Ideas for Christmas hand knitted gifts.

Well, I can't avoid it any longer, Christmas is definitely around the corner and, just in case, I was in any doubt, the first snow fell last week. Despite the retailers trying to squeeze our purses from September onwards, for me, the beginning of December is about the right time to start to get my act together. I know many of you have probably got all your cards written and presents wrapped - unfortunately, I am never going to be that person! However, for those of you who may be looking for a few Christmas ideas we have put together a couple of kits which could make ideal presents for knitters and we have a pompom garland kit as a stocking filler for those who like to get 'crafty' over Christmas.

If you are looking for a warm, chunky sweater then take a look at our Blocked Colour Knitwear. Knitted in Erika Knight's Maxi Wool the sweater comes in either a cropped or long version in a myriad of colour options and takes no time to make. A great one to knit whilst watching films at Christmas.

There's plenty of choice if you want to gift a hand knitted hat to friends and family or if you just want to make something quickly for yourself. Rowan's Big Wool ribbed hat and matching cowl are easy and fast to knit on chunky wool available in a wide variety of colours.

If you want to add an even more professional finish to any of the hats mentioned in this feed then why not treat yourself to one of the 100% Vegan faux fur pom poms from Rowan. These exquisite pom poms are superb quality and are very simple to attach by a ribbon so they can be swapped around various hats as required. In a range of 5 colours, there's a pom pom for every colour option.

The cable hat below is made from one ball of Cocoon wool and is a great choice to keep out the winter chill. Comprising of wool and mohair, Cocoon keeps its structure beautifully, really showing off the cable pattern and available to knit in a wide variety of colours. The kit includes a free book with patterns for 4 different hats in 4 different yarns.
 

Cowls are always a useful addition to a winter wardrobe. Personally, I can get bored knitting a long scarf so a cowl keeps my neck warm and can also be completed very quickly. The striped and bobble cowl is knitted in our own 4ply lambswool with the contrasting stripes and bobbles created with the luxurious Belangor Angora. This angora is imported from the States and comes from a French supplier who grooms the rabbits in the traditional way. This 'bunny friendly' angora is available in 10g balls and in a range of 31 fantastic colours. 
 

If you have a baby due in the family then you might want to knit a little cardigan and hat in Mrs Moon's Swaddle. We have used the gender-neutral Darjeeling (a lovely soft grey) as the base colour and then offered a variation in the main contrast to give different looks. This contrast colour has then be used again as the stripe in the lovely little hat.