When I knit a gift, I tend to stick with a classic style that I can personalize so that it will be treasured by the recipient for a long time to come. I find the most effective and elegant way to do this is actually a simple matter of choosing the color and fiber content of my yarn with great care and consideration and sometimes adding a special stitch pattern for texture or embellishing what I’ve made with a very personal detail.
Color
Anyone who has met me, been to my shops, or read my other books already knows about my passion for color. For me, choosing a color for a gift for someone is in itself a symbol of my affection for them. And you can do the same. For example, if you give your sister and each member of her family a Family Ribbed Hat on page 42 in their favorite colors, or you knit your husband the Men’s Zip-Up Vest on page 102 in a man-friendly neutral tone but add a zipper in a color that matches his eyes, you are showing each of them that you know and love them.
Most of the patterns in this book are knit in solid colors, which is usually my first choice since it means weaving in fewer ends (and therefore taking less time to finish!). Of course, stripes are always an easy option to add. Several of the projects are worked in a solid main color with an accent color. The Sideways Fingerless Gloves on page 49 are a perfect example. I knit this pair in two brightly contrasting colors to give to a friend who appreciates a lot of hot color in her accessories. If I had made them for someone who loves vintage style, I might have chosen an antique white for the main color and red as the contrast color (like vintage mattress ticking or antique toweling), or, alternatively, I could have knit them in one subdued color for someone who likes to keep her wardrobe understated.
Fiber
When designing these patterns, I always used the yarn that was the most inspiring to me, but selecting a yarn that is different than the one called for in the pattern is another way to customize your gift. When changing the yarn in a pattern, keep in mind that it may change the look and feel of the finished piece, but also remember that this can produce equally beautiful results. There are a couple of patterns in this book that are written for more than one yarn weight. For instance, the Beret on page 70 is written for either a fingering- or DK-weight yarn. This means that with a dozen different yarns, you can create a dozen completely different hats to suit a dozen friends, all with one pattern! When I created the hats you see here, I explored angora, wool, and even mohair, among other fibers, and while the hats are all the same shape, they all have a very different look. The instructions for the Family Ribbed Hat on page 42 cover worsted-, bulky-, and super bulky-weight yarns.
Texture
If the person you are knitting for is also a knitter, she or he will most definitely appreciate carefully selected stitch patterns. The Soft as a Cloud Cowl pattern on page 99 includes three different mock cable variations, each one a little more ornate than the last. The Dreaming of Spring Fingerless Gloves pattern on page 79 includes a variation with an Aran braid along the top of the hand. Additionally, the women’s version of the Toe-Up Socks on page 107 includes an optional baby cable. You can add a cable stitch to just about any pattern, but keep in mind that if your cable is very elaborate or is used across the entire piece, it will require extra yarn and will change the gauge of your piece. For example, a simple cable up the middle of the Kid’s Vest on page 74 is an easy addition; all you need to do is work a swatch of the cable pattern to figure out how much it pulls in, then accommodate the difference in your cast-on.
Embellishment
One of my favorite techniques for finishing gifts with a personal touch is duplicate stitch. I used it to add initials to the Kid’s Vest on page 74 and to decorate the Holiday Ornaments on page 18.
The Huggable House on page 54 is really just an excuse for embellishment. I customized the one shown with backstitch and French knots. Wouldn’t it be sweet to make one to match a good friend’s house? Or perhaps to create a replica of the house you grew up in to give to one of your sibling’s children? Of course, you don’t have to limit your French knots or backstitches to the Huggable House; they are wonderful and easy techniques that you can use to embellish any pattern in this book. For instance, imagine a neutral-colored beret covered in hot pink French knots!
Extras
Another way to personalize a knitted gift is to present it with a little something extra—such as a favorite hot beverage recipe to go with the Cozy Coasters on page 53, or perhaps a collection of embroidery supplies presented with the Soft Baskets on page 30.
Wrapping It Up
Once you’ve put so much thought, effort, and affection into your gift, you may not have much time leftover to think about an original way to wrap it. If this is the case, be sure to check out Wrapping Handknit Gifts on page 121.
Shown clockwise from top left: Men’s Zip-Up Vest (page 102), Sideways Fingerless Gloves (page 49), Family Ribbed Hat (page 42), and Berets (page 70).
Shown clockwise from top left: Kid’s Vest (page 74), Huggable House (page 54), Soft as a Cloud Cowls (page 99), and Toe-Up Socks (page 107).
