10 Last-Minute Knitted Gifts
I know, I know. “Last Minute Knitted Gifts” sounds a little ridiculous, as knitting isn’t exactly an instantaneous art/craft. Believe it or not, there are a few things a knitter can put together in a matter of hours for gift-giving. So, with the gift-giving season impending, I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite quick knits that are suitable for gifts.
Scarves
Scarves work up quickly, especially if you knit with worsted-weight or larger yarn and fairly large needles like size 8 or higher. There are lots of free patterns online. Whether you like textured scarves or lots of color, you can find what you’re looking for at thousands of websites.
Knitted dishcloths
Worked in cotton yarn, these knitted dishcloths knit up in a little as an hour after casting on. My favorite is a simple pattern: Cast on 4 stitches, knit the first row. Thereafter, knit 2, yarn over, knit across. This yarn over increases each row by one stitch. When 43 stitches are on your needles, knit one stitch, knit 2 stitches together, yarn over, knit 2 stitches together, and knit across. These two knit 2 together stitches decrease each row by one stitch. When four stitches remain on needles, knit across, then bind off in knit stitch. Cut yarn and work in loose ends. Super simple, takes about 90 minutes to complete. Best of all, they can be color-coordinated with any kitchen. I like to use Lily’s Sugar and Cream yarn for these projects. If you want a softer cloth such as a face cloth, try using Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton yarn.
Socks
Whether you knit from the toe up or the top down, socks are quick knits that can be worked in a variety of ways. Some knitters prefer double-pointed needles for knitting socks. Some of us like the Magic Loop method for socks and some adore knitting socks on two circulars. I haven’t knit many socks, but I bought a book on knitting with two circular needles. I just haven’t tried it yet!
Hats
I love knitting hats, especially baby hats. Knitting designers have come up with so many cool patterns for hats. Check out Ravelry for hundreds of free hat patterns! Here is the link for my favorite baby hat.
Afghans
Okay, I know that sounds crazy, but you really CAN knit an afghan quickly. How? Super bulky yarn and HUGE knitting needles. Boye makes a 47-inch wooden circular needle in that size. If you prefer plastic, try these. As for yarn, Lion Brand makes great super bulky yarn. Or you can use multiple strands of worsted-weight yarn and those big needles and whip up an afghan in a weekend. Search for free or low-cost patterns on the internet, or try here.
Cowls
A fashionable accessory, cowls are the rage right now. They keep the neck warm and dress up everyday clothes in unique ways. A lace cowl works up quite fast, depending upon how long you choose to make them.
Pillows
Knitted pillows provide original and interesting ways to decorate, especially when spicing up neutral furniture with splashes of color. Knit up a pillow cover, pop in a pillow form, and sew a seam closed. Voila! Find some terrific pillow patterns here.
Mittens
If you live in an area with cold winters, you should consider knitting mittens for gifts. Adults and children love warm mittens! The best mittens I ever knitted were felted mittens for my oldest son. Our first winter in Alaska, he complained every day about his hands getting cold in the winter air. I visited our local yarn store and found a pattern for felted mittens. They were so easy to knit and felting them was equally simple. When Robert wore them for the first time, he told me that he couldn’t feel any wind through that thick, blanket-like fabric. Ka-Ching!
Headbands
Some folks don’t like to wear hats. (My hand is raised!) Using larger needles (size 8 or larger) and wool or wool-blend yarn, whipping up a warm headband that covers the ears but not the entire head is easy!
Shawls
I’ve found some beautiful patterns for shawls. Lion Brand, Ravelry, and other websites contain hundreds if not thousands of beautiful shawl patterns that are free! Depending on your needles and thickness of yarn, a shawl can be knitted up in a weekend. A finer-weight shawl takes more time, but the results could be worth the time.
If knitting is your passion, you have a plethora of choices on the internet for quick patterns to knit for gifts. Grab your needles, prepare your yarn, brew a nice cup of herbal tea, and get to work.
Happy knitting!
Anita
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