Great Little Gifts
September 17, 2013
You know you've been thinking about gift knitting. You know you have, as Christmas is quickly approaching and now is the perfect time to start. You need a few quick, fun, and creative things to knit. As it just so happens, Jean Moss has a new book full of great ideas for your gift knitting.
Last year I interviewed Jean when she published her previous book. She shared insights into her exciting, colorful, and creative knitting style. In that vein, the projects in Jean's new book, Great Little Gifts to Knit, are just as colorful and just as fun.
The sweetest chapter in Great Little Gifts to Knit is "Baby" and I've fallen head over heels for the bean bags and I can see the chubby tiny fingers of a happy baby grasping one after the other of the bags, as the colors and textures capture her attention.
Jean also included separate chapters for "Hers" and "His" gifts. One of the most charming patterns in the book is the Will-o'th Wisp Shawl. It would be a fun wrap to toss over the shoulders whist sipping tea on a cold wintery afternoon. I can think of several color combinations, some contrasting and funky, some soft and elegant, that would make this shawl a delight to knit and wouldnnn't it make a luxurious gift for a dear friend or family member?
Not to leave out the men in your life, in the "His" chapter you'll find one of the quickest projects in the book. I got a kick out of the smart phone cover with a pear on the front.
My favorite chapter in the book is "Home". I would love to knit every one of the items for myself. The Welcome Toran would be a beautiful greeting on a festive day and the Tea Cozy is so creative and adorable (I really must make one)! But, it's the Checkered Cushions I find speak to me most and I would love to have several color combinations scattered across my couch.
Everything you need to know about a project is in the book. How long a project will take, how much yarn, as well as instructions and how to pages. In the back of the book there is a picture index of projects, which I found to be very helpful. Jean did a beautiful job of giving a knitter of any ability the information and techniques needed to make any of the lovely gifts in this book.
To win a copy of Jean's Great Little Gifts to Knit leave a comment on this post, by Thursday evening 5:00pm MDT, and tell me if you have started your Christmas knitting! You can buy a copy of your own here.
Check out previous posts for the book and continue the fun by reading even more about the book in the next couple of weeks! Enjoy!
Monday 2 Sept - Wendy Knits Wendy Johnson
Wednesday 4 Sept - WEBS Kathy Elkins
Friday 6 Sept - Getting Stitched on the Farm Kristin Nicholas
Monday 9 Sept - Stolen Stitches Carol Feller
Tuesday 10 Sept - Knittedbliss Julie Crawford
Wednesday 11 Sep - Black Bunny Fibers Carol Sulcoski
Thursday 12 Sept - Rhythm of the Needles Joanne Conklin
Friday 13 Sept - Tiny Owl Knits Stephanie Dosen
Monday 16 Sept - Just Call Me Ruby Susan Crawford
Tuesday 17 Sept - Zeneedle Margene Smith -ME!
Wednesday 18 Sept - Redshirt Knitting Erika Barcott
Thursday 19 Sept - A Friend to Knit With Leslie Friend
Friday 20 Sept - Craft Sanity Jennifer Ackerman Haywood
Monday 23 Sept - Connieleneknits Connie Lene
Tuesday 24 Sept - Knitsofacto Annie Cholewa
Wednesday 25 Sept - Ulla Bella Anita Tormoen
Thursday 25 Sept - A Really Good Yarn Julie Schilthuis
Friday 27 Sept - Urban Yarns Alexa Ludeman
Saturday 28 Sept - Linda Marveng Linda Marveng
Monday 30 Sept - Yarnings Jen
Tuesday 1 Oct - Tentenknits Margaux Hufnagel
Buy your copy of Great Little Gifts at your book seller or at Amazon USA or Amazon UK.
Christmas? I still have to make Halloween costumes!
Posted by: Anne Marie | September 17, 2013 at 05:24 AM
Looks like a lovely book!
Posted by: CindyCindy | September 17, 2013 at 05:56 AM
Christmas knitting...hmm...really? Cute ideas if one were so inclined.
Posted by: Suzy | September 17, 2013 at 06:03 AM
I decided No Christmas Knitting this year. (But those pillows are tempting!) Looks like a great book.
Posted by: Kym | September 17, 2013 at 06:06 AM
I don't knit for Christmas but I do knit for birthdays. Does that still count? Sounds like a great book!
Posted by: Carole | September 17, 2013 at 06:29 AM
You make me want to go out and find more people to knit for for Christmas!
Posted by: Barbara Seiver | September 17, 2013 at 06:36 AM
I have started to *think* about knitting for Christmas...
Posted by: Barbara J. | September 17, 2013 at 07:24 AM
Oh, those projects look like a lot of fun.
Posted by: Cris | September 17, 2013 at 07:25 AM
`not the actual knitting but I have started my list and measuring members of my family so I can get going.
Posted by: grace yaskovic | September 17, 2013 at 07:29 AM
I've been very disciplined about Christmas knitting this year, fitting my gift socks into my monthly challenges for my Socks from Stash group on Ravelry. I started in April and have 5 pairs done and just 3 more to go. I'm feeling great about that.
wahoomerryf on Rav
Posted by: Merry Fenton | September 17, 2013 at 07:32 AM
Those pillows ARE cute, what a clever, subtle pattern.
Posted by: Heather N | September 17, 2013 at 08:04 AM
Looks like a great book!
Posted by: linda kaye | September 17, 2013 at 08:37 AM
Ha! Christmas knitting! Ha! Ha!
::whimper::
Posted by: sprite | September 17, 2013 at 08:46 AM
I have been knitting dishcloths to give to my cousins for Christmas.
Posted by: Knittingdancer on Ravelry | September 17, 2013 at 08:50 AM
I have knit a pile of washcloths for my mom. She really likes them so I decided to make a bunch for her this year.
Posted by: Savannagal | September 17, 2013 at 09:07 AM
I have not yet started Christmas knitting. Guess I should start thinking about that!
Posted by: Andrea | September 17, 2013 at 09:16 AM
What a great book with so many cute ideas. I'll have to go buy it if I don't get lucky enough here, but let's 'give it a go' anyway!
Posted by: Sandy | September 17, 2013 at 09:23 AM
I knit through the year and I have a bag in a closet where I put finished items that I will give out as gifts. I have begun because I never really stop.
Posted by: maureen | September 17, 2013 at 10:01 AM
Yes, I started Christmas knitting some months ago. I make socks for just about everybody on my list, so I have to start very early. I typically do it while participating in various KALs on Ravelry. This year I also whipped up some cowls. I put these things away in a box in a guest room closet.
No matter how early I start, as fall approaches I always think of additional things I want to knit for gifting. So, an early start does not guarantee a stress-free holiday season!
Posted by: Nancy | September 17, 2013 at 10:24 AM
I am making more and more gifts and these look great! The wisp shawl is so lovely...
Posted by: Angelbis | September 17, 2013 at 11:14 AM
Started a cabled wrap in a luscious cranberry color last week and have already finished a trio of citrus slice potholders (lemon, lime, and orange) that I might just gift myself with! Also have to finish up a tote bag that needs to be felted, almost two-thirds already knitted, thank goodness.
Posted by: Cheryl | September 17, 2013 at 11:28 AM
My Christmas knitting usually consists of an ornament for the Guild's ornament exchange. As such, I have not started it. I hope to do three this year, one for the ornament exchange, and two for special people.
Thanks for the contest!
Posted by: Jan | September 17, 2013 at 01:39 PM
What a great little book! I just may have to do some Christmas knitting after all. :-)
Posted by: Manise | September 17, 2013 at 01:59 PM
Lovely! It's making my fingers twitch to get started.
Posted by: Caroline | September 17, 2013 at 02:09 PM
I've started worrying about it. Does that count?
Posted by: Carol | September 17, 2013 at 03:44 PM