Great Knitted and Sewn Gifts to Get Started on for the Holidays!
So often we remember projects and ideas that we've wanted to make for loved ones when it's just too late! This year we thought it would be helpful to remind you of some of our favorite projects from years past to start now so that you can finish in time for the holidays. It's such a great feeling when you have your handmade gifts underway and can spend the holiday season participating in the festivities rather than staying up until all hours finishing that project that you really meant to start sooner!
Hand Knit Scarves
Two of our favorite scarves, The Lovely Leaf Lace Scarf and The Easy Mistake Stitch Scarf, make perfect gifts for the special someone in your life. Both are shown knit in super special hand dyed cashmere, but both are easily adaptable to any yarn that suits your budget.
The stitches that create The Lovely Leaf Lace Scarf are a simple combination of strategic yarn-overs and decreases, you can find the free pattern for this project right here. The lace pattern has a wonderful dimensionality while the stockinette pattern curls around your neck like a big soft hug. It's made with Lobster Pot's 8-ply cashmere in color "Chatham Light" which you can find right here.
The original yarn for this project is a classic worsted weight yarn so if you'd like to work this scarf up in a different yarn, you can use any of the yarns you find at this link (you'll need 600 yards of whichever yarn you choose to complete the scarf).
A few of our favorite alternatives are:
- Blue Sky Worsted, a blend of Royal Alpaca and Merino wool for a very soft and warm scarf with a deluxe hand and beautiful drape.
- Imperial Stock Ranch Erin 3-ply Worsted for an earthy, natural and 100% American made version of the scarf.
- Jade Sapphire 8-ply Cashmere for the same look and feel, but different colors.
- Cascade 220 + 1 strand of Alchemy Haiku laceweight mohair in a related color to add depth to the stitch pattern and softness to the hand.
- Lorna's Laces Shepherd's Worsted for a scarf that is completely machine washable and super soft.
This Easy Mistake Stitch scarf is made with Jade Sapphire's gorgeous 12-ply cashmere in color "Green Tea". If you know how to knit and purl you can make this scarf! Mistake Stitch creates a deep and lofty rib that looks like so much more work than it actually is. You can find the original yarn we used to make this scarf right here. The 12-ply is a chunky weight yarn so if you'd like to substitute yarn for this project you can find our entire collection of chunky yarn right here. For this scarf you'll need 300 yards of whatever yarn you'd like to use.
Here are a few alternatives for this yarn that we really love:
- Manos Del Uruguay Handspun Semi Solids is one of our all time favorite yarns and would be a great, more rustic version of this scarf.
- Cascade Baby Alpaca Chunky is a super soft, chunky alpaca with a beautiful drape.
- Cascade Eco + comes in a huge selection of beautiful colors and is a great economical alternative.
- Blue Sky Alpaca Worsted, though a bit thinner than the original yarn we used for this scarf is still a great alternative for a really special version of this scarf, just use a slightly smaller needle than the pattern recommends.
Hand Knit Hat
Whitney's Simple Pleasures Hat is another on of our favorite knitting projects. It's made with one of the most beautiful and special yarns around, Jade Sapphire's 2 Ply Cashmere-Silk plus a single strand of Rowan's soft ethereal Kid Silk Haze. This combination makes for a hat that's luminous and cozy all at the same time. Another great thing about this project is that it has a really slouchy chic fit so it looks much more sophisticated than your average handknit hat. You can find the free pattern for our Simple Pleasures Hat right here.
If you're interesting in the brilliant yellow mittens pictured, you can find our story about them right here.
Hand Knit Socks
For the men in your life, we can't think of a better gift than these warm, wearable Socks for Giving. They are a perfect first sock project, and since they are made with a thicker yarn than traditional knitted socks, they won't take forever. Molly knitted a pair of these for her dad one Christmas in Jade Sapphire Zageo 6ply Cashmere and they were a huge hit. The socks pictured above were knit with Koigu's DK weight yarn, Kersti, which you can find right here. You can find the free pattern for our Socks For Giving right here.
If you'd like to explore other alternatives for these socks, you can use any dk weight yarn. You'll need approximately 350 yards for this pair of socks. A few of our favorite alternative yarns for these socks are:
- Koigu's Kersti Multicolors would make a really fun and funky pair of these socks.
- Jade Sapphire's Zageo 6-ply Cashmere for a very special version of these socks.
- Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino is a great option for a super cozy and warm version.
Thanksgiving Table Runner
This Thanksgiving Table Runner and the Fringed Napkins that go with it are two of the most fun and comprehensive projects we've done. It uses basic and approachable quilting and applique techniques that are fun to do and deliver beautiful results! Watch the mouths of your Thanksgiving guests drop when they sit down to this stunning piece that not only looks gorgeous, but protects your table from hot dishes since it's at thick as a proper pot holder or trivet. Find the free pattern at this link.
Advent Calendar
Get started now on this cheerful and contemporary Felt Advent Calendar so that you'll have ample time to hunt for fun little treasures to fill each and every pocket. Remember the excitement of the first day of December when you could start your advent calendar!? Working with our 100% wool felt from Holland is an absolute pleasure....no hemming required! The embroidered numbers give that extra special something for generations to come. Find the free pattern for our advent calendar right here.
Lovely Designs Little Forest Quilt
We can't resist Lovely Desgn's Lovely Little Forest Quilt by the super talented Sharilyn Wright of Lovely Design (you can find tons of great gifts on her site). Since not everyone has a lot of time to make a quilt before the holidays (including us), we made a small version that went very quickly. The beauty of Sharilyn's pattern is that you can make it as small or large as time allows! It's the perfect size to adorn a wall! To help make this project even quicker, check out our precut bundles hand picked especially for this quilt. Find the free pattern right here.
So get started now and enjoy your holidays! --- The Purl Bee
October 30, 2010 | Email Share Print | Applique, Blue Sky Alpaca, Cascade Yarn, Christmas, Embroidery, Felt, Gifts, Holiday Projects, Home, Jade Sapphire, Knitting, Koigu Yarn, Lobster Pot Yarn, Manos Del Uruguay, Men, Patchwork, Quilting, Rowan Yarn, Scarves, Sewing, Socks, Valdani Threads | 9 Comments
Reader Comments (9)
Also, is there going to be a green pre cut bundle for the tree quilt? I don't see anything right now. The advent calendar would make a great kit as well.