Whether your holiday gift list includes knitters, sewists, or even people who don’t know a purl from a pearl, Purl Soho has the perfect present! Our Gift Shop is full of thoughtfully crafted items that celebrate the handmade and the beautiful. For very special holiday giving, here are some of our favorite ideas!
I love the boisterous song that the colors of Super Soft Merino sing together, like the refrain that a group of merry hikers might belt out through a snow-covered forest!
And what better way to have some fun with color than to knit up a whole gaggle of hats? Looking at them all together, I imagine a lollipop shop where all the surfaces are white and all the lollipops bob around with their candy bright heads!
On Christmas morning, when all the wrapping paper is off these hats, I love that my whole family will be left with the same happy thoughts as I'm having now. What good cheer and warm feelings to bring to a holiday gathering!
Of course, an added bonus is that nothing's faster to knit than a hat, and one that knits up at three stitches to the inch is, well, even faster! Purl Soho's new Super Soft Merino is the perfect yarn to get the job done. Decadently soft, prettily spun, and wonderfully toasty, it is one heck of a beautiful hat yarn! -Whitney
Whether you have legs like Rob Roy or Jerry Hall, whether you fancy yourself riding a horse in ancient Mongolia or hopping a subway in 21st century Manhattan, knees high socks are for everyone, everywhere, anytime!
These Little Cable Knee Highs are designed to look like they could as easily have been plucked from a case at the Victoria and Albert Museum as from a shelf at Barney's. They're simple and practical, but with an attention to detail that's both timeless and beautiful.
Serious sock knitters are also seriously particular about their sock yarn. That's why I used Anzula's Squishy, one of our favorites for everything from socks to baby blankets.
Squishy is the perfect blend of fibers for knitting up a superior pair of socks: merino for warmth and ruggedness, nylon for durability and cashmere for totally happy feet. Plus, I love how its hand dyed color is so gentle and spontaneous, like a wash of watercolor paint.
These Little Cable Knee Highs are just in time for holiday giving. Wouldn't they be a spectacular gift to find under the tree? -Whitney
Is it better to give or to receive? For us crafters the answer is neither; the real joy comes in the creating! Embroidery is one of the most satisfying ways to share this joy. The mesmerizing rhythm of stitching both soothes and stirs as a once-empty cloth becomes a beautiful field of texture. Best of all, embroidery projects make wonderful gifts because they are truly one-of-a-kind heirloom treasures!
This year we plan to use our new 4 Seasons of Embroidery Packet as a starting point for all kinds of unique gifts, starting with this monogrammed 40 Minute Tote! Our master embroiderer, Erin, used our woodgrain alphabet transfers to stitch this lovely monogram on a cool gray linen-cotton background. The silvery tones of the delicate embroidery transform this simple tote into an elegant carry-all with a personal touch!
November 18, 2012 | Email Share Print | Bags, DMC Embroidery Floss, Embroidery, Gifts, Purl Soho Kits | 15 Comments 
Like many parents, I soon discovered after having a baby that I'd never actually been busy before. Basic things like taking showers and returning phone calls suddenly seemed overrated. But for me, one thing that has never been dispensable is crafting things for my son, Bear.
I'm not saying that I sit around for hours, dreamily stitching away. No, it's more like a stolen moment here and a quick minute there; a few squares at jury duty, a couple more in a waiting room, and two years later a blanket is born!
As drawn out as the process was, making Bear's Rainbow Blanket was always an exhilarating ride. Each step contained a world of wonderment, from Koigu Premium Merino's incredible hand dyed colors to this fascinating stitch pattern that magically turns a circle into a square; from the arrangement of dozens of colors and 108 squares to the daydreams of Bear dragging his Rainbow Blanket off to college!
I think I could have crocheted these squares for the rest of my life, but I finally stopped myself when I had enough to make a 40 x 54-inch blanket, the perfect size for my four year old. The bed pictured here is a queen, but this blanket is also right at home on a twin bed... or under a circle of picnicking stuffed animals!
I've crafted quite a few things in my life, and though I have so much fondness for many of those things, this is perhaps the dearest to my heart. This blanket expresses not only my love for my son, but for crafting too. To pursue a grand plan to its very end is the chocolate cake of crafting: a rich and deeply satisfying experience!
To start concocting your own grand plan, read on! -Whitney