Call me crazy...

But I personally don't believe it's ever too early to plan for Christmas. And since I was down to the wire in 2007 (working on one gift right now!) I plan to be ahead of the game in 2008. Additionally, I have a family wedding in September and plan to give the Bride, Groom, and their adorable baby (will be 1 year) something painstakingly (wink wink) handmade.

I have done a little brainstorming and this is what I'm thinking. We'll start with the wedding because it's sooner.

First a little background: The bride is my cousin. Our grandmother passed away in 2007 and we rarely see each other. I thought somethings handmade would be a sort of familial blessing type of thing. She and her soon to be dh and their adorable son live in NYC - where it's cold - so I'm confident they will appreciate somethings warm and wooly. However, she's a lovely woman who I think would appreciate something lacey (but definitely practical). I have already made contact with family close to the recipients for some much-needed reconnaisance - I need color, fiber (washable, organic, wool, cotton?) and sizes for ALL items.

For the Bride:

OR

Seeing as I've never made anything lacey and lack the confidence to bravely go where I've never gone before, I am determined get started early - this way if it doesn't work out, I can do something else.

For the Child of the Bride:I have already purchased the pattern and have a color card on order for the yarn. I think this is the most darling sweater pattern ever and plan to make it over and over for the various children I know. [I think I've just added this sweater to the list for a young lady turning one this month...perhaps a late birthday gift?]

For the Groom: I still don't know for sure, but this is an ideaPerhaps if the other gifts don't work out, a matching scarf/mittens/gloves/hat set for the whole bunch? We'll see. I also plan to bring a So-Called Scarf and matching My Herringbone Hat for the mother-of-the-bride - my Aunt.

As for Christmas. I will again attempt to knit something for each member of my immediate family and a few friends. I will start with something I wanted to give in 2007 but did not have time - not to mention skills - to complete.

For my very dear friend Casey: I've already spoken with the folks at Bea Ellis Knits and they will send 3 colors at a small additional charge so I can make the hat in our school colors. I think (and hope) it will look nice and not tacky. Yet another reason to start early. Not to mention my lack of experience in Fair Isle knitting!

My brother's girlfriend expressed an interest in having some hand-knit stockings for Christmas and her inability to find any that suited her taste. I would like to knit a set for the three of them and will send the appropriate pictures and information to her for approval. My personal favorite is this one:These are available as kits and I think would be lovely, heirloom quality gifts that I would eventually like to make for each member of my family that would like one.

Fortunately (I think?) I haven't come up with any more. I will of course be thinking and long-term gift-knitting planning and will keep track of what I'm up to. Perhaps I'll be like so many others in the knit-blogosphere with a bunch of silly meters so I can see how far I've got to go to get all these (awesome, right?) gifts done on time! Now, if I could just finish the scarf I'm currently working on before Spring that would be AWESOME! ~Peace~