Have you ever worn something because a relative or a friend made it for you, and though you really don't like what they made you still wear it to show them that you appreciate the gesture of them making it? Do you want to avoid being the one who makes things for people that they never wear? Here are a few tips and tricks that will help you knit up some things for people this holiday season.
#1 Keep the makes simple, especially when you want to make things for everyone in the family you don't want to knit something complicated as it will take a long time, and then your mom, or kiddo won't get their sweater til next Christmas.
#2 Use yarns that you know they will like, such as their favorite colors, or something simple that they wear a lot of (for my wife that would be black, though she has brightly colored socks that I knit her last winter while I was pregnant). And if you aren't sure if they have a wool allergy avoid using wool and choose something like a bamboo sock blend, or alpaca wool.
#3 Classic patterns, nothing with weird textures as most people who don't knit won't wear eyelet socks, or a bubble stitched cardigan. Stick to simple garter, or stockinette, maybe dipping into cables if you know your receiver will enjoy them and the hard work that goes into them.
#4 Make something you enjoy knitting, especially if you are knitting them for the whole family then you want to make sure that you, the maker enjoy the project! You don't want to spend a whole lot of time working on something you hate working on.
#5 Give yourself plenty of time, this is not something you want to rush through. So even if you are a little close this year, start thinking about what do next Christmas so that you can plan a goal of say a knit item a month leading up to the Holidays so you have enough time, and also have time for other projects.
#6 Remember to have fun! I know that these might be knits for someone else to wear, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun and pour your love and appreciation for this person who will wear the item into it while you are making it! I am both a process and a progress knitter so I try to enjoy knitting while I'm working on something but I also feel a sense of accomplishment when I hold a completed project (or a stack of finishes) in my hands.
What are some tips for holiday knitting that you want to pass on? Leave them in the comments, and until next time, happy knitting!