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KNITTING CORNER

It is that time of year again, the time we start thinking about what to get those in our lives for the holidays.

By Robin Southworth

Why not make something instead that you can customize? The weight of yarn. The color. The shape. The size. You may think it takes too much time, but some projects are quick. I may be an experienced knitter, but I am definitely not a fast knitter. I can knit some of these in a couple of sittings.

These are just some ideas to get you going:

– Dishcloths

This pattern is given away on the back of Peaches ‘n’ Cream cotton yarn. It is easy to knit and makes a very soft, very absorbent dish cloth. The perfect gift for Aunt Myrna who forever complains she can’t find a decent cloth for the kitchen. This is a very popular stitch pattern.

If you Google “ball band dishcloths”, you may be overwhelmed by the options.

– Felted Boxes / Soft Knit Boxes

I know I mentioned in the past that knit boxes were a little odd, but they are quick to knit, the pattern is easy, and a surprising number of people want a little box to put stuff in.

– Man’s Scarf

Hand-knit men’s scarves are common gifts among knitters. No one wants to give something common, but what about knitting this in an expensive yarn? Cashmere? A heavy tweed? Hand-dyed? Silk? A unique pattern? Scarves are quick (depending on the stitch used) and useful in most parts of the U.S.

– Fingerless Mitts

The hardest part of knitting these mitts up is the seaming at the end (I despise seaming). Knit from side-to-side, they look and act like they are ribbed, but they’re not. They are good for Southern California winters where deep freezes are not very common.

This particular pattern is found in Weekend Knitting: 50 Unique Projects and Ideas by Melanie Falick.

– Winter Hat

Like scarves, hand-knit hats are very common. With a little knowledge about the person you are knitting for (Are they allergic to wool? Love the color chartreuse? Can’t find a winter hat they love?), you can customize a hat just for them. For example, the green, purple and aqua hat above is a rather masculine-looking hat. The same hat, knit in a hand-dyed yarn the color of wildflowers, is more suited for a more feminine per son. This pattern came from The Purl Stitch by Sally Melville.

– To-go Coffee Sleeves / Coffee Cozys

For the coffee/tea/chai/hot drink drinker in your life. None of these have patterns. They were made up, on the fly, with leftover yarn. Go hang out at your local yarn shop to get some yarn ideas. While you’re there, if they have a book section, look through the books for pattern ideas. Ramble around on Ravelry to get pattern ideas. Talk to your family; see what they might like.

Now get out there and knit!