With all the crippling kinks and missing links in the supply chain, it looks like Christmas could be positively Dickensian, only with the gruel stuck on a container ship off Long Beach. Many of us have anticipated this turn of events and decided to bypass the Season of Overspending by creating loving gifts with our own hands — and YouTube, of course.
From knit raincoats in custom sizes to Star Trek nativity sets, this could be a breakout season for homemade gifts. Here are some hints and warnings to make such a holiday much less painful than you suspect.
- Start two months ago. Any worthwhile present should represent hours of sacrifice and effort, but any instructions almost always underestimate needed time by a factor of three when you allow for do-overs. My best offerings have been version 7 or higher.
- Use a similar ratio for cost and materials. Buying a polished finished product could save weeks and big bucks, but remember those things are still on the boat, along with standby generators and Barbie Lumberjack. Stick a crowbar in your wallet to hit some of that PPP moolah and clear your schedule.
- When choosing a gift, study the recipient carefully, but not enough to creep them out. For example, does he/she wear a lot of orange plaid? Keep in mind, a few people are not infatuated with “unique.” Create something they can wear unremarked in public or disguise at home.
- If your gift features lovingly added personalization, make sure you have the correct spelling. This is not the slam dunk it used to be. The world might be hooked on phonics, but that’s provoked free-form name creation. Check every letter – nothing kills the thrill like handing over a gift with “Jhon.” If faced with names that now have a dozen or more spellings, such as “Kheighlii.” go with “My Favorite [Relative Type]” instead.
- Should the gift require any type of finishing — painting, varnishing, frosting, sequins, etc. – try it on a small sample first. Then multiply the drying/curing time instructions by 10. One dead giveaway this rule has been ignored is when the wrapping paper sticks to the present.
- Enlist a fellow conspirator to shout, “Wow” it’s a [desirable thing]!” when unwrapped. What you don’t want to hear is “Umm… thanks. What is it?” Keep in mind the enjoyment of making presents rarely matches that of receiving them.
- Small is fine. Remember this is a keepsake that needs storing until you visit.
- This need not become an annual event. Your ship could literally come.
A final thought: My most gratefully received homemade gifts were wrapped in currency. Masking tape works best.
