Christmas Is Coming . . .

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat, please put a penny in the old man’s hat;

If you haven’t got a penny, then a ha-penny will do, if you haven’t got a ha-penny, then God bless you!

For those of you who missed the memo (and the dropping temperatures), Christmas is on the way (along with other winter holidays)!!  And for those of us who like to give handmade (AKA knitted or crocheted) gifts, it’s time (or perhaps past time) to start thinking about what to make.  Unless you have 20 hours a day to knit, I’m guessing that you aren’t planning to start working on sweaters for everyone on your list, so let me give you some great ideas of pattern books with ideas galore that won’t take forever and a day!

CowlGirls

I am soooooo loving this book!  Of course, I also love cowls, so there may be a connection.  This book is chock full of cowls, hoods, dickeys, collars, and more.  If it goes around the neck, it’s in the book!  One of our customers purchased this book and is making several of these items for family members.  She brought in one of them for us to see, and I’m thrilled with how it turned out!  CowlGirls would be a great place to start looking for gift ideas. (Several of the patterns call for Cascade Magnum yarn, which we carry.)

Hattitude

This book is by the same author as CowlGirls – and has just as much style and fun packed within!  These hats go from your basic watch cap all the way to a felted bonnet.  Whether you want to make a beanie, a tam, or a cloche, you’ll find it in here!

Amigurumi Knits and Amigurumi Toy Box

 

Amigurumi are little knitted or crocheted and stuffed figures.  Amigurumi Knits has patterns for vegetables, underwater creatures, backyard critters, and “cryptozoological” (not real) creatures.  Amigurumi Toy Box patterns are for little toys – animals (real and imagined), plants, food, and more.  My daughter crocheted up one of the little ducks from the crochet book and it is adorable!  These would make great gifts for the kids in your life!

One-Skein Wonders

 

 

We carry the original and Sock Yarn versions of this series of books.  The One-Skein Wonders books are wonderful sources of patterns that use only one skein of yarn, so are pretty quick to work up.  The original version is arranged by yarn weight, which is incredibly handy when you have decided on a yarn, but not a project.  There is a photo gallery in the center of the book.  The Sock Yarn version of the book is arranged by type of project.  Patrick made a scarf from the original book which has been a real hit in the shop.  These books could definitely help you out of a knitting idea jam.

60 Quick Knits and 60 Quick Baby Knits

 

 

These two books from Cascade have some great quick patterns to make in Cascade yarns.  The 60 Quick Knits books has 20 hat patterns, 20 scarf patterns, and 20 mittens patterns all made from Cascade 220.  The 20 Quick Baby Knits book has patterns for blankets, booties, sweaters, and more made from Cascade 220 Superwash.  I made one of the baby blankets using Cherub Aran with great results!  Either of these books would give you some wonderful patterns for Christmas gifts!

We have all of these books in stock right now and can help you choose yarn to create perfect, personalized presents!!  Hope to see you soon!