The perfect holiday gift knitting patterns

Knitting Gifts for Knitters and from Knitters

This time of year is a bit of a contradiction, eh?

We're supposed to relax and spend time with the people we love. Meanwhile, many of us have maxed ourselves out with projects to create the perfect holidays and the perfect gifts.

I'd like to suggest an alternative: good enough.

It doesn't sound quite as sexy, does it? But it does sound do-able and, with the right attitude, low-key wonderful!

One of my favorite sayings is, "Done is better than perfect." I think that's an excellent mantra to ensure less crazy-making and more fun for the holiday season.

With that in mind, I hope you find some joy in your holiday preparations. I hope you find ease in your days and quiet time to reflect on what would truly bring you and yours peace and happiness. (Hint: it's probably not planning to knit an intricate shawl for each of your ten most knit-worthy friends between now and the end of the year. Feeling called out yet? Me, too.)

I find that simple stitches and a cup of tea help quiet my mind when I get overwhelmed by my self-imposed list. And when my mind has cleared from the CAST ON ALL THE THINGS!!!! frenzy, I quietly revise my gift list to include fewer projects and more gift cards.😂 Maybe the gift cards will arrive in a hand-sewn pouch because it needs to be a little handmade, right?! Ugh. I suppose we're each a work in progress... Anywho...

I've compiled a short list of some of our favorite gift knitting patterns from Nomadic Knits and friends. I hope you find something that you enjoy knitting and puts a giant smile on the giftee's face!

 

KNITTING PATTERNS

Beautifully Basic Hat  Melissa Kemmerer designed this hat for issue two : new york state as a recipe for using any weight of yarn for any sized head, so it's easy to pick up your needles and cast on (after swatching, of course). I know, I know.... swatching for a hat?? But trust me when I say that this will save you time in the long run! And if you use the same kind of yarn for multiple projects, you'll only have to swatch once before knocking out all of your knitting.      

 

Don't Be A Square Cowl  Don't Be A Square was originally published in Nomadic Knits issue nine : iowa / nebraska. Classic, uncomplicated, and great for a first Fair Isle project, Don’t Be A Square is a basic cowl pattern with easy two-color stranded knitting. Using one average skein of DK for the main color and less than 100 yards of the contrasting color, it’s a fun way to mix bold or monochromatic palettes. You can add interesting texture by holding a fingering strand with Suri Alpaca or Mohair to fill in for one of the DK colorways. Simple ribbed borders surround a colorwork pattern that maintains your interest with frequent but easily memorized color changes.  

 

Twisted Hat Don't feel like asking people to measure their noggins or chasing them down with your pocket measuring tape (you all keep a measuring tape in your pocket, right? Is it just me?)? If so, then ribbing is your new best friend. The two-by-two ribbing in the Twisted Hat creates a squishy fabric that can accommodate a variety of head sizes. Knit in Bulky yarn, this pattern flies off the needles and looks great with or without a pom pom.  

 

    

Sporty Shorties This pattern, along with sixteen more new designs for your head and feet, can be found in Nomadic Knits issue eleven : head over heels. These shortie socks fly off the needles! Short rows on the back of the ankle keep the socks from slipping down inside your shoes. Stripes are added at the arch to give them a sporty feel, but leave them out if you’d like to stockinette on autopilot through the foot. Check out our matching Sporty Wristbands for the world's greatest 80s throwback accessory!  

  

 Huskers Hat  You don't have to be a Huskers fan to fall in love with this fun knit. You don't even need to know what a Husker is, although if you're a college football fan or from the Midwest, I have a sneaking suspicion you might.😉 Simple cabling and the tiniest amount of colorwork create a beautiful hat in the blink of an eye! The pattern contains options for reversing colors and pattern sections, allowing for a variety of hats, all from the same pattern.     

   

Sheepish Tiny Teddy Bear Pullover by Melissa Kemmerer

This Tiny Sheepish Teddy Bear Sweater fits 10” teddy bears and makes an adorable gift and keepsake for your little loved ones. It’s faster than a baby sweater and will be cherished long after your little one has outgrown baby sizes.       

      

Beach Hair Don't Care  There’s no such thing as a bad hair day when sand and salt are in the equation. Beach Hair Don’t Care is a fun and fast-knit headband that looks great with just about any hairstyle. With sizing for children and adults, you could make some really fun matching sets! A great little stash buster, Beach Hair Don’t Care takes just 60 (80) yards/ (55) 73 meters of fingering weight yarn.  

 

 

 

 

Dog-Danna  “Dogs are great. Bad dogs, if you can call them that, are perhaps the greatest of them all.” -John Grogan No gift-knitting list would be complete without a little something for our furry friends! It may be called a Dog-Danna, but you can make one for anything that will patiently allow you to adorn them with it.😂 I'm really hoping for a Possum-Danna pic this year!

This bandanna is sized to fit the tiniest of pups to the biggest of bigs. Once you bind off, duplicate stitching is used to adorn the ‘danna.

Knit in DK yarn; you can whip one up in no time!

What's next?

It's time to go stash-diving and find the perfect skeins for your projects! If you need supplies, we have gorgeous yarn and pom poms available here in the shop.  If your loved one is a knitter who has everything, and you're searching for a unique gift, we can help! Our online store has Nomadic Knits knitting magazines, a variety of knitting accessories, supplies, indie-dyed yarn, and gorgeous hand-made pom pom makers. 

Happy knitting!
Becky