Cheap Tricks

I’ve really been enjoying finding ways to spend less money—it’s a fun, creative challenge. I really tried to cut back my spending on the holidays in 2007, like by making my own wreath from others’ tree leftovers. I also had a tiny budget for presents. Here are a few of the cheap gifts I made.
Stash Sachets
For my dear Knogglers I made these little sachets from cedar shavings and herbs I grew in my yard. They smell good and should keep creepy crawlies out of wool. I made sachets of cedar and rosemary, cedar and mint, and cedar and lavender.

The bags were a bit of a splurge from Michael’s, but I had a great coupon from my friend Tina, who works there. Bits of tulle tied with ribbon would perhaps be a way to save more.
Lamb’s Ear Bookmarks
More gifts I picked up out of my yard. (Watch out, next year it will be acorns.) These went to my coworkers and other book loving friends and family.


In the summer, I started pinching off lamb’s ear leaves in my yard and pressing them in books. I figured they needed some explaining, so the front of the tag has a Chinese proverb—“A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.”—and the back clarifies its function—“And a lamb’s ear bookmark is like a garden carried in the book. Happy holidays!”
Georgia Football Gnome Calendar
I think this project may have been the most fun to make, because I had help from friends.

I got the idea when Christie and Rob treated me and the Professor at the Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle. There was a gnome up in their decorations, and I told the Professor that it would be a great gift for my parents for Christmas. And I wasn’t really kidding. We looked in the gift shop, but no luck. So the Professor tracked one down on eBay. When it got here, the Professor and I and Chip and Scrappy went to work taking photos of the gnome in various spots around town, particularly at any place related to football or bulldogs, though he also took a trip to Bizarro Wuxtry. The weather wasn’t very cooperative, and we just had one afternoon, and the gnome took a tumble, breaking off the tip of his hat, but we managed to get some great photographs. You can see some on our Flickr accounts. Here are a couple, to give you an idea.


After the photoshoot, I used Lulu.com to make the calendars, and I was even able to include game dates. These went to the Georgia football fans in my life. I actually still have a couple stacked at my door that I intend to deliver sometime this calendar year.
Fetching
I knit many gifts from my stash this year. I had accumulated a good bit of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino from several different projects. I ended up having to buy one ball of black because I ran out, but I managed to knit a number of gifts in really yummy yarn for very little money. Including this Fetching, in black, for Aunt Joan.

I also made Fetching for my mother. I actually made these first. Later I made myself a pair in purple, but I think this first pair turned out best. Initially I tried the picot bind off, but it looked terrible so I ripped that out and did a regular bind off.


Athens Beanies
These are a version of the London Beanie, but in Georgia colors. One for my dad, one for my brother.

Space Invader Hat
I used lots of bits to make this Space Invader hat for the Professor.


I borrowed the idea and chart from this sock pattern, and combined it with the London Beanie. Although it was fun and I like the idea, it didn’t turn out as well as I would’ve liked. The pattern would look better in a smaller gauge (as in the sock). Also, the carried yarn shows through when stretched, as hats inevitably are. A scarf or tie might’ve worked better. Also, I really need to figure out how to polish my fair isle technique.
I’m still seeking cheap gift ideas for birthdays and next Christmas. I plan to steal Will and Katina’s clever idea of sending cool iron ons. Perhaps next year family and friends will get to sport pictures of Corabelle and Rose on any t-shirt they like. If you have any inexpensive gift ideas, I’d love to hear them!