​Last week was a bits and bobs week.

I washed a load of fabric that was stored in my shed. It was in a box, all nicely sealed up, but it smelled stale, and it was a sunny day, so into the washing machine it went with a cup of white vinegar and then onto the line to dry in the sunshine. It smells so fresh and lovely now, and it's ready to be used.

I kept up with the dishcloths when I was sitting of an evening. This keeps my hands busy, and fills the present box at the same time. 

I tried a different style of kitchen towel, using tea towels and pot holders from my stash. They're quick to make but double the price of the style I usually do, so I'll think about whether or not I'll continue with them.

In the kitchen I gave the vanilla bottles a good shake up. I like to do this every couple of weeks while it's brewing. 

And as February is my biggest preserving month, I  went through the canning shed and sorted jars and lids, and flats and rings. I put a few loads through the dishwasher so they're ready to use. They were clean, but they'd been stored in the shed and some were a little dusty. I'd rather wash them all and know they are spotless and ready to use. 

I made some labels on the SNC for the spice mixes for the hampers, and applied them to the jars. Now they're ready to fill when I make the mixes later in the year. 

Week 5 of the Handmade Christmas Challenge was one of those quietly satisfying weeks where a lot got done without feeling rushed — the kind of progress that really shows the power of starting early.

My week began with an absolute gift: 7.86 kilos of freshly picked apricots, straight from the tree. Summer fruit is one of the joys of this season, and stone fruits are my clear favourite. 

Out came the jam jars, and 4 kilos were turned into rich, golden apricot jam, now neatly lined up on the pantry shelves — a very welcome addition to our handmade Christmas stash. The rest were stewed, with some set aside for breakfasts (stewed apricots with yoghurt and muesli is just delicious), and the remainder bagged and frozen for winter crumbles and pies. Future me will be very grateful.

This is one of the reasons I love including food gifts in my Handmade Christmas plan — they make the most of seasonal abundance and spread the work across the year.

In the evenings I crocheted more cotton dishcloths. Some are for us, some are destined for Hannah’s Christmas stocking, and others went straight into the present box.

Dishcloths are one of my favourite Handmade Christmas items because they are quick to make, easy to batch and as a gift they're useful and always appreciated. 
They’re perfect “sitting projects” (think watching TV of an evening or on car journeys or waiting for something/someone) and a great way to make steady progress without thinking too hard.

This week I also reviewed my to-make list. I’m a planner at heart, and breaking the list down into individual items made everything feel much more manageable.

Here’s what the maths looks like:
178 handmade items planned for the year
That works out to 16 items a month
Or just 4 items a week

Batch making is the secret! It sounds like a lot when you see it all written out, but when I go over the list, the reality is much calmer:
• Many items can be batch made
• Most projects are quick
• Only a couple will take a few hours from start to finish
The key is treating Handmade Christmas as planned work, not something squeezed in when I feel like it. Even though the work is enjoyable and relaxing, it still has a purpose.

When I counted what’s already done, I couldn’t help but do a happy dance — I’m not just on track, I’m ahead.

What’s in the present box so far:
• Dishcloths (14)
• Canning mats (2)
• Pot holders (2)
• Kitchen towels (3)
• Gift bags (4)
• Cutlery rolls (2)
• Vanilla extract (still brewing – enough for 4 bottles)
• Apricot jam (4)
• Etched jam jars (6)

That’s 37 items already completed — two months (and a bit) ahead of schedule. Woo hoo!

That’s the heart of the Handmade Christmas Challenge — small, regular effort that adds up to a relaxed, joyful Christmas, finished well before December.

If you’re joining along, remember: you don’t need to do everything at once. You just need to keep working on your gift list. 

How did you go last week?

The weather here has been doing its own thing — blazing hot one day, almost cold the next. I’m taking it day by day, and so far we haven’t had two hot days in a row, which makes it much easier to keep pottering along without feeling wiped out.

When I stopped and actually counted how many things I’d crossed off my handmade Christmas gift list, I was genuinely surprised. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like much progress — until you see it written down in black and white.
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Nine Crochet Dishcloths Done ✔️
This week I managed to crochet nine dishcloths — some as pairs, some as singles. I can already picture how they’ll be used as part of kitchen gift sets, bundled with towels or tucked into food hampers later in the year.
Dishcloths are one of those quiet achievers of handmade Christmas:

• quick to make
• practical (everyone uses them)
• perfect for stash-busting cotton yarn
• easy to mix and match into gift sets

They’re also a lovely “sitting project” — ideal for warm evenings when you don’t want anything too complicated on your lap.

Kitchen Towels Finished (and Gifts Crossed Off!)
Only two kitchen towels were finished this week, but I’m counting them as a big win.
One has a gorgeous chicken print, finished with a red trim that really makes it pop. The other has purple trim — and I’ll admit, purple isn’t my favourite colour — but it works beautifully here. It picks up the tiny hint of purple in the pattern and brings it right forward. I know exactly who this towel is for, and I know she’ll love it.

Another gift crossed off the list ✔️
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That feeling never gets old.
​

Jam Jars Prepped (and a New Skill Tried)
I also spent time prepping jars for jam making and had a go at the etching process. I’m really pleased with how they turned out — simple, clean, and perfect for gifting.
​
These jars will be ideal for:

• jams
• relishes
• pickles
• sauces

And because they’re already done, February’s food-making plans will feel much easier when the produce starts rolling in.
​

Yarn Sorting: Long Overdue, Deeply Satisfying
One of the biggest (and most overdue) jobs this week was sorting the yarn boxes.
I sat on the floor, tipped out one box at a time, and made piles of like-with-like yarns. It didn’t take long to see:

• what I’m short on
• what I have plenty of
• and what I may never need to buy again 😉

​Everything is now neatly put away, boxes are labelled, and my work space feels calmer already. This kind of sorting isn’t glamorous, but it saves so much time and money later in the year.
​

Wrapping as I Go (Future Me Will Be Very Happy)
One habit I’ve started this year — and I highly recommend it — is wrapping and labelling gifts as soon as they’re finished.
Come November, I know I’ll be:

• relieved it’s already done
• thrilled I used marked-down Boxing Day sale wrapping paper
• very proud of my handmade gift tags

It’s one less thing to think about when the year starts to speed up.

A Tiny Gift Budget Trick That Adds Up
Another small thing I’ve started doing is putting $5 a fortnight into the gift budget to cover postage costs in December.
That money will be used for:

• stamps for Christmas cards
• postage for parcels

It’s not much, but spread over the year it removes a sneaky December expense. If you post parcels or send Christmas cards, this is well worth planning for now.

Wrapping Up January (and Looking Ahead to February)
We’re almost at the end of January — the month where the focus was:

• starting (or revisiting) your gift list
• setting up your handmade Christmas plan
• getting things written down so they’re out of your head

Having everything written down helps you focus on what you’re making now, instead of worrying about what comes next.
If you haven’t written your list yet, or it’s still floating around in your head, this week is a great time to get it done. February is only days away, and I’ve earmarked it for all things produce:

• jam making
• relish making
• pickles
• sauces
• and turning them into beautiful gifts for the foodies in our lives

Slow, steady, and planned — that’s how we make handmade Christmas calm and stress-free.
​

Come and share what you’ve been making, sorting, or planning this week in the Make It Monday Week 4 forum thread or in the comments below.

Whether you finished one small thing or tackled a big job, every step counts 💗

One of my favourite things about the Handmade Christmas Challenge is how plans naturally evolve as the weeks roll on. Week 3 of Make It Monday was a beautiful mix of crafting, preserving, and a little bit of bartering – the kind of gentle progress that makes handmade gifting feel joyful rather than rushed.

It all started with a simple question from my friend Wendy: “Could you make me a tea cosy?” Of course I could. I worked up a sample first, and as luck would have it, it fit her teapot perfectly. That’s always a good feeling. I then used some of Wendy’s own yarn to make a second tea cosy in deeper green tones that will suit her kitchen beautifully.

Rather than money changing hands, we traded – the finished tea cosy for some pretty yarn Wendy knew she wouldn’t use. Even better? I already have a plan for that yarn. Handmade Christmas win all round.

​Once I was in tea cosy mode, I kept going. I pulled out the prettiest soft pink cotton and made another cosy, this time adding crocheted flowers and little leaves for extra charm. I finished it off with one of my favourite wooden buttons, and honestly, I just love how it turned out and I know who it is going to, and I know she will just love it too (and no photo, but I'll a photo after it's been sent).

There was a bit of cotton left over, so I crocheted a matching dishcloth. I’m a big fan of pairing gifts like this – a main handmade item with a small, useful extra makes the gift feel thoughtful and complete.

Dishcloths became the go-to “sitting activity” this week. Joy had gifted me some gorgeous cotton yarns, and I’ve been slowly working my way through them. I found a new crochet dishcloth pattern and adapted it to suit my crochet ability (because that’s how real-life crafting works).

Once I had the rhythm, I kept going:
• Five dishcloths finished in one run
• Three more made as a gift for a friend, two in burnt orange and one in a softer orange shade. They aren’t colours I’d usually choose, but as it turned out, I had the perfect yarn in my stash. That’s the magic of using what you already have.

I also started work on the kitchen towels. I have a few to do for the present box, so starting early when I can takes the pressure off. I love the little wooden buttons, they say "handmade with love" and are so cute.

Handmade Christmas isn’t just crafts; Handmade Christmas also includes the things that fill our pantries and freezers.

This week:
• The vanilla extract that’s steeping got a good shake
• The canning mats and pot holders I’d cut out earlier were sewn and finished
• I used frozen Costco mince to can 7 quart jars of meatballs and 15 pints of mince for the pantry
• A quadruple batch of bolognaise sauce went into the freezer, giving us six easy meals ready to go

These are gifts to our future selves – and they absolutely count.

​I’ve collected a large glass jar ready to start strawberry vinegar. I’m hoping strawberries come down in price soon so I can get it underway. I already have some beautiful 500 ml dark amber bottles ready for decanting and gifting when it’s done.

And a timely reminder from Wendy: it’s time to set up my MBGS book so I can track what I actually make this year compared to what I planned. Keeping a simple record helps me stay motivated and realistic – and it’s incredibly satisfying to see progress in black and white as well as in the present box.

​That’s Make It Monday Week 3 done and dusted – steady, satisfying, and very on brand for a calmer Handmade Christmas.

How are you going with your gifts?

What have you made this week?

Jump into the comments and share – your progress might be exactly the encouragement someone else needs today 💕

This week was mostly a planning week for me — and honestly, that’s one of my favourite parts of the Handmade Christmas Challenge.

I did give in to a little temptation during the Boxing Day sales and bought some beautiful fabrics at $4 a metre, marked down from $30. I was thrilled. That’s cheaper than op-shop sheets or doona covers, and the quality is gorgeous.

The big difference this year? Every piece had to have a purpose.

A few very pretty bolts were put back on the shelf because I simply couldn’t think of what I’d make with them. And you know what? That felt really good. Now the stack of fabric at home is fully allocated — no guilt, no “one day I’ll use that.” My goal this year is to mostly use what I already have, without buying anything else.

Over the weekend I cut out some canning mats, matching pot holders, and a few kitchen towel toppers. To mix things up a bit, I downloaded some free patterns and templates from AccuQuilt. If I decide they’re keepers, I’ll transfer them onto plastic so they last longer and are quicker to trace and cut in future.

I also downloaded a free pattern from Spotlight to make fabric Christmas ornaments. They’ll be perfect for using up scraps as I go through the year — because my plan is simple: no scraps left by December.

What Have I Been Making?
I’ve already started two bottles of vanilla extract. If you’re planning on making vanilla (or other flavoured extracts), start now. It may feel early, but they need time to mature. Most extracts need at least six weeks, but the longer they sit, the better they are. Starting now doesn’t cost a cent extra — and it’s another gift crossed off the list early.

During the Boxing Day sales I also picked up five iron-on transfers marked down to $2 each (from $7.99). This year, I’ve set myself two rules for anything new that comes into the house:
• Have a plan for it
• Use it immediately, so it doesn’t disappear into the “I’ll do that later” pile
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So on Sunday afternoon, I washed and ironed five little cotton bags I’d picked up for $1 each on clearance, and spent half an hour ironing the transfers onto them. I love how they turned out. They’ll be part of my gift wrap this Christmas — practical, reusable, and pretty.

​I also restocked my work basket with tea towels and yarn so I can easily pick up some knitting or crocheting while I relax. On top of the pile are the Christmas tea towels Hannah picked up, and I’ve been quietly working on those whenever I have a few spare minutes.

Made pineapple, corn & black bean salsa for fajitas on Wednesday and it was so delicious. My recipe makes a huge 3 litre bowl full, so there was plenty leftover (and it is even better the next day) for lunch on Thursday when it was so hot. I opened a packet of corn chips, spooned salsa into little rice bowls and let everyone help themselves. It was nice to have something chilled on such a hot day (at lunchtime it was 36C).

I had a good laugh when Sareena said there was no way she was starting this early. But I love getting things done ahead of time. Starting early means I can take my time, enjoy the process, and avoid that frantic rush at the end of the year.

Slow, steady, and handmade — that’s exactly how I want this Christmas to feel.

What have you been making this week?

Welcome to Make It Monday 2026 — your weekly place to pause, create, and share what you’re making as you work your way through a calm, organised, Handmade Christmas.
Make It Monday is all about getting ahead gently. It’s not about perfection, pressure, or producing a mountain of gifts overnight. It’s about choosing to start early, planning thoughtfully, and enjoying the process of making meaningful presents for the people on your list.

Every Monday throughout 2026, Make It Monday is your invitation to:

• Share what you’ve been making (or planning to make) for Christmas
• Celebrate small wins — one gift, one step, one idea at a time
• Get inspired by what others in the community are creating
• Stay motivated without the end-of-year rush

Whether you’re sewing, knitting, crocheting, baking, preserving, crafting, painting, woodworking, or creating in any other way, Make It Monday is for you. Handmade Christmas looks different in every home — and that’s exactly what makes this space so special.

Starting early means choices. It means time to change your mind, try new ideas, use what you already have, and spread the cost and effort across the year. Instead of scrambling in November, you can enjoy December knowing your gifts are ready — wrapped in love, intention, and time.

Make It Monday is also about planning with purpose. Making gifts for everyone on your list doesn’t have to be overwhelming when you break it down into small, manageable steps. One project this week. Another next month. Before you know it, Christmas is sorted — calmly and creatively.

So each Monday, pop in and tell us:

• What are you making this week?
• What have you finished?
• What’s on your Handmade Christmas list?

Big projects, small projects, half-finished ideas, and quiet planning weeks are all welcome here.

Let’s make 2026 the year we enjoy a Handmade Christmas — without the rush, without the stress, and with plenty of joy along the way.