Giftmas Knits

I came to terms pretty early on that living in Las Vegas meant that I’d need to change my outlook on knitting. It was once a selfish hobby for me, but winters here in the valley are just too short to keep everything hidden in Rubbermaid totes 9 months out of the year.

So I became a gifter this year. I knit & finished fifteen items to give to friends and family before Christmas, and am working on a sixteenth still. (SORRY CHRIS!) …and now that the holidays are over I can FINALLY show you some of them!

My guidelines for giving handmade gifts involve following a few guidelines to keep my sanity.

The cost to make these gloves (not including the needles) came in at around $2 and made a beautiful gift.

First, keep it affordable. If I’m spending both more time AND more money than I would if I were to just buy something from the mall, then I would go insane. There are lots of quality yarns out there that are well within my budget, and I’m always on the lookout for cheap buttons and notions.

The 50¢ buckles on these gloves were a hideous (or awesome) neon splatter paint finish until I covered over them in contrasting yarn.

Second, keep projects within 200 yards or so of yarn, which is about one skein. I tried to keep it somewhat manageable so I wasn’t spending too much time on any one project. A couple of decorative touches, like cables or a little bit of lace work goes a long way. (you can see each project individually on my Flickr page)

All of my coworkers received fingerless gloves knit in DK or worsted weight yarn. Each project took less than 2 days to complete!

Um, these actually don't have a home yet. Do you want these & have size 7.5 - 8.5 feet? Hit me up (but I won't ship them!)

Third (and this is the most important), affordable & manageable does not mean plain. Choose the raddest patterns you can find, items that you’d basically want to keep for yourself. If you choose to knit boring patterns, chances are you will become bored midway and move onto a shinier project.

Do you like fish mitts? I loved making & giving these! Super fun Swedish Fish mittens that ended up going to my derby wife who bought me the yarn for my birthday

Crazy cute fingerless gloves! I couldn't stop smiling the whole time I knit these (except maybe when I was weaving in all of the ends)

My most favorite mittens ever. My Arc de Triomphe. I gave these to my mom, who saw them and went into an I CAN HAZ!? fit.

Anyway, those were my favorite knits of 2010. I hope the recipients enjoy them as much as I did knitting them! (yeah corny but so totally true)

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