re-tired:

I hope it looks decent when I finish or else I'll have to rip it out and find a different stitch!

Good luck with it, I hope it works out well!

I got my fabric squares in the mail today. I need to go this weekend to look for coordinated fabrics for backing and blocks and I'll start cutting & piecing the blocks for mom's quilt. I should look for the resin epoxy to make the necklaces too and get it while I'm there.  I'm still waiting for the scrabble tiles to arrive.  Luckily our Walmart still sells fabric, so hopefully I can get everything I need there. 

 I am knitting tube socks for the grandchildren again this year.  The two youngest have severe eczema, have outgrown everything they had, & can only wear 100% cotton, so I use either sugar & cream cotton yarn or two strands of crochet cotton.  If I combine white with a color, the sock has a "ragg" look to it, especially if I use red, blue or green for the color. I combined a light pink strand with white for the youngest dgd & the socks turned out super cute - - they look shimmery!  I am currently working on the pink wool socks for the oldest dgd, who also has eczema, but can wear either cotton or yarn.  Got the pink wool on clearance at our local yarn shop, which I love. It has been in business since 1904, & carries everything I need. They take a while to make, but I am getting faster as I get back into it. The youngest dgs is only 2, so he is happy with whatever I give him.  He is getting at least 2-3 pair of black cotton socks.  The 4 year old dgd is the one getting the pink socks.  She will also get a pair of white/purple socks, & another pink set if I have time.  She was completely out, so has already received a pair of purple socks & 2 pair of white socks.  Her little brother inherited her red/white & blue/white "ragg" cotton socks, so he is not completely out.  The older 2 can wear store bought socks to school, as they are not so severe, but love "the warm wool socks that grandma knits - - they are SOOO warm", which melts my heart, so I knit for them, too.  Beyond the gkids, I have been shopping the sales for everyone else, & most of it is already wrapped. - Marivene

I am crocheting throws for several people on my list. I bought a huge bag of yarn at goodwill, in one of those bags that big comforter sets come in, for 12.00.I know a good deal when I see one, Im sure there was at least 60 or 70 dollars worth of yarn in there. It also had 3 of those big spools of cotton yarn in there too. I need to figure out what Im going to do with that, I think I have some patterns somewhere for some cute placemats,maybe someone will be getting those for Christmas.

Cotton yarn makes nice washcloths or dishcloths, coasters, tea cozies. Edey

slippers too.   I made baby quilts out of cotton yarn.  

I have been using out my cotton yarn for wash/dish cloths which ever the user wants to do with it.

found a roald dahl revolting recipes (kinda of a cooking with kids book) book at value village today for my mom.  He wrote Willy wonka and the chocolate factory and others.   She likes him.  The kinda of unique thing I like finding for people for gifts.

Don't forget aprons are a favorite with lots of people now.  They are easy and quick to make and you can even make matching potholders, mitts or handtowels.  Edey

Gifts for me:

 kinitted  socks, sweaters, scarves, slipper socks

Families: those jars of layers of ingredients that you pour into a bowl with some liquid ingredients to make anything from cookies to soups to hot chocolate.

Comforters for families made out of squares cut from your old clothes, sheets, blankets.

Teens: I like the quilted purse idea. You can use old worn out quilts to made them. Just cut from the reusable parts of the quilt. Would be very easy and quick. Look at a second hand store for old quilts. Also for teens or anyone, I saw on another site an idea of going to a Dollar Store and putting your own gift together using dollar items, like shampoo, bath oil, soap, candle, fragrance, pretty washcloth, bath beads.

 For kids or young adults even, an inexpensive gift is colored pencils and a ream of typing paper.

 For anyone: I have a food dehydrator and one gift everyone always likes is my dried jerky recipe. It's so easy and so delicious and takes very little prep and is a favorite that some have come to expect!

 Making your own jams and jellys, pickles, salsa is also always an option. Food is something even the elderly usually like and is something that everyone can use. I have even made my own homemade potato chips that are a hit!