Planning for Next Year -- January To Do List for Christmas
Debbie Colgrove

I do it every year! I put off sewing for Christmas gifts until the fall and by Christmas Eve I'm exhausted. This year I'm determined to be more organized.
This year when I packed up the Christmas decorations, I condensed and cleaned out, which left me room in the attic where the Christmas items are stored. That space will be used to put gifts away as I make them. I may not wrap them but my box of gift boxes is readily available and a post it on each box will help me remember who I made what. I've always had various hiding places but 90% of the time a gift gets found the following February. The kids will probably be disappointed when gifts aren't found in February, but I know I won't be disappointed to have everything in one location.

The worst thing that can happen by getting organized is that I will have birthday gifts made ahead of time.

Economics are an important part of my planning strategies. January white sales, flannel, holiday prints and fleece clearance sales are on my list for this month.

I'll choose my flannel for boxers while the clearance sales are running. I'll be sewing the boxers in February when I order a highly recommend pattern. (First Choice Boxers -- follow the links to see the yardage requirements and order the patterns.)

I'll choose fleece that will make great throw blankets. Before I pack the fleece away, I'm going to finish the edges so the blanket is all done. The scrapes will be saved for lining slippers. (More on making slippers) I may even match some of the fleece with cotton prints to make Cotton & Fleece Blankets.

Most of my gift list is pretty established in their homes and I doubt their kitchen colors will be changing by too much. If I match their counter top colors I should be safe. I can buy hand towels at white sales for embroiering and for hanging hand towels.

Christmas prints will not be put away for next year until they are made up into Christmas Tree skirts, tissue box covers, bottle bags, fabric bowls, magic wallets and Pocket Tissue Covers.
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