When your calendar turned the page to July, I can guess that your first thought was not: Less than 6 months until Christmas! I'd better seriously starting planning and creating my holiday crafts! But it should have been. There are 24 weekends until Christmas.  That's 24 Saturdays and Sunday -when long periods of time can be devoted to creating holiday decorations and gifts.  How can you use that time efficiently?

First.  DO NOT PANIC.  Spend the next week or two doing all the planning that needs to be done.  Look up the patterns you tucked away last year planning to make for gifts or decorations this year.  Decide if you really like the projects, and -if not- search items that might replace them. 

Write down a list of projects you plan to do -the more compulsive might make a spreadsheet.  For each project list the recipient. Search through your stash to find any supplies you already own.  For those items that need to be purchased -fabrics, yarns, papers, beads, notions - start a shopping list making sure to add the name of the project next to each item.
If a gift needs size measurements, make sure to get them NOW. While you do not need to purchase all your supplies right now, having a complete list of what you need makes getting it later easier. 

Order the projects into two groups: Quick Items and Time Consuming Items.  Then order the Time Consuming items from the longest time to the shortest.

I would plan on starting the longest time item as soon as possible.  It might a quilt that needs to be pieced, then sent out for quilting before you can bind it.  It might be a lacy shawl that will take quiet time and attention to complete.  Whatever the item, starting that one thing gets you in the groove.  And increases the chances that it will be completed on time.

Between now and Labor day, set a time frame and plan for working on your gifts.  Be realistic.  Know that summertime is often a slow-sales time; watch for sales at your favorite local shops and take advantage of the timing. (that's why you want the plan and shopping list done soon). 

As the days become shorter, you should be well on your way to tackling your holiday crafty plans.  Imagine being able to relax and enjoy the holiday parties and gatherings this year because you're not stressing over gifts incomplete. 

I'm fortunate, I think, that I only have a couple gifts to work on.  One pair of knit socks, already on the needles, and a second possible pair to work on after these.  A lacy shawl to crochet.  A quilt -slept with for the past 12 years- that needs to be repaired. 

Are you planning to make a number of your holiday gifts and decorations this year?  Have you already started?

Other bloggers obsessing already about Christmas:

Whip-up reviews the book The Complete Book of Retro Crafts: Collecting, Displaying & Making Crafts of the Past by Suzie Millions. (Lark Books, 2008):

One of the most kitschy holidays of the year has got to be Christmas – with all those reindeer, elves and trees – glitter and sparkles everywhere – so a whole chapter devoted to Christmas crafts was a must. I love the miniature Christmas village made from last years Christmas cards and a bit of tinsel too. Shell mosaic and other ‘encrustations’ get their own chapter – as does glass crafts – with bottle scenes getting a few projects – that is making a mini diorama and putting it in a bottle or jar – pretty cute actually.

The Mom Trap posted 50 Easy Craft Fair Projects You Can Start This Weekend.  Yes.  School craft fairs are another stress-inducing craft pressure.  Kim links to a number of simple fast items that you can plan now and quickly crank out for that obligatory 3rd grade craft booth. 

Chloe Findlay-Harder wrote last year about Thrifty Christmas Crafting.

Four years of working in a fabric store and a lifetime of being a fabric-aholic has left me with a pretty extensive stash.  So far, I haven’t needed to buy any extra fabric to make sewn gifts for anyone on my Christmas gifts list.  That’s including several garments, bags and smaller projects!

It’s worthwhile to take a look at your stash and see what can be sewn and shared with your friends and family.  And don’t forget - if you’ve been holding onto that “perfect” piece of fabric for five years without sewing it, maybe it’s time to actually use it?

Debra Roby blogs her creative life at A Stitch in Time and her journey to fitness at Weight for Deb.