Holiday Gift Guide part 1

The holidays are in full swing around Bath with the opening of the Christmas Market tomorrow evening. The lights went on last week and have been lighting up my walk home. Something about twinkle lights strung up all over the city just puts me in a festive mood and I can't wait to go have a Glühwein at the market this weekend.

But before I can think about Glühwein I have to get cracking on some Christmas knitting. I had a plan back in September for how I would tackle holiday knitting this year, I even downloaded and filled in Curious Handmade's wonderful Holiday Gift Knitting Planner but I'm a bit behind now and need to re-adjust. That's ok, there is still time to whip up some quick, easy and beautiful hand knitted gifts in time for Christmas.

My plan was to make this the year of hats, which I still plan on doing as I find hats a nice quick project and there are loads of cute patterns to choose from. I am still in love with Puck by Dani Sunshine and at least a couple of the kids on my knitting list will be getting this. It's a quick and easy knit and there are lots of color options and it has a nice big pom pom. This is a DK weight pattern and I've already done a version in SweetGeorgia Superwash DK which was awesome to work with, I'd like to do a slightly funkier version using a variegated color such as Lupi in Hedgehog Fibres DK and then balance it with a semi-solid or do a really lush version in Kettle Yarn Co. Islington DK (you can see a great example of that here). I think this is a great pattern for adults and kids and you can do a lot with yarn choice to make it just right for the knitworthy person on your list.

 If you love a bit of Fair Isle or a cable then I highly recommend something from Rachel Coopey's newest book Toasty Volume 2. There are seven super cute hat patterns, a pair of mittens and a stunning colourwork cowl all done in baa ram ewe's Titus. We've made up some mini-skeins of Titus too, perfect for a bit of colourwork. I'm particularly in love with Binsoe and Kettlesing. You can also check our new pattern the Winter Hugs Hat, it's a quick easy Fair Isle hat pattern perfect for beginners and also done in Titus but looks great in Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light as well. 

 My sister doesn't know it yet (and she's too busy with finals to be reading this blog at the moment, so I don't think I'm giving anything away here) but she will be getting Spire in Shibui Knits super squishy mix of Maai and Staccato. I made a version for the shop and I know she'll love it, I'm just a bit undecided on color still... She'll also be getting a Brygga cowl for which we still have some kits available. This should be a very speedy knit in bulky Lovikka. I do need to get moving on these as they will need to be mailed to the states.

 Lastly, if you want some lightning fast projects, the Nordlándda Collection using The Fibre Co. Tundra or some SweetGeorgia Yarns Superwash Six is the way to go. We still have the Knit-A-Long running for this collection until Dec. 20 and so far these projects are flying off the needles which bodes well for Christmas gift knitting.

If hats or big chunky cable cowls aren't your thing then there is still time for a nice pair of socks such as Clare Devine's Brevis which includes sizes 0 months to XL or Kate Atherley's Wellesley from her Custom Socks book. A warm squishy shawl is still knitable as well and I think Liebevoll by Ysolda is a winner for the winter months as it's knit in a soft DK. How lush would this be in The Uncommon Thread Heavenly DK!?!

 Ok, I don't know about you but I best get back to the actual knitting!

-Carmen