Give hand-knit Christmas presents this year!
Knitting Christmas presents (and other fine holidays, of course) is a fun, eco-friendly way to say "I love you."
(And remember, even if you don't get everything done, just make it a Martin Luther King day present, or a valentine. It will be just as appreciated.)
We all know that homemade stuff is just filled with more love and goodness than anything you can buy! You really can knit your own presents this year. It's fun and easier than you think, and you don't have to be an expert knitter.
Here's a lens on how to knit great presents without making yourself nuts.
When in doubt, knit a scarf!
Basically, anything you can knit that's a rectangle is going to be fun, easy, and hassle-free. This is perfect TV knitting. Pick up a wonderful yarn (if you don't know how much, just get two balls and knit until it seems like a handy size), a pair of needles, and go to town.Remember that scarves should be nice and soft--no scratchy stuff. This is a great place to use really delicious yarn, although you can make a fabulous project using simple (and cheap!) Patons Worsted Wool. (There's a link to buy Patons Worsted a little ways down this page.)
The photo above comes from knitty.com, who published this terrific and easy scarf pattern this month. (It's got fingerless mittens knit right in!) Even if you're an absolute beginner, you'll be able to make this in just a few hours.
Get the "Entwined" easy knitting pattern
Give learn-to-knit gifts this year!
Great for kids and adults alike
Knitting is relaxing and teaches focus and small motor skills to small people. And a learn-to-knit gift will be enjoyed long after Elmo's batteries have died.
Alex Chunky and Funky Scarf Beginner's Knitting Kit in Carry Case
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 07/11/2009) 
Knitting Mushroom by Haba
The classic traditional "spool" knits a tube as long as you want--great for kids and actually really fun to veg out by the tube for any age
Amazon Price: $15.29 (as of 07/11/2009)
Get crafty-make your own toys with easy knitting patterns
Do you have the jitters over all the recent toy recalls and scares? Parenthood is stressful enough without worrying about lead paints, magnets that can be swallowed, and other scary stuff.I ran across a list of books and easy knitting patterns recently. These are great ideas for stress-free toys for your kids-simple toys you can make yourself.
Susan B. Anderson (author of Itty Bitty Hats and Itty Bitty Nursery has a fabulous blog at susanbanderson.com, and there's a free pattern to knit a flower pacifier clip. (The cute picture of the lamb is linked from her blog.) Not a super-easy pattern, but not too hard either.
Anna Hrachovec has a delightful site called Mochimochiland with all kinds of weird and interesting knitted toys. She's got a blog and a whole bunch of great patterns. You can find a free pattern for this mysterious little ghosty creature at knitty.com. The pattern also includes a little knit hollow tree for your "woodins" to live in.)You can also find free knitting patterns for toys at Interweave Press—knittingdaily.com/freepatterns.toys.
Great cheap yarn!
I am absolutely a yarn snob. I buy yarn like some people buy wine, art, or truffles. So I was pretty surprised to realize that the great fingerless mitten combo "Entwined" (in the picture) from Knitty was knit with a yarn I could find at Joann.com.I bought a skein to check it out for myself, and this is actually a very high-quality, pure wool yarn for an incredo-cheap price of $4.00. It's soft and bouncy, not scratchy or cheap-feeling in any way. Patons Merino is a terrific yarn for comfort dolls, any kind of knitted toy, simple scarves (not as quick as the novelty yarn, but a lot cheaper), and all kinds of other uses. It comes in a lot of good colors, both plain and stripy. (The scarf/mitten was knit in the "Wedgwood" color.)
Great yarn for cheap, who knew?
Patons Classic Merino Wool Yarn - 100% Wool
Great patterns for knitted toys on Amazon
Essential Baby: Over 20 Handknits to Take Your Baby from First Days to First Steps
Both baby clothes and toys--this is the book that the sweet toy knitted lamb above came from. Plenty of easy patterns.
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 07/11/2009)
Knitted Toys: 21 Easy-to-Knit Patterns for Irresistible Soft Toys
Amazon Price: $14.21 (as of 07/11/2009)
Knitted Toys: 25 Fresh and Fabulous Designs
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 07/11/2009)
Toy Knits: More Than 30 Irresistible and Easy-to-Knit Patterns
Amazon Price: $17.21 (as of 07/11/2009)
Itty-Bitty Nursery
Knitted tea set, anyone? Not as easy as the other books, but fabulous stuff.
Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 07/11/2009)
Learn-to-knit books that make it incredibly easy!
Whether you're a raw beginner or you've got some fancy stuff under your belt, these books all have terrific little tips and tricks to make knitting easier and more fun.
Knitting Without Tears: Basic Techniques and Easy-to-Follow Directions for Garments to Fit All Sizes
I read this over and over for the great writing, the intelligent and always-helpful tips, and the easy knitting patterns. This has the easiest sweaters you will ever make (and they look good).
Amazon Price: $13.22 (as of 07/11/2009)
Teach Yourself Visually Knitting (Teach Yourself Visually)
Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 07/11/2009)
Teach Yourself Visually Knitting Design: Working from a Master Pattern to Fashion Your Own Knits (Teach Yourself Visually)
Amazon Price: $22.49 (as of 07/11/2009)
Knitting for Dummies
I'm not crazy about the name of this series, but this book is good! Not just for beginners (or dummies).
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Knitting&Crocheting for Dummies
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Why not knit a sexy hat?
Hats keep our heads warm and make us more adorable! And there are lots of easy hat patterns out there. Once you've knit up your 10 presents faster than you ever thought you could, you can knit up 5 or 6 hats to go with them, for the extra-special folks on your list.(Photo linked from knitty.com again. I just really love knitty.com!)
Knit up some fine hats!
Itty-Bitty Hats: cute and cuddly caps to knit for babies and toddlers
Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 07/11/2009)
Hip Knit Hats: 40 Fabulous Designs
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 07/11/2009)
Hats Gloves Scarves: Easy Designer Knits for Family and Friends
Amazon Price: $14.00 (as of 07/11/2009)
More Squidoo lenses
Knit a comfort doll for a child in AfricaThis doll is so easy to knit that even a beginner can knit one in a few hours. The dolls are used as packing materials for medical supplies, and cherished tenderly by children affected by AIDS (either patients themselves or AIDS orphans). I'm knitting some of these up as "donation presents" (kind of like the Heifer Project) for my bleeding-heart friends and family. Click here for a second lens with the pattern (there's a crochet pattern too) and instructions on where to send the dolls when you're done.
Easy knitting patterns for stylish hipsters and snarky babes
This is another knitting lens I did on Squidoo--tons of fun. Ever wanted to knit a Mohawk? Click through, my friend.
What's on your holiday list this year?
Let me know the projects you're planning (and come back to let us know how they turned out)!
GregGiordano wrote...
Why wife and kids all love knitting, embroidery, etc. I will lens roll your lens to my Christmas lens. Great job!
Posted December 03, 2008
daoine wrote...
Those toys are so cute! I'm really behind with my knitting though, and now it's nearly summer, when the idea of holding warm yarn in my hands is incomprehensible ;)
Posted November 06, 2008
me me me wrote
I love to knit I'm 8 years old
Posted October 26, 2008
Mar1anneC wrote...
Great lens! I have one called Coolest Knitting Patterns made from Squares and Rectalgles you might enjoy.
http://squidoo.com/knitquare
I am making dumpling bags for holidays presents this year
http://squidoo.com/dumplingbag
Posted October 17, 2008
Tiddledeewinks wrote...
I will return as I would like to learn how to knit,IF I get the time to between making lenses! LOL
I made a scarf, but I only know how to go in a straight line and don't know how to end it!
Posted June 29, 2008
Blurple wrote
Thank you.
Posted December 21, 2007
Delilah wrote
cool
Posted December 05, 2007
flowergardener wrote...
Great lens Sonia! Beautiful thought too, I make alot of my Christmas gifts (woodburning mostly). I treasure any gift that someone has made themselves!
Posted October 28, 2007
by sonia_simone
Writer, marketer, tinkerer, parent, human being, meditator, gardener, obsessive, bookworm, smartypants, idiot, knitter, bleeding heart, analyst, and w...
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