Knitting Gifts

From LoveToKnow Crafts

If you are a knitter, you know that there is little better in life than knitting gifts for your family and friends. People love to receive hand made gifts because it shows you care enough to spend the time and effort. What kind of knitting gifts should you make to ensure success in gift-giving? Here are some ideas for knitting gifts for everyone on your list, including your knitting friends.

Knitting Gifts for Significant Others

Anyone who has knitted for very long has probably heard about the legend of the boyfriend sweater. Perhaps the curse of the boyfriend sweater would be a more accurate description.

This curse is said to afflict any woman wanted to knit a sweater for her significant other. Because men tend to be larger than women, this project takes a long time. You finally finish it and are so proud. You present the gift to your beloved, and he is unimpressed. Whether because he’s unimpressed or for some other reason, the relationship ends soon thereafter.

This story seems to have played itself out too many times to be mere coincidence. Just to be safe, you might not want to make a sweater for anyone you’re dating. Wait until you’ve been married awhile before taking out the needles. (I’ve been married almost four years and I still won’t knit my husband a sweater, but that’s because he’d never wear it.)

What makes a good, handmade boyfriend gift? A scarf is always a good option. They take little time to knit and you can choose manly colors and textures.

Other good options are hats (particularly if your guy or gal loves the outdoors), socks or felted coastersand beverage holders.

A quick-knitting afghan or throw would also be nice, because you could always be assured of something nice and warm to snuggle under at your beloved’s house.

Knitting Gifts for Friends

I relax the rules a little bit when it comes to knitting for friends. If you have a friend you’ve known forever and really want to knit him or her a sweater, by all means do it. But keep in mind when knitting anything that is shaped that sizes can vary widely. Even if you know the person’s size, your knitted project may turn out too big or too small. Both of these situations have the potential to offend.

Instead of putting yourself through all that, why not explore the world of accessories when knitting for friends? If you’re knitting for male friends, scarves, hats, socks and throws are still the way to go, but for female friends you can add bags, shawls, wraps, ponchos, neck warmers, fingerless gloves, even tea cozies, T-shirts and fancy skirts.

When choosing a knitting project for a friend, consider his or her individual style and what he or she normally wears (color, texture and cut). If you don’t want to give something fitted, consider a wrap or shawl, which is very useful, stylish and one-size-fits-all.

Knitting Gifts for Babies

When knitting gifts for babies, most people immediately reach for the acrylic yarn. That’s because it’s quick and easy to work with and machine washable. Moms love that, of course, but handmade baby things are likely to become treasured family keepsakes, so why not make something a little nicer?

Baby blankets and booties are the most popular choices for knitted baby gifts, but you don’t have to stop there. Why not make a blanket with a matching hat? Or make the booties, but use cashmere or angora?

You probably don’t want to use wool for baby projects because their skin is very sensitive, but pretty much anything else would be wonderful. Just make sure you give the new mom care instructions (or offer to launder the goods for her). To be on the safe side if you’re using an expensive animal fiber, check to make sure no one in the immediate family is allergic.

Remember, too, that you don’t have to stick to pastels when knitting gifts for baby. Ask the parents what colors they are using for the baby’s room and pick something that coordinates. Or choose a color that means something to you or the family such as afavorite sports team's colors or green if the family is Irish.

Knitting Gifts for Knitters

Knitters are the people on the planet least likely to receive knitted gifts. I think that’s mostly because other knitters are intimidated and don’t want their crafty friends to look down on their projects. Some might think that if a knitter wants something she will knit it herself.

I think knitters are primed to enjoy knitted gifts more than just about anyone. They understand the work that goes into a project, appreciate the great choice of fiber and color, and will treasure anything that is the work of anyone’s needles.

So if you have friends who knit, don’t be afraid to whip up something for them, too. They will appreciate it more than you know.