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Giveaway: Northern Knits Gifts

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northern knits gifts giveaway

Ruth is the winner.

It’s time to start thinking about — and more than thinking, to actually start knitting — any knit gifts you want to make for the holidays, and this week’s giveaway can help get you started if you need some ideas for people on your list.

Northern Knits Gifts: Thoughtful Projects Inspired by Folk Traditions by Lucinda Guy has gifts for all sorts of occasions and recipients, including a lacy scarf, gorgeous Fair Isle socks, a sweet knit doll, an array of hats and mitts, a snuggly chunky baby blanket, slippers with classic snowflake designs, sweaters, shawls and more. Check out some of the projects here.

The 20 projects included in the book are mostly small and quick knitting but they include a lot of details that make them fun to knit and impressive to give. There are patterns for kids and women, and one project, a hat, for men, so most of your gift-giving bases are covered.

If you’d like a chance to win this book, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, October 11. I’d love to know who you are knitting for this year. I always make a little something small for my daughter’s teachers, but I’m not sure what I will do this year because I usually knit a heart and she had one of her teachers last year so she already has one.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

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Comments

  1. My own daughter started daycare thus year and she LOVES going there. Her educators are fabulous and so nice. I have been thinking of doing pot holders originally as Christmas presents buy I have recently been in a fair isle kick knitting – wise. I’d love to make them something nice like that!

  2. I have been working on baby blankets and hats for my co worker who is expecting her first child.

  4. I knit socks for my family, and I try to learn a new skill each year. This book would be my challenge for next year!

  10. I knit for my granddaughter. Right now, I’m knitting dresses for her Barbie doll.

  16. This year, there are some people I know that could make use of some of these items. I know they would appreciate something handmade, as opposed to waiting to save up for a store-bought item. There are other items they could use now!! I’d love to surprise them, along with the kids. I also have a couple other people in mind I’d love to surprise.

  17. I’ve just finished a lacy cowl for my mom. Next on the list is a hat for my son, double layered for warmth.

  18. I’m knitting for my grandma, my mom, my step dad, cousins, my grandpa and maybe a little something for myself too. I love giving hand made knitting.

  23. Every year I knit a Christmas stocking for a women’s shelter. I belong to a support group that fills stockings with little gifts. I’m also knitting small gift card holders for members of my neighborhood craft group – for them to use in giving their gifts.

  25. I’m short a family of my own but my one best friend has two small boys that are seriously fun to craft for and my other bestie lives in a very cold climate and appreciates any protection I can come up with.

  27. I am knitting mittens for everyone this Christmas and single colored mittens won’t do-so colorful is the way to go. I love stranded knitting. Ursula

  28. I am a retired teacher and still treasure the handmade gifts and cards I received through the years. I am currently working on small gift items for my grandchildren and friends.

  29. I’ve stopped knitting gifts for people I know, because I don’t think they were really appreciated. Instead, I’m doing more charity knitting. This looks like an amazing book. Thanks for another great giveaway!

  30. I always knit things for family, so that’s who I’ll be doing it for again this year, including my future son-in-law!

  31. I’m not a seasoned knitter. My talents are limited to rectangles, so I knit scarves for all the family. I have graduated lately to knitting in the round. I recently am able to knit infinity scarves. Now I can knit circles and Rectangles!!!:)

  32. I made a few things for my daughter and step mom… That’s all I have planned this year. I’m still churning through my stash making nice things, some of which might find their way to someone else this holiday.

  33. I was hoping to knit socks for some of the women in my family this year, but there has been many pregnancy announcements lately so I will be making baby blankets instead!

  36. I’m knitting a vest for my husband. It was supposed to be a simple stockinette v-neck, but it looks like I won’t have enough yarn for only one color. Time to get creative…

Have you read?

Book Review: Knitovation Stitch Dictionary

There’s always room for more stitch dictionaries on your shelf, but Andrea Rangel’s Knitovation Stitch Dictionary is unlike those stitch pattern books you might already own. That’s because this one is full of colorwork stitch patterns rather than textured stitches, lace or cables, so the designs are ripe for adding to hats, sweaters and other projects with a stockinette stitch background. 

The book starts with a quick introduction to knitting colorwork that’s also unlike what you’ve probably seen before, because it’s less about the colors themselves and more about the kinds of fibers you choose, how the yarn is prepared and the gauge you’re working at and how those things all change the look of a design. 

Most of the book is filled with motif designs and swatches. The motifs were designed and named by Andrea’s husband Sean, who is an artist and brings a bit of whimsy to the designs. 

You’ll find some classic looking leaves and flowers, mosaics and waves, but also rubber ducks, penguins, puzzle pieces, cherries and cows, snails and teapots, eyeballs and chess pieces, to name a few. Many of the designs also have funny names, like a fish named toilet bound, or cats in suits called corporate fat cat.

Of course you can use the designs in any way you want on any project you like, but there are also three patterns in the book — for a hat, a sweater and a pair of fingerless gloves — plus discussion of how the motifs were added, adjusting patterns for a different size or gauge, and adding your own motifs. 

If you like adding a bit of colorwork to otherwise plain projects that other people have designed, or you’re ready to start making your own designs with fun motifs, this book is a great place to start. The fun and funny motifs are sure to inspire you to want to pick up your needles and add a little more color to your projects. 

About the book: 160 pages, hardcover, 150+ motifs and three knitting patterns. Published 2023 by Interweave, suggested retail $28.