When you can't finish a knitted gift in time, you:

• pull all-nighters to finish.

• modify/simplify the knitting to finish.

• give the gift unfinished with promises to finish ASAP.

• give the gift unfinished, along with needles and pattern.

• pay a knit-pro to finish it.

• chuck it and buy something.

• rub soot on face and sob "it was lost in the fire!"

• drink a liter of Eucalan, leave unfinished project with signed tag next to body.