As a knitter, I could not have asked for better in-laws. My mother-in-law and two of my sisters-in-law knit, and the whole family is very appreciative of handmade gifts. What's the catch? Well, they mostly live in Florida, rendering them without need of woolly hats, mittens, scarves, or socks. This is a major problem for a knitter in a big family, where there is a lot of holiday knitting to do, so bigger projects like shawls may be time-prohibitive. Luckily, there are other options- you just have to think a little bit outside the box. With my seven nieces and nephews living in parts south, I've gathered lots of ideas for how to solve this problem.
- Dress-up items. Can you knit a silly hat that will get pulled out of the dress-up bin? This is a great option for a quick gift that will be loved by the recipient! The child in your life probably loves dress up, and this way they could be a monster or a panda bear or a pig or a dinosaur. The options are endless, and if there happens to be a freak cold-snap, they'll already be prepared and can use the hat to keep warm, too.
- Stuffed Toys. Most children have lots of stuffed toys, but a hand-knit stuffed toy is a very special, personal gift. You could go with a traditional teddy bear, or make something a little crazy and wild like an alien from outer space! Do you want to make sure everyone knows the stuffed toy belongs to the child? Make a friendly letter to match the child's first initial!
- Puppets. Do you have Second Sock (or mitten, or sleeve) Syndrome? Puppets are a perfect gift idea because you can often find mitten patterns that could work very well as puppets, but you only have to make one instead of two. Do you have ten children to knit for, and it's already December? Try finger puppets, which are sure to delight, are very quick to knit, and can use up scrap yarn you already have lying around (so they're a great option for a tight budget, too).
- Cellphone/iPod Case. Do you have a teenager on your holiday knitting list? You can bet they have an MP3 player or a cellphone, and probably both. A little knit case for their electronic gadget of choice is a nice way to show your love through knitting by making something that will help protect it, and it's a quick project. When I made a Zune case for my brother-in-law a few years ago, it was the perfect excuse to learn a new cast-on technique!
These are just a few of the options for knitting for your warm-weathered young friends and relatives, and I hope it helps make your holiday knitting a more fun experience.
Mira Whiting - Mira Whiting is a knitter and mom living in the Boston area. She blogs about knitting at Mira's Knits and motherhood at Mamas and Milk.
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