, it is inevitable that you will suddenly be required to dedicate much of your pre-planned knitting time to other real-world tasks. Hmmph!

To Rip Or Not To Rip (out your knitting)
Uh-oh. A dropped stitch here, a stray eyelet there, a missed increase from the row below that you’re considering adding in now you’ve remembered it. It might be time to face facts, and start to undo your hard work.

Just Keep Knitting
In our experience, when the going gets tough, knitters get stubborn (clearly, Billy Ocean didn’t know many crafters). How many of you have refused to go to bed until you have finished a row? Or until you’ve reworked the section you’ve just had to unpick? Channel that determination and make it work!

Keep Calm and Carry On Knitting
YES! You are back in business. Time has slowed back to its normal 24 hour day and you can complete the rest of your project in (relative) calm. What a relief!

Celebrate Your Knitting Achievements
Recipient: “Oh, wow, this gift is incredible. It’s just what I’ve always wanted!”
You: “Thanks, I made it myself!”