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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: Knitted Safari Friends – 20 Adorable Animals to Make

If you have a weakness for knitted animals wearing tiny clothes, Knitted Safari Friends by Sarah Keen is going to be very difficult to resist.

This colourful collection includes 20 safari and savannah animals to knit, including a lion, tiger, elephant, flamingo, hippo, crocodile, rhinoceros, zebra and giraffe.

And yes, many of them have their own little outfits.

The lion in purple overalls is probably enough to sell me on the whole book.

Cute Animals With Plenty of Personality

What I like about this collection is that the animals are clearly designed as characters rather than realistic wildlife models.

They are bright, friendly and a little quirky, which makes them particularly appealing as handmade gifts for children or animal-loving adults.

Looking at the sample pages, the hippo and flamingo patterns have a cheerful illustrated layout, with the finished animals shown in little safari scenes alongside the practical pattern information.

There is also plenty of variety in the shapes, which means you aren’t simply knitting the same basic body 20 times and changing the ears.

If knitted animals with interchangeable clothes are already your thing, have a look at our Knitted Wild Animal Friends book review. That collection includes elephants, giraffes, lions, tigers, zebras and other animals with an entire wardrobe of tiny knitted clothing.

Is Knitted Safari Friends Beginner Friendly?

The publisher describes the patterns as easy to follow, and the book includes a techniques section, abbreviations and knitting conversions to help you through the projects.

I would still put this more in the confident beginner to intermediate category rather than recommending it as someone’s very first knitting project.

Toy knitting usually involves shaping, joining pieces, stuffing and finishing neatly, and that finishing stage can sometimes take almost as long as the knitting itself.

Ask anyone who has ever had a finished knitted animal sitting in pieces on the craft table for three weeks waiting for its legs to be sewn on.

For knitters who are still learning the basics of toy making, our Knitted Amigurumi Animal Friends review is another useful option, with smaller animals and simple clothing pieces.

A Great Gift Knitting Book

These would make lovely handmade gifts for children, particularly if you matched the animal to their favourite safari creature.

You could also knit several of them together as a nursery display or create your own little safari collection.

The clothes and accessories add another level of fun, too. Once you’ve knitted an elephant, there is something wonderfully satisfying about then deciding what that elephant ought to wear.

Apparently this is where my crafting priorities are now.

My Take

I think Knitted Safari Friends is one of those books that you buy intending to make one project and then immediately start planning an entire knitted zoo.

The bright colours, cute facial expressions and tiny outfits give the animals loads of personality, while the variety of creatures should keep the knitting interesting.

Sarah Keen has been designing knitted toys for years, and that experience shows in the way these animals have been turned into characters rather than simply miniature versions of real wildlife.

If you enjoy toy knitting, handmade gifts or anything involving animals in overalls, this one is definitely worth a look.

Knitted Safari Friends: 20 Adorable Animals to Make is written by Sarah Keen and published by GMC Publications. It was released on April 21, 2026, with a listed RRP of $26.99.