Holiday Countdown Ideas

Down to the Wire Ideas  .....for 2016!
* yep....I mean 2016. Wrote this post up for Dec 2015 and didn't get chance to post on the blog. Posting it now in Jan to get a jump start on holidays early! *

For some reason it feels like Christmas is right around the corner....but there's still a week and a half! Plenty of time. Here's some ideas for quick gifts to make. So turn on the Hallmark Christmas Movie channel and get busy!

Scroll on for the Heads, Fingers and Toes pattern-roll . . .

Headbands

You can easily whip up several of these, easy peasy. Winter has arrived in earnest so we can all use cozy ear warmers. We showed off this pattern (Winter Morning ) recently and still loving it for rapid, super-bulky gift-making. Next I'm making it up in Ultra Alpaca Chunky for a bit smaller headband but still just as fast a knit.

Drops Furry Head Band

Looks cuddly and in our Caribou or Marmot it'll be perfect. Simple knit flat and seamed.

Cozy Knit Headband 

our new delivery of Liberty Wool or any of the Noro Silk Garden or Taiyo perfect for this one

Crochet versions

Bramble Jam

Soft Furry Headband

Hats

Berroco's latest Knitbit freebie: Family Hats pattern in Blackstone Tweed. Great way to use up leftovers and make hats for whole family. Any worsted weight yarn will do the trick

 

Two of my favorites from this fall: Both in Inca Tweed chunky yarns:  Dermody and Donnely

 Here's something fun and quirky (love those tassles!). Uses striping worsted weight: Gamut 

 Another less quirky but fun pom pom and stripes: Rist in Peruvia, an aran weight wooly wool.

Need it fast.....then break out bulky yarns and do up this: Jordan

 

Fingerless Mitts

One of the best, most practical accessories to keep the winter chill at bay.

 

If you don't mind seams then there's nothing faster than a knit square seamed strategically. I put a cable along the top but finish them even quicker if you use plain stockinette, seed stitch or better yet....good ole' garter stitch. Now I'm working on a 2-at-a-time-Magic-Loop version. Taking longer but when I'm done....it's done. No seams or the dreaded "make a 2nd one" syndrome. Still used cables but would be faster changing up the stitch .

Here's few similar patterns or come by shop to have a gander at mine (psst....hoping to turn this into a class in upcoming months bc it's a great way to learn cables and other techniques).

Mrs. Fitz Mini Mitts

so easy it's silly!

Davitt

another easy knit flat/seamed pattern 

 

One Cable Mitts

in the round pattern

Woolner

also in the round

Toes

Now....I know you're thinking. There's no way you can make socks at this late stage. True. I have two options. 1. Make slippers! Chunky yarn is amazing for speeding up things and we can all use a new pair of slippers to keep our toes toasty.

Rye by Tin Can Knits

Simple Garter Stitch Slippers

Nola Slippers 

And what's #2 option for Toes? Well.....you buy the ready-made socks we have in the shop! On Line, the super smart German sock yarn company  thought "Hey....we have all this yarn we sell. Wonder if we make the socks on our machines if people would buy them?" Answer: Heck Yeah! We love our ready-made wool socks. We've a good supply or sizes and colors. They make great instan gifts!

Previous Gift Idea Posts: here  here