Category Archives: gift projects

FREEBIE Varduz Cowl

Varduz Cowl

Quick & impressive, this cute little cowl only uses one skein of scrumptious Malabrigo Mecha, and works up fast on 8mm/US11 needles.

If you are intrepid try using a provisional cast on and then invisibly join the two sides using  kitchener stitch. If not, that’s ok too – for a nice, easy seam just use a provisional cast on (it’s just casting on with scrap yarn, not hard), and do a three needle bind off to finish. If all of this sounds too daunting to deal with, just cast on normally and seam using mattress stitch.

Materials

Notes

 

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

FREEBIE Tea-Cozy Hat

Tea-Cozy Hat

People with ponies and buns (even man-buns) need hats too – especially this winter! I like the detail at the top of this hat by very clever hat designer Woolly Wormhead. The i-cord pulls it in to the exact size you need, and the little flourish on top finishes off the look. You can use any worsted or aran weight yarn, but I think it looks great in a soft, plush yarn like Malabrigo Merino Worsted.

FREEBIE Really Quick Mitts

Really Quick Mitts

I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to feel the holiday pressure – only two weeks away! Don’t worry, it’s doable, you just need to shift your focus to projects that work up fast with thick yarns. We designed the Really Quick Mitts a few years ago for just this purpose, and they’re still going strong!

 

Materials

 

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

quick-mitts-combo

Photos: Jessica Rhea & ohdessa

 

FREEBIE Mega Rib Hat

Mega Rib Hat

Fast, simple, thick, super soft, cozy – this project is holiday GOLD! One skein of Malabrigo Rasta is more than enough to make a hat (if you’re making a few hats hold on to your leftovers and you can make another hat, pair of mitts, wristlets or a cowl out of them). If hand dyed aesthetic isn’t your style try buttery soft Cascade Spuntaneous, it’s very similar to Rasta.

Yarn Options

Malabrigo Rasta: 1 skein (hand dyed 100% merino wool)

Cascade Spuntaneous: 1 skein (100% merino wool)

Other Materials

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

FREEBIE Medallion Mittens

Medallion Mittens

I love the look of these mitts, they’re cozy, simple, but still interesting. Mitts are a great knitted gift that don’t take too long to make and only use one skein of yarn. We’re knitting them up with a skein of buttery soft and airy Malabrigo Merino Worsted (colour 69 Pearl Ten – a dark taupe).

Materials

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

FREEBIE Simple House Slippers

simple-house-slippers

Simple House Slippers

Slippers make an awesome winter gift – they’re infinitely useful, fast to make, and son’t use a ton of yarn. There are lots of free slipper patterns floating around the internet, and I’ll post a few different styles going forward, but I like the simple, rustic style of these Simple House Slippers. You can make them with a single strand of a worsted weight wool like Cascade 220 Superwash or Malabrigo Rios, or create some colour effects with two strands of a sock/fingering weight yarn held together (try Manos Alegria). Generally, I prefer to use a soft wool yarn for anything that goes directly on feet – wool absorbs moisture without making your feet feel cold or creating excess smell (ie. wool socks & slippers don’t get super smelly like synthetic or plant fibres).  It’s also always nice to put something on the bottom of slippers like Slipper Bottoms or Anti-Slip to limit the amount of slip.

Yarn Options

Other Materials

 

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

simple-house-slippers-combo

FREEBIE Tied Knots

Tied Knots

Tied Knots a is gorgeous one-skein project that will make a very impressive and well received gift. Just one skein of semi-solid hand-dyed Mineville Merino DK is enough, or try 2 skeins of Cascade 220 Sport Superwash if you prefer a solid or heathered colour. For something more post use a skein of Madeline Tosh Merino DK. One skein of Mineville Angora Wool is enough for two hats or a hat and a matching pair of mitts.

Materials

  • FREE Pattern
  • Mineville Merino DK: 1 skein
  • 3.25mm/US3-16″ circular needles
  • 4mm/US6-16″ circular needles
  • 4mm/US6 double pointed needles
  • cable needle
  • stitch marker
  • tapestry/darning needle

 

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

FREEBIE Favorite Slouchy

Favorite Slouchy

This stylish hat is a great project for both newbies and more experienced knitters (it comes with a tutorial on hat knitting). It’s simple, elegant, and makes a great holiday gift. It’s designed using soft, hand painted Malabrigo Rios, but you can use any worsted weight yarn (see list below for recommendations).

Yarn Options

Other Materials

  • FREE Pattern
  • 4mm/US6-16″ circular needles
  • 4mm/US6 double pointed needles
  • tapestry needle
  • stitch marker

 

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

NEW Fleece Artist Vamps Kits

fleece-artist-vamps-kit-socks

Fleece Artist Vamps Kits

A ‘Vamp’ is a Newfoundland term for a pair of hand knit ankle socks used both as house slippers and as boot liners. They are knit holding 2 strands of yarn together (one merino and one super soft kid mohair), these slippers are a warm and fuzzy tribute to this regional hand knit tradition. This pattern is best knit on double pointed needles rather than short circular needles. You can also knit this kit up as a warm and fuzzy pair of Mitts!

Vamps Kits are a double gift – they’re a great gift for knitters, and they also knit up as a wonderful gift.

Kit Includes

  • Pattern & instructions (one size, for other sizes use the pattern Rye below)
  • 125g of Fleece Artist Merino 3/6
  • 50g of Handmaiden Angel Hair

Kit DOES NOT include 4mm double pointed needles

 

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

fleece-artist-vamps-kit-combo

Pattern Notes

After knitting up a sample we found that seasoned sock knitters may not ‘get’ the pattern that is included with the kit. If you want an alternative path try using the free pattern for Rye Socks by TinCan Knits and making the following modifications:

  • Use 4mm/US6 needles
  • In the “Cuff” omit the “Round 1” & “Round 2”: start the heel flap immediately after making the ribbing
  • The third size fits an average women’s foot, the fourth size fits
  • omit garter stitch detail down the front

 

fleece-artist-vamps-kit-combo2

FREEBIE Kinos Mittens

Kinos Mittens

These mitts are super cool and perfect for the person who likes something funky and original. They use affordable Cascade 220 (for substitutes see below), and are a great way to make use of leftovers you have kicking around. You’ll need 50g or the main colour (grey in the picture above), and 15 to 20g of the other 6 colours.

Yarn Options

Materials