10 Easy Knitting Projects for Gifts
These knit gift ideas are universally loved.
Learning to knit is like gaining a superpower: somehow, now, you can create something cool, cute, useful (whatever you want!) with just some yarn and a set of needles. It can be tempting, therefore, to knit your friends and family gifts whenever a holiday or birthday rolls around. The only thing stopping you is what stops everyone when it comes to gift-giving, whether buying or making: what the heck do they want? You hardly want to spend the money on yarn and the time clacking away with your needles just for the recipient to chuck it in the trash after you leave.
I've taken the guesswork out of it for you and found some small knitted gifts that anyone is sure to love. Not only are these all gifts to knit in a weekend (or less!), but they're practical, so you won't be cluttering your giftee's home with more knicknacks they'll never touch. As a note, if you have plenty of time and yarn, and you know your giftee very well, a handknit sweater, pair of socks, or scarf in their personal style is sure to go over well. These knitting gift ideas are best for people who don't have much time to spend but still want to show they care.
Sign up for our free email newsletter for more amazing patterns!
1. Bobble and Ribs Coffee Coat
Best For: People who drink coffee
Let's be real: everyone drinks coffee, and people who don't probably do enjoy tea or hot chocolate. Help them reduce their carbon footprint by gifting them a reusable coffee sleeve to use with their Starbucks, or just a more comfortable way to carry around their made-at-home coffee. Knit them a couple in their favorite colors to help it feel more personal.
Get the Pattern
2. Bookmark Trio
Best For: People who love reading
It's hard to decide on a book for people who love reading, because you have no idea what they've already read. If you do know because they've expressed interest in the past, then great! Get them the book... and you can also knit them a cute little bookmark to help them keep their page. They're sure to be touched that you thought about their individual interests, whether you include a book with that bookmark or not.
Get the Pattern
3. Heart Flower Pot Cozy
Best For: People who love flowers
Rather than give your mom or partner another bouquet of roses that will die in a week, why not gift her a live plant in a pot and add an adorable flower pot cozy to decorate it with? Paint and other similar decorations for terra cotta pots can be toxic to the plant, but this is 100% safe, and straight from the heart. Heads up: this is also an excellent gift for a plant lover who already has a ton of different potted plants to put this on.
Get the Pattern
4. Lattice Cable Pillow Pattern
Best For: The homebody
You'll also find that this is an amazing gift idea for housewarming. Just be sure that you know the direction that your giftee is trying to go with decorating their new home before you decide on a color. Regardless, everyone loves a cozy pillow to cuddle up with when binging the latest hit series on Netflix or to take a quick midday nap on when their eyelids are heavy and the sun is hitting the couch just right.
Get the Pattern
5. Pincushion Cactus
Best For: The sewist
Making for makers is easier than making for other people, and I will die on that hill. No matter what you make for them, they'll understand the time and energy dedicated to it and appreciate it so much more. If your friend or loved one enjoys sewing, there are so many adorable little knit pincushions that they'll be sure to get a kick out of. Plus, this gift has the added benefit of encouraging their creativity as well as your own.
Get the Pattern
6. DIY Plant Hanger Finger Knitting Project
Best For: The millennial
Hanging planters are huge right now, especially with younger people and bohemian or eclectic homes. Not only do they keep toxic plants out of the way of curious pets and children, but they give the house a truly magical look. Plus, you know what they say: plants are the new pets, and pets are the new kids. Help your millennial friend proudly display their pets with a hanging planter.
Get the Pattern
7. Scrubbi Knit Bobble Dishcloths
Best For: The home chef
A nice set of cotton dishcloths will benefit anyone who loves cooking from home. They can use them as a hotpad to set down their pots and pans, an easy way to grab a hot dish out of the oven, or an economical way to clean up dishes after they've been used. This is an especially great gift for someone who's trying to go zero-waste.
Get the Pattern
8. Fuzzy Faux Fur Knit Slippers
Best For: The one who's always cold
I'll admit, a pair of slippers is always a welcome gift in my household. Even in the summer, I get chilly (you can't blame me; the AC is blasting)! Since there's no obligation to wear them outside of the house, you can make them as ridiculous as you'd like. The main thing is that they're warm and they help keep the recipient happy and cozy. This is an especially great gift for under the tree at Christmas or for your hardworking mother on Mother's Day.
Get the Pattern
9. Fall Feast Wine Cozy
Best For: The wine enthusiast
This is also a great hostess gift. If you've been invited to someone's Thanksgiving dinner or Halloween party, dress up the wine you're bringing with an adorably festive little cozy. The recipient will be tickled and, let's be honest, probably whip it out every time she has people over for wine moving forward.
Get the Pattern
10. Gift Card-igan DIY Gift Card Holders
Best For: Everyone!
Am I telling you to just give up and give your giftee a gift card? I'm not NOT telling you to do that. Let's be real: some people are just impossible to gift for, and they'd probably enjoy the process of picking out their own gift, anyway. Rather than waste time and money on something that will probably be thrown away, just give them a gift card to their favorite store and dress it up with a cute little cardigan for the gift card. They'll probably use it when gifting a card to someone else in the future, so you can rest assured your hard work will not go to waste.
Get the Pattern
Up Next:
Gifts for Knitters: 15 Unique Ideas
What do you wish someone would knit for you?
Read NextMini Holiday Stocking