The team tells allTop tips for a stress-free holiday season.

“Don’t overlook vouchers – you’re not giving a piece of paper, you’re giving a choice.”

Debora, Editor

“Make a list of what you’ve bought and for whom and keep it with you so that you always know who to buy for.”Jessica, Designer

“Posting parcels abroad? Send early by surface mail. It gets things out of the way

and spreads the cost over months.”Miriam, Production Editor

“We travel a lot to see everyone, so I pick different suitcases and put the gifts for each family straight in the case as I buy them, then wrap the gifts when I start packing.”Elizabeth, Reviews Editor

“Send e-cards instead of paper ones – they’re quicker, cheaper and better for the

environment. There are lots of free ones – try www.ecards.co.uk – or make your own.”Liz, Art Editor “Have a few little knits like mittens stashed

away in case you need an extra gift in a hurry.”Kirstie, Technical Editor

With the holidays approaching, life gets busier and busier. Here are our top tips to help you carve out some knitting time and lower your stress levels.

save our knitting!SOK :

Find time to knit gifts

triage Divide your ‘to knit’ gift list into three categories: ‘must-knit’, ‘nearly finished’ and ‘would be nice/can be late’.

divide and cOnquer Now you’ve set your priorities, sort your most urgent pile into categories according to where you can knit – perhaps ‘on the bus’, ‘in front of the telly’ and ‘in a room with good light’ and put them where they’ll be used.

Handbag prOjectS You’ll be surprised by how many little pockets of time you can knit in, from queuing in the supermarket to waiting for a film to start.

Knit faSter Knitting continental style (with the yarn in your left hand) is typically faster than using your right. Visit www.knittinghelp.com to learn how.

SuperSize it Go bulky: use two strands of yarn held together or a chunky yarn to zip through bedsocks, thick scarves and cosy hats.

Scrimp Cut back on the amount of knitting – ankle socks, fingerless mitts and tank tops will be quicker than knee-highs, gloves and sweaters.

Visit www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/X414 or ✆ 0844 848 2852 (lines open 8am-9.30pm weekdays, 8am-4pm Saturdays)

10 ways to sneak in some extra knitting

WalKing arOund It’s not for everyone, but it is possible to learn to knit or crochet while you walk. Start by learning to knit without watching your hands, and you’ll soon be able to knit on your way to work or while walking the dog.

in queueS A few minutes here and there add up – but you’ll need to be able to shove your project back in your bag quickly when you get to the counter.

cOOKing Waiting for the water to boil or the timer to ring? Knit a few rows – just make sure you have a clean spot to put your project down on afterwards!

On tHe pHOne If you love to chat, invest in a headset and keep your hands free while you talk. (Just keep the counting quiet!)

luncH breaK Settle down with a cup of coffee and your knitting and you’ll return to work refreshed at the end of your break.

driving Don’t drive! It’ll be good for the environment and good for the needles. Take the bus or the train if you can – or get someone else to take the wheel.

in tHe batH Lock the door, light some candles, pour a glass of wine… and only use washable yarn!

breaStfeeding It’s not for every new mum, but we’ve been assured it can work if you’re careful!

reading Magazines and older books work best as they’ll stay open easily. You might find it most comfortable to sit at a table to read and knit, or use a music stand, if you have one.

in meetingSIf it’s a small one (or a work one!) it’s probably best to ask, but if you’re at a public lecture, keeping your hands moving might help you focus.

5 ways to save time on almost anything

put it Off Wear your jeans an extra day, clean the bath less often, feed the cat once a week… well, okay, there are some things you can’t put off. Pets won’t wait. But if you’ll have to do it again next week, ask yourself if you really need to do it this week, too.

Say ‘nO’ Don’t want to do something? Don’t make

excuses – people will often try to solve them to get you to say yes, putting you

in an awkward position. Saying “I’m sorry, I can’t help you with it” is fine!

give up On perfectiOnNothing slows you down more than fixing ‘mistakes’ no-one else can see.

multitaSK Knitting while you’re watching telly is a classic example of how you can do two things at once.

enOugH’S enOugH Knowing when to stop is tricky but you can waste a lot of time if you don’t. It’s like knitting knee-highs when you were aiming for ankle socks.

Find time to relax

maKe it rOutineIt can be hard to get kids (and adults) to respect your need for a bit of peace and quiet, so build it into your routine. If you’re struggling, start with one block of time that’s just for you, preferably one you can’t alter or delay, such as watching your favourite television programme or going to knit night, and say ‘I’m busy that night’ or ‘not now – when this is over’ firmly.

cut bacK On HOuSeWOrK We’re not suggesting you leave it until someone calls in Kim and Aggie, but if you can put off some chore for even a day or two – doing tasks every other day rather than every day, or once a week rather than twice – you’ll free up some time to put the kettle on and get out your pins.

cut bacK On media If watching the news has you shouting at the telly, surfing the internet leaves you feeling

tense or the newspaper is driving you to despair, cut back or cut them out entirely until a more restful season comes around.

drOp tHe gym, get a taKeaWay There’s more to health than homemade meals and treadmills. Give yourself a night off and knit instead!

SWap Trade things you’re quick at with a friend or neighbour, or double up and each look after two sets of kids or walk two dogs, giving the other one a night off.

Hire SOmeOne Time and money are always a trade off but you may find that it’s worth hiring someone to do one-off jobs as well as regular ones – for example, giving your house a deep clean before or after the holidays or wrapping presents for you.

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You knit while watching television, sitting on the bus and having a coffee with friends – but there are more great knitting opportunities if you know where to find them!

Knitting isn’t just about finishing a project, it’s also a great way to relax, and with the festivities upon us the pressure is on. It’s important to make time for yourself. We’ve got some ideas to help you carve out some time to relax.

We’d get so much more knitting done if life didn’t keep getting in the way…

As the deadline gets closer, finding time to finish your gifts becomes more and more urgent. Follow our quick tips to accomplish your goals and make the process less stressful.

Remember, if you have a

subscription problem, you need to email simplyknitting@

subscription.co.uk

Subscribe today and save up to 30% on our best-selling craft and hobby titles…

Veryimportantknitterarea

22 SimplyKnitting December 2009

Veryimportantknitterarea

We all love to relax with a gorgeous skein of yarn and a pair of

needles, but something strange happens in the run up to Christmas. With all the gifts to knit and a to-do list that’s getting longer and longer by the day, somehow our favourite hobby becomes a chore.

This year, we’re determined to Save Our Knitting (and our sanity) and have gathered together our top tips to help you stay relaxed as you knit your way through the holiday season.

Save up to

30%Do you like the decorations on this page? Look out for all the patterns next issue, on sale Thursday 3 December.