subtlefire (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
subtlefire) wrote2010-12-12 05:48 pm
subtlefire) wrote2010-12-12 05:48 pm
Entry tags:
Help for your Christmas emergency
With just under two weeks left until Christmas, a lot of people are panicking about gifts. There are plenty of Ravelry threads full of desperate knitters and I find myself linking the same quick, giftable patterns over and over, so I thought I would just make a list here. Links with descriptions go to the author's site/blog, and Ravelry links for everything are at the bottom. These are good stashbusters, all using less than 100g of yarn and some less than 50g. And yes, they're all free. With ten nieces and nephews (and one grand-nephew!) I feel your pain on how much Christmas can cost and wouldn't dream of adding to that.
Crocheters, I love you too, but don't have enough experience to recommend crochet patterns. Maybe next year?
Mitts
Garter Stitch Mitts - These are knit flat and grafted, so if you have a DPN and/or seaming phobia, these are the mitts for you. Thumb shaping is accomplished with clever short rows, and you don't even need to pick up the wraps, since the garter hides them anyway. If you have a grafting phobia, you need to get over it. Detailed instructions for grafting garter stitch are included to help you keep the panic at bay. Make them guy-sized by using heavier yarn and larger needles. Also available as a Ravelry download.
Fetching and Dashing - The classic super-quick fingerless mitts. If you have never tried cables before, Fetching will end your fear and open up a whole new world of awesome. Non-knitters are so impressed with cables that you'll be a hero. Don't try explaining how easy it is; you will only look like an unduly humble genius and make them gush even more.
Hats
Urchin Hat - A perfect accompaniment to the Garter Stitch Mitts. Also knitted flat, shaped with short rows (ignore those wraps!) and grafted, with instructions for grafting garter stitch included. If you don't have super-bulky yarn on hand, double- or triple-strand a worsted or aran yarn. Also available as a Ravelry download.
Brangelina Hat - A good, basic hat that works up fast and cozy. As a bonus, the pattern is written with Laurie's awesome sense of humor.
Robin's Egg Blue Hat - Quick, warm, and adorable. You can make this guy-friendly by casting on 68 and working in the round from the start; just ignore the increase, decrease, and bindoff bits of the brim, and skip the button. Again, double-strand some worsted if you don't have the right amount of bulky yarn in your stash. Working the brim in one color and stockinette portion in another (or in stripes) can make this another good stashbuster.
Earthbender Hat - You might want to work this a little longer than called for (say, 5.5 - 6 inches from cast-on) especially if your giftee needs to pull the hat over their ears. Other than that, it's perfect, especially if you have on hand the colors of their favorite sports team. Don't forget to do a jogless jog at the color changes!
A Better Bucket Hat - The cast-on and first few rounds can be fiddly, but stick with it. This is really just stockinette in the round with one little round of purling. Put on your favorite Christmas movie and you'll be done in no time. Just don't get so into it that you forget to start the decreases! You'll feel quite silly if you have to rip back so your hat isn't too tall. (Ask me how I know.) Pattern is Ravelry download only.
Other things
Knitted Christmas Ornament Cover - Definitely the fastest thing on this list. You can get clear ornament balls plenty of places right now and at Hobby Lobby year-round. As an added bonus, these take 25 yards at the most. Got 20-30g left over from a pair of socks? You have about six ornaments that will work up in a couple hours. Guess what my co-workers are getting! Also available as a Ravelry download.
Bijouterie - A little trickier, and not as stashbusty unless you already work with wire and/or beads a lot. However, these are super-quick once you get the hang of it, and incredibly impressive when someone realizes that you knit them.
So, that's my list. Feel free to add your favorite super-quick knits in comments. Good luck, and happy knitting!
Ravelry links
A Better Bucket Hat
Bijouterie
Brangelina Hat
Dashing
Earthbender Hat
Fetching
Garter Stitch Mitts
Knitted Christmas Ornament Cover
Robin's Egg Blue Hat
Urchin Hat
Crocheters, I love you too, but don't have enough experience to recommend crochet patterns. Maybe next year?
Mitts
Garter Stitch Mitts - These are knit flat and grafted, so if you have a DPN and/or seaming phobia, these are the mitts for you. Thumb shaping is accomplished with clever short rows, and you don't even need to pick up the wraps, since the garter hides them anyway. If you have a grafting phobia, you need to get over it. Detailed instructions for grafting garter stitch are included to help you keep the panic at bay. Make them guy-sized by using heavier yarn and larger needles. Also available as a Ravelry download.
Fetching and Dashing - The classic super-quick fingerless mitts. If you have never tried cables before, Fetching will end your fear and open up a whole new world of awesome. Non-knitters are so impressed with cables that you'll be a hero. Don't try explaining how easy it is; you will only look like an unduly humble genius and make them gush even more.
Hats
Urchin Hat - A perfect accompaniment to the Garter Stitch Mitts. Also knitted flat, shaped with short rows (ignore those wraps!) and grafted, with instructions for grafting garter stitch included. If you don't have super-bulky yarn on hand, double- or triple-strand a worsted or aran yarn. Also available as a Ravelry download.
Brangelina Hat - A good, basic hat that works up fast and cozy. As a bonus, the pattern is written with Laurie's awesome sense of humor.
Robin's Egg Blue Hat - Quick, warm, and adorable. You can make this guy-friendly by casting on 68 and working in the round from the start; just ignore the increase, decrease, and bindoff bits of the brim, and skip the button. Again, double-strand some worsted if you don't have the right amount of bulky yarn in your stash. Working the brim in one color and stockinette portion in another (or in stripes) can make this another good stashbuster.
Earthbender Hat - You might want to work this a little longer than called for (say, 5.5 - 6 inches from cast-on) especially if your giftee needs to pull the hat over their ears. Other than that, it's perfect, especially if you have on hand the colors of their favorite sports team. Don't forget to do a jogless jog at the color changes!
A Better Bucket Hat - The cast-on and first few rounds can be fiddly, but stick with it. This is really just stockinette in the round with one little round of purling. Put on your favorite Christmas movie and you'll be done in no time. Just don't get so into it that you forget to start the decreases! You'll feel quite silly if you have to rip back so your hat isn't too tall. (Ask me how I know.) Pattern is Ravelry download only.
Other things
Knitted Christmas Ornament Cover - Definitely the fastest thing on this list. You can get clear ornament balls plenty of places right now and at Hobby Lobby year-round. As an added bonus, these take 25 yards at the most. Got 20-30g left over from a pair of socks? You have about six ornaments that will work up in a couple hours. Guess what my co-workers are getting! Also available as a Ravelry download.
Bijouterie - A little trickier, and not as stashbusty unless you already work with wire and/or beads a lot. However, these are super-quick once you get the hang of it, and incredibly impressive when someone realizes that you knit them.
So, that's my list. Feel free to add your favorite super-quick knits in comments. Good luck, and happy knitting!
Ravelry links
A Better Bucket Hat
Bijouterie
Brangelina Hat
Dashing
Earthbender Hat
Fetching
Garter Stitch Mitts
Knitted Christmas Ornament Cover
Robin's Egg Blue Hat
Urchin Hat