Gifts to Knit for Father’s Day

Father’s Day is coming up soon, and if you want to knit something sweet for a dad in your life, now’s the time to start!

I have collected some great patterns for Father’s Day in previous years, but here are a few more ideas for you, too.

If the dad you’re knitting for likes coffee or tea, a knit cup cozy is a great idea. Here’s one from Knits’ End I shared a few months ago, but of course there are tons out there, such as:

mug hug by Rebecca Gunderson (great stash-buster, too!)
Mug Cozy by Twisted Fibers Design
Cabled Mug Cozy from Knit Picks

just to name a few. Or stitch a bottle cozy such as the Root Beer Bottle Cozy from Random Heather or the ribbed bottle cozy from Laura’s Knits.

Red Heart has some great, easy patterns for Father’s Day knitting. Some of my favorites are the Men’s Mosaic Vest, Garter Stitch Neckties and the easy Slippers for Him.

Or try a laptop sweater from Just B Crafty. I actually gave my husband a Kindle Cozy the other day, and patterns for the old-school Kindles still work pretty well on newer versions. A couple of options:

Sock Yarn Cozy from Aknitica (another good stash buster as it’s worked in individual mitered squares)
Cabled Paperwhite Case by the Hixson Chronicles
Wise Owl Kindle Cozy by Anna-Lena Thiel

And speaking of knitting for guys, we had a little mishap with our spam filter the other week when I was giving away copies of Boyfriend Sweaters, so go enter that giveaway if you didn’t get a chance. With the end of school and vacation, it will be a couple weeks before I catch up on giveaways anyway.

Next Pattern:

There is something very sweet about vintage baby knitting patterns, especially the ones that still feel wearable today. This Vintage Baby Sweater Knitting Pattern PDF from the CraftGossipStore has that lovely old-fashioned charm without looking fussy or too dated, which is exactly what makes it a nice find for knitters who enjoy making baby gifts with a bit of heirloom feeling.

The pattern includes two classic baby sweater styles: a textured crew neck jumper and cardigan options with raglan sleeves. The stitch pattern gives the finished pieces that beautiful handmade texture we all love, but it still feels practical enough for real babies — not just the kind of outfit that gets worn for one photo and then carefully folded away forever.

You can find the pattern here: Vintage Baby Sweater Knitting Pattern PDF from CraftGossipStore.

This is a restored vintage knitting pattern delivered as a printable PDF, so there is no physical pattern posted out. After purchase, the file is available through Etsy as an instant digital download, which is handy if you’re the sort of knitter who gets an idea at 9 pm and wants to cast on before common sense has a chance to intervene.

The pattern is designed for 8 ply / DK weight yarn, which makes it a practical choice because DK baby yarn is easy to find in soft modern colours. It uses 3.25 mm and 4 mm knitting needles, along with stitch holders, buttons for the cardigan versions, a yarn needle, scissors, and measuring tape.

What I like about this pattern is the flexibility. Worked in cream, lemon, powder blue, sage green, oatmeal, dusty pink, or warm beige, it would suit either a traditional baby wardrobe or a more modern neutral nursery style. The cardigan version is especially practical because cardigans are always easier when dressing little ones. Anyone who has ever tried to wriggle a jumper over a sleepy baby’s head will understand that immediately.

Because this is a vintage pattern, it is worth remembering that older knitting patterns are often written more briefly than modern ones. They tend to assume the knitter already knows a few things, so I’d recommend this for confident beginners through to intermediate knitters rather than someone picking up needles for the very first time. If you’re comfortable reading shaping instructions, checking gauge, working textured stitches, and sewing seams neatly, this should be a very satisfying little project.

Before starting, make a tension square. I know, I know — no one wants to hear it, but baby garments are small enough that gauge really does matter. A tiny difference in tension can quickly change the finished size, and nobody wants to finish a beautiful baby cardigan only to discover it fits a doll or a toddler with very optimistic shoulders.

This pattern would make a lovely baby shower gift, newborn photo outfit, heirloom baby knit, or handmade market sample. It is also a nice choice for knitters who enjoy vintage patterns but prefer having them cleaned up into a more usable digital format.

If you need supplies, look for a soft DK baby yarn, smooth knitting needles, small cardigan buttons, stitch holders, and a blunt yarn needle for finishing. Mary Maxim is always worth checking for baby yarns and classic knitting supplies, while Amazon can be handy for basics like stitch holders, measuring tapes, button packs, and printed pattern binders if you like keeping your PDF patterns organised.

For anyone who enjoys traditional baby knitting, this is a sweet little pattern with plenty of charm. It has that “made by Grandma, kept forever” feeling, but with enough simplicity to make it useful for everyday babywear too.

Next Pattern:

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