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Want to gift someone something meaningful this year?
Forget trips to Target or trying to find the perfect “something” on Amazon.
Handmade knitted gifts take time, effort, and love. Three things nobody can argue with. Oh, and did we mention…
Anyone can knit them.
62% of knitters give items they craft as gifts. These are people from all walks of life who learned the joy of knitting as a way to give handmade items. Kids can knit gifts too!
But here’s the thing…
Just because you knit doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to scarves. Creating amazing knitted gifts you’re proud to give doesn’t take advanced skills. It does take the right supplies and knit patterns you can count on.
Let’s get into it!
What You’ll Learn
- Why Knitted Gifts Are Way Better Than Buying Something
- Gift Giving Ideas: Knitted Gifts For Everyone
- Gift Knitting Must-Haves: Don’t Cheap Out On Supplies
- Gift Patterns: Wrapping Up Those Ends
Why Knitted Gifts Are Way Better Than Buying Something
When was the last time you received a great gift from a store?
Could you remember it?
Now think about the last handmade gift you got. Wouldn’t you love to receive another one?
That’s because gifts from the heart stick with us. Knitted gifts have significance and sentiment behind them that something from Target will never match.
Here’s what hand knitting a gift says to the recipient:
- You took time out of your day to make this for me. (Time is the most precious resource we all have)
- You put thought into what I would like.
- You made this specially for me.
HERE’S SOME OTHER FOOD FOR THOUGHT…
Did you know that over 42% of crafters engage in knitting for mental health benefits?
Not only does the giftee enjoy your handmade creation. The gift maker does too!
Knitting for someone else is good for your mental health. Look at that. Everyone wins.
Gift Giving Ideas: Knitted Gifts For Everyone
OK, yes, ALL knitted gifts are better than store bought. But some gifts work better for different situations.
Let’s take a look at your options…
Scarves and Cowls
Scarves are timeless for a reason. They’re useful, they look chic, and there’s a scarf for literally everyone on your list.
Ideal gifts for: Winter birthdays, Christmas, and because you’re amazing gifts.
Use quality yarn and knitting needles you trust to make beautiful, even stitches. Order ChiaoGoo interchangeable knitting needles online and you can’t go wrong. Cheap knitting needles make horror scarf attempts because the stitches often aren’t even.
Invest in a set of ChiaoGoo interchangeable knitting needles so you have the right size for every yarn weight!
Blankets and Throws
Blankets are a universally loved gift.
Chunky knit blankets are especially awesome because they knit up quickly and have maximum visual wow factor. Gift a knitter and they’ll cherish that ONE throw blanket for decades.
Ideal gifts for: Housewarmings, weddings, milestone birthdays.
Handknit Socks
Socks are kind of boring. Hand knit socks are pure magic.
There is nothing better than a well knit pair of socks. The fit, the warmth, the love. You can’t get that from store bought socks. Let a sock enthusiast try them on and they’ll instantly know the difference. Fight me.
Ideal gifts for: That special someone who “has everything.”
Baby Knits
Between plastic toys and cotton onesies, parents are awash with gifts that are…fine.
Gift them something that’ll actually be treasured forever. Handknit baby items become instant keepsakes.
Pro tip: Use machine washable yarn. Parents are busy. Who has time to hand wash?
Ideal gifts for: Baby showers, christenings, and 1st birthdays.
Hats / Beanies
These knits are quick, and loved by pretty much everyone.
Because they’re usually small projects, hats are great options when you realize the birthday party was tomorrow. Most patterns take 2-5 hours. They’re also great for using up scraps from bigger projects.
Ideal gifts for: Teens, nature lovers, anyone with cold ears.
Gift Knitting Must-Haves: Don’t Cheap Out On Supplies
If there’s one tip we can share about knitting gifts, it’s this: use good supplies.
Believe us, we have nothing against dollar store knitting needles. When you’re just starting out, they’re fun to experiment with. You just don’t want to use them to make actual gifts.
Good knitting supplies:
- Knit faster with smooth needles
- Are more enjoyable to use (trust us, your wrists will thank you when you don’t have to struggle with crappy needles)
- Skip hi-lo tension problems for beautiful stitches
Handknitters around the world rave about ChiaoGoo knitting needles. From the surgical grade stainless steel tips that make it easy glide through yarn to the virtually flexibility memory cables that stay straight. Not to mention the joins between the needle and cable are so smooth you’ll never snag your yarn.
What to look for in high quality knitting needles
- Super sharp tips that make stitch picking easy
- Flexible cables that remember nothing
- Smooth joins between the cable and needle
- Sets that include multiple sizes
Knitting with interchangeable sets is the way to go. Get one set and you have needles for dozens of projects instead of buying individual Addi circular knitting needles every time you pick a new pattern.
Gift Patterns: Wrapping Up Those Ends
Last minute birthday? We’ve got you covered.
These knitting patterns look impressive, but don’t require weeks of dedication…
Infinity Scarves
Scarves that go in a circle. No finishing necessary.
If you know how to knit in the round, you can make an infinity scarf in a weekend. Grab some bulky yarn and GO! Your friend will think you spent days knitting. They may even ask how long it took you. You can tell them it took three episodes of New Girl.
Coffee Cup Cozy
I don’t know about you guys, but anyone who makes it through the day without coffee is a friend of mine.
Knit up one of these cuties and save their hands from burns. You can even customize with their favorite colors.
Dishcloths / Washcloths
Nobody will hang these on their wall and admire your skillz.
But man, do they come in handy. And stay soft! After one wash, store bought dish towels feel like sandpaper. A hand knit cotton dishcloth will last for years.
Grab a few, toss them in a basket with some fancy soap, and you have an awesome gift basket.
Headbands / Ear Warmers
They knit up faster than hats, but will be equally appreciated.
Most can be whipped up in an evening, and don’t require much yarn. They’re great for those “Oh shoot. I forgot Aunt Carol had a birthday.” situations.
Make Knitted Gifts Extra Special
Ok, so you picked a kick ass pattern, and grabbed some yummy yarn.
Before you gift that skein, there’s one more thing you can do to make your gift extra special…
Personal touches that take homemade gifts from nice to memorable:
- Care instructions. This was made by hand! Include some instructions on how to care for it (handwritten on pretty paper never hurts either).
- Yarn information. Made with love, and the coolest yarn. Include a little tag with what they used.
- Gift in fabric. Soap keeps unfolding? Wrap your gift in a pretty scarf or scarflette. When they open it up, you’ve got them hooked for life.
- Write a note. Tell them why you picked this gift for them. Any time I get something handmade. I save the note to read again later.
Little things like this show the gift receiver you put thought into every detail. Turn that great gift into an unforgettable one.
Wrapping it All Up Nice And Tight With A Bow.
Gifts don’t have to come from stores.
They can come from the heart. Simply by putting on a pair of knitting needles.
Let’s review:
- Gifts from the heart carry emotional value you can’t put price tags on.
- Knitting needles like ChiaoGoo make your crafting session more enjoyable AND you’ll finish gifts faster
- Fast knit gifts are better than you think. And we’ve got you covered.
- Personalize your gifts with some extra special details that cost you nothing but a few minutes.
The best time to start knitting that gift was three months ago. The next best time is NOW.
Grab your favorite pattern. Pick out some beautiful yarn. And click those needles!
There’s someone out there that will LOVE what comes off of them.
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