Lion Brand Notebook ®
For many crafters, September means the beginning of the holiday crafting season. Finding the right project for each person can be a real challenge, but don’t worry, help is on the way!
These are some of our favorite fast-finish gift projects for the holidays. Each project has a short description of what it’s like make it and what you’ll need to get started (like measurements or certain skills). There are also links to free knit and crochet patterns in each project category so you can browse, choose, download and print the one looks just right for each person on your list!
A scarf is a great gift to make in just a couple of hours, you can even make one while you watch TV or travel on public transportation! Scarves make excellent, useful, unisex gifts and can be as fancy or as basic as you want. You don’t have to worry about fit or sizing with a scarf, though it’s still a good idea to do a gauge swatch to make sure your finished project will look like the example in the pattern.
Hats are ideal projects to customize and can be as simple or as complicated as you choose. A cozy hat made with a super-bulky yarn like Wool-Ease Thick & Quick works up in almost no time at all! Hats typically fit with a little stretch over the head or negative ease, so it’s good to have a rough idea of the size of your recipient’s head before you get started.
Shawls make excellent, feminine gifts and have a few very convenient features. First, these projects can be simple or complex; a shawl is an excellent project for crafters who really enjoy the process of creating a unique fabric. Second, they make impeccable WOW gifts, as they pack a visual and textural punch with the beautiful fabric you create. The third (and often most convenient) feature is that shawls don’t need to be sized to your recipient, and can in fact range in size from a small neckerchief to a large oversized wrap.
These little projects are very popular, and are the perfect way to try out a new stitch or new yarn in a smaller project. Wristers can be as simple as a knit or crochet square seamed along the side, or have added details to make them more visually interesting like lace or beading. With very little sizing, most wrister patterns are designed with enough stretch to accommodate a wide range of sizes. Like hats though, it’s a good plan to have a rough idea of the size your recipient will be able to wear!
Cowls are one of the quickest projects to whip up. These tube-like neck warmers can showcase a huge variety of yarns and almost any stitch pattern imaginable. They can be made to suit men or women and even kids, and best of all sizing on these projects is minimal so you won’t have to worry about getting measurements covertly.
If you’re looking for a gift to impress, try making a project with one of these fabric qualities. Even small details like a lacy border or an added stripe of color have big visual impact and make your project look like it took a lot more time and effort than it did!
Use our StitchFinder to find ways to customize your gifts.
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Monica Marier
My favorite quick gift is leg-warmers. If it’s for a guy, I figure out his team colours.
Linlal
Either scarves or shawls are my fall-back quick gift. For a baby, it’s crocheted blocks.
Betty Brookman
My favorite gift to make anytime is an afghan. Either speedy using large needles and double yarn or more intricate. Either one is always appreciated by the recipient, be it a relative, friend or someone who has helped me during the year. I usually start making them early in the year and have a stockpile so I have gifts at the ready.
momcatx3
I like to knit sweaters or toys. Each year at Christmas, I make a special sweater and toy for each of my grand children.
Kathy
6 hour afghan is my go-to gift. It really only takes 6 hours, looks beautiful, and is a stunning gift that can be used in any house. I buy up the Homespun yarn whenever its on sale so its not too expensive to give out. Best gift I ever made by far and I can whip one up in a day or two if I’m in a rush!
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