Gift Idea: A DIY Kit and Gift Cards

It’s a little late in the game to be ordering gifts for people and expecting them to arrive on time, especially from artisans at etsy or specialty yarn shops.

But if you happen to have a local yarn shop nearby, now is the perfect time to support it.

I have two gift ideas for knitters that you still have time to put together, and you get extra karma points for shopping local.

The first requires a bit of sleuthing, but can be a lot of fun. If your knitter friend is on Ravelry, you may find that they have a wish list of patterns. Pick one, buy some yarn they might use for it, and buy them the pattern. Or you can just buy some yarn you know they like, in enough quantity to make something (like a pair of socks or a small shawl) and let them pick the pattern on their own.

This works best for people whose tastes you know really well because picking colors and fibers can be really personal. But if you do it right, it’s an amazing gift.

Alternatively, just get them a gift card or certificate to their local yarn store. You may be able to purchase these online and have them sent to the recipient if you don’t live in the same place, or give the store a call and they can probably mail the card for you (or hold it for your friend). It’s always fun to be able to go in and get whatever you want.

Are you buying gifts for a knitter this year? I’d love to know what you got them, or what is on your wish list.

Next Pattern:

I know that my posts can be read at different times of year and in different years by different people, but as I write this we’re on teh cusp of summer. And I know a lot of people don’t knit as much, and certainly don’t wear a lot of knits in the summer, but I want to encourage you to make and to wear your makes no matter the temperature.

To introduce you to the joys of summer garment knitting, I offer the Tied Vest from Lion Brand Yarn.

This easy project is great to make and wear throughout the year but it’s especially good for summer. It’s worked flat in one piece from the bottom up, mostly in stockinette stitch with a seed stitch edging. The I-cord ties are worked directly onto the garment so you don’t have to sew them on.

The project uses worsted weight yarn, and calls for a blend of cotton and hemp that’s great for warm weather.

There are eight size options, ranging from a finished chest measurement of 35 to 62.5 inches, or 89 to 159 cm. That makes it sound like it should be worn with at least a few inches of positive ease, but the pattern doesn’t specify.

The ties at the front give it a casual look and make it great to wear over a tank top or T-shirt when the weather is warm.

I also think this one would be good to knit in wool or a warmer fiber, too, to make a version you could wear more comfortably in the winter months, too. Though of course you could layer the summer version over a long-sleeved shirt and wear it throughout the year, too.

The tied vest is a free pattern available from Lion Brand. You can also purchase a kit that includes the yarn and optional needles and stitch markers if you need them.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

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Next Pattern:

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