It’s the Thought that Counts

It’s that time of year again – 2022 has whizzed past. So although Bernie Rowen-Ross feels she has just finished putting the Christmas cards from last year in the post for charity, she turns her mind to this year’s Christmas gifts – handcrafted if possible.

In the Local Life December 2021 issue, I wrote about friends who always make their own Christmas presents. And, with the dreaded cost of living crises, it is undoubtedly time to put creativity to the forefront and get out those knitting needles, crochet hooks, sewing needles and card-making papers we have been collecting for years. Or perhaps it’s time to learn a new craft?

We can do many simple things to make unique and thoughtful gifts. For example, if you collect wine bottle corks, glue them together to create a corkboard to pin notices on. Or use coloured string or rope to make a set of coasters. One year I laminated photos of my grandchildren and used them as placemats. The grandchildren were delighted, and they could identify their places without a problem! I still have these, and they are great memories.

There is nothing like a lovely pair of woolly gloves or socks, hand-knitted or bought from a craftsperson. Even hand-knitted leg-warmers are welcome, and making them is not rocket science, nor is knitting a scarf and warm hat. You can make a shawl from sewn-together knitted squares in fun colours; it creates a new fashion statement. Felting is also not that hard to do, and felted fingerless gloves are great! Again, you can choose colours and styles. There are inexpensive felting classes online – let your imagination run wild.

If you want to learn a new skill, join a wood carving, jewellery making, silver work or wire work class. Alternatively, gift a class for the recipient to learn a new skill. For example, cooking classes are popular gifts for a partner – with the added bonus of nights off cooking in the future!

We can do so much on a limited budget, especially when we abandon the idea that designer goods are necessary to make you happy. It really is the thought that goes into making something for your friends and family that means the world to the recipient.

Then, there is the stylish wrapping of homemade items – a Christmas cake wrapped in a dishcloth or handmade soap wrapped in handmade washcloths. Your Granny probably did this; we need to learn from the past and get on with the challenges of the future – with enthusiasm.