With only two days left before Christmas, we're getting perilously close to 'headless chicken time' in terms of organising presents for friends and family. You might think that embarking on any sort of craft project at this stage is crazy, but in fact, there are plenty of projects for handmade gifts you can whip up in just an hour or so if you're a relatively experienced crafter.
I've rounded up a few quickie project ideas for the desperate, so stop panicking, pick up your tools, settle down by the fire and get yourself into 'the zone' for some last minute creativity!
1. Quick coffee cup cozy
This one's a doddle if you're a reasonably fast knitter, and makes a perfect gift. Who doesn't get sick of their coffee going cold during the winter months? The whole project takes less than an hour, and since nobody (other than the mug) has to wear it, you can use up whatever crazy-coloured yarn you happen to have lying around the house. Instructions are here.
Follow the jump for more seriously snappy projects
2. The Purl Bee's '11th Hour Scarf'
This super-thick winter scarf was devided by The Purl Bee to solve this very conundrum. It apparently takes about the same time as it takes to watch a movie, so not only is it done and dusted in a couple of hours - you can catch up on some of the year's entertainment highlights while you do it. The secret of this project is the thickness of the yarn, the suggested material being two strands of Blue Sky Alpaca's Bulky.
Visit the Purl Bee's 11th hour scarf project pages for details on how to make your own
3. Button pin brooches
Practical Polly came up with a great formula for a quick accessory project in her blog earlier on in the year: button + pin = brooch. So if you're looking to make a friend a nice bit of indie jewellery as a gift, all you need to do is find an attractive button (and I know that most crafters have oodles of these lying around the house) and sew it to an ordinary badgemaker's pin through the hole. Tip: these pins can often be bought for less than a pound at newsagent's shops.
4. Quick-knit armwarmers
Armwarmers are a great quick project, as they don't contain any of those pesky fingers to slow you down. These 'Vegas' punk-inspired warmers are completely simple because they're knit flat and sewn up, so you can leave as much room as you need for your thumb.
