Every year since I learned to knit, I have made that sad mistake of making a New Years resolution of “I am going to knit-crochet my Christmas gifts this year.”
There’s that promise to yourself that you are going to work on them all year long and have them completed, maybe even with plenty of time to spare.
I have seen a change in the many of the popular Web sites for our craft. Many of them have started helping people by giving them ideas for gifts.
This is great!
They are also offering ideas earlier in the year. Their knit-crochet alongs (KALs-CALs) bring people together to help each other along. I have seen some new ones with “last minute” gift ideas for projects.
As for me ... Yeah, I didn’t really make anything ahead of time again this year. But I found a few projects that might help.
To start off with, I found a pattern on the Internet for a bath puff. Now, tell me how many women (and even men) you know use these bath puffs? Just about everyone I know does.
The Web site is strngbn.tripod.com/puff.html. This simple crochet pattern can be easily altered to make a bigger puff. I just added another row of double crochets to the pattern.
How many people do you know who get their coffee to go — either from “mom-n-pop” coffee stands or the brand name places?
Again, I know plenty.
Now, think about that hot coffee to-go cup and the little sleeves they sometimes put on them. Yet again, with another Internet search, I found a quick crochet (or you could even knit one) pattern for a coffee sleeve at shala-beads.livejournal.com/121994.html.
I found many other patterns with a general Google search for crochet coffee sleeves. I created the one that is pictured in The Columbia Basin Farmer.
That’s just two quick, fun things I found. I found them on a site called Crochet Pattern Central at crochetpatterncentral.com. There is also one for knitting at knittingpatterncentral.com.
These two sites offer a collection of links to patterns all over the Internet. What a great way to find something simple to crochet or knit for a quick Christmas gift!
From these sites I gathered some ideas that might be just the thing:
A quick project to crochet or knit is headbands. I use one every day. Though it’s not seen in public, it is used.
How about trying jewelry? Bracelets, necklaces and rings are quick and easy to do.
There is always the easy standby: a washcloth. I know as knitters or crocheters, we sometimes think of a washcloth as either a baby gift or a beginners project. But, do you remember how quick you can crank them out?
What about a skinny scarf? They’re back in style again.
A different way to knit a scarf would be to cast on for the length of the scarf, instead of width-wise. Or how about some stash busting and creating a crazy scarf? Spice up those winter blues with some bright colors in a variation scarf?
For the little girl in your life, try Barbie clothes. There are many free patterns and it’s a great stash buster.
Also for kids, there is always play food. Or for a baby, there are animal wrist toys.
I have two words for you, cell phone. Hmm, let’s try this again with three words … cell phone case. Need I say more?
How about a hat? Who can’t use a good hat? A Web site I found at www.crochetandknitting.com/articles/art118.htm gives you the basics for a crochet hat for adults using double crochet stitches. It also gives a pattern for a granny square hat for a child.
Let’s not forget the pets. You could create a sweater for a dog. Try this Web site www.crochetnmore.com/dogsweater.htm. This Web site even has instructions for altering the pattern to fit your dog.
Now for the cat, you could just give them the expensive ball of yarn they keep stealing out of your stash. You know the cheap yarn just isn’t the same.
How about a catnip toy? You can find a pattern for them here www.jpfun.com/patterns/free/miscellaneous/f114005catnipmouse.pdf. You don’t have to put the catnip in the toy. I am sure the cat will enjoy it without — especially if crafted from the aforementioned expensive yarn.
You know the saying, “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime?” Well, let’s apply that to knitting and crocheting. Why not give the gift of learning to knit or crochet?
You can contact me by e-mail at wovenpixel@yahoo.com, visit my blog at wovenpixel.blogspot.com or on Ravelry.com as WovenPixel.
