GIFT GUIDE
Holiday knitting gift guide: quick patterns for last-minute gifts
Handmade gifts are the best kind, until it’s December 20th and you have three still on the needles. These are the patterns that are quick to knit, forgiving to make, and lovely to unwrap, from a scarf a beginner can finish in a few evenings to stocking stuffers made from the scraps already in your stash.
Quick gifts at a glance
| Gift | Yarn | How much | Rough time | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrunchie | Leftover scraps | A small amount | One evening | Beginner |
| Sophie Scarf | DK | About 101–140 yd (92–128 m) | A few evenings | Advanced beginner |
| Ornament (mini hat or sweater) | Any scraps | A few yards | An hour or two | Beginner |
| Dishcloth | Worsted cotton | Less than one ball | One or two evenings | Beginner |
| Ear warmer or headband | Worsted or bulky | Less than one skein | An evening or two | Beginner |
| Beanie | Worsted | About one skein | A weekend | Beginner |
| Cowl | DK to bulky | One to two skeins | A weekend or two | Beginner |
| Fingerless mitts | Aran | About 100–200 yd | A week of evenings | Confident beginner |
Times are a rough guide for an average knitter. Each idea below links to a pattern on Ravelry or a video tutorial. Your gauge, yarn and how much time you get on the couch will change them.
The Sophie Scarf: the best last-minute gift for beginners
If you only knit one gift this year, make it the Sophie Scarf by PetiteKnit. It’s a small, chic neck scarf, knit from tip to tip and tied at the front. It looks effortlessly put-together with a coat or a sweater, it’s cozy without the bulk of a full-length scarf, and it suits almost everyone.
- Why it’s quick: it’s small. The pattern calls for about 101–140 yards (92–128 m) of DK yarn, so one skein is usually plenty.
- Why it’s beginner-friendly: it’s knit back and forth in garter stitch, so almost every stitch is a knit stitch. It’s worked from tip to tip with simple increases and decreases and a tidy i-cord edge, which makes it a gentle first step past plain rectangles.
- What you’ll need: DK yarn, a 3.5 mm (US 4) circular needle, and the pattern, which is a paid download from PetiteKnit or Ravelry.
Paid, about $5Sophie Scarfby PetiteKnit · DK · 101–140 ydView on Ravelry
Crunched on time? Knit the smaller size. It uses less yarn, you’ll finish sooner, and it’s just as cute.
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Scrap-yarn scrunchies: the perfect stocking stuffer
Every knitter has a bag of leftover yarn. A knitted scrunchie turns those scraps into a gift in a single evening, and they look great in a set of three.
- How to make one: Annie’s free, full-length video, How to Knit a Scrunchie, walks you through it step by step, so it’s easy to follow along even if you’ve never made one.
- What you’ll need: leftover yarn, a plain hair elastic and a tapestry needle.
- Gift idea: make three in coordinating colors and tie them to a gift tag, or tuck one into a card.
Free video tutorialHow to Knit a Scrunchieby Annie’s Creative Studio · YouTubeWatch on YouTube
Not sure how much is left on a half-used ball? Weigh it, then work out the yardage from the label. Our guide to organizing your yarn stash shows how.
More quick gift ideas
A beginner beanie
A plain hat in worsted yarn is a weekend project and fits almost anyone. Tin Can Knits’ free Barley hat is written for first-time hat knitters, with a step-by-step tutorial on knitting in the round and decreasing for the crown. It comes in sizes from newborn to adult. Knit an extra inch before the crown for a slouchier fit.
FreeBarleyby Tin Can Knits · Worsted · 60–170 ydView on Ravelry
Mini hat and sweater ornaments
Tiny hats and sweaters use just a few yards of scrap yarn and take an hour or two. Tie them to presents as gift toppers, or give a set for the tree.
FreeTiny Sweater Ornamentby Everwhelming Liz · Fingering · leftoversView on Ravelry
Cotton dishcloths
A dishcloth in worsted-weight cotton is the classic quick gift, and a great way to try a new stitch pattern. Bundle two with a bar of nice soap. Grandmother’s Favorite, the traditional corner-to-corner dishcloth, is a free classic.
FreeGrandmother’s Favoritea traditional pattern · Worsted cottonView on Ravelry
Ear warmers and headbands
A wide band of ribbing or cables in bulky yarn knits up in an evening or two, and is a good alternative to a hat for people who don’t like hat hair.
FreeTwisted Ear Warmerby Amy Hurd · Worsted · 50–55 ydView on Ravelry
Cowls
A cowl is cozier than a scarf and quicker to knit, and bulky yarn on big needles grows fastest. For something prettier, the free Honey Cowl uses a simple slip-stitch pattern and comes in a short or long version.
FreeHoney Cowlby Antonia Shankland · DK · 225–450 ydView on Ravelry
Fingerless mitts
Mitts without fingers skip the fiddly parts of gloves but are just as useful. Allow a week of evenings for a pair, and knit both at once if you can, so they match. Fetching is a long-time favorite with a small cable at the wrist.
Free version availableFetchingby Cheryl Niamath · Aran · 100–200 ydView on Ravelry
How to finish your gift knitting on time
- Make a list, and be realistic. Count the evenings you actually have, then pick gifts to fit. A beautiful scrunchie on time beats a sweater in March.
- Start with the biggest gift. Leave the quick ones, like scrunchies and ornaments, for the last week.
- Shop your stash first. Check what you already have before buying. Leftovers are perfect for small gifts.
- Keep each gift as its own project. Note the pattern, yarn, needle size and your row count, so you can pick up where you left off in a spare ten minutes.
- Leave time to block. Washing and drying a finished piece can take a day or two, so plan for it.
- Add care instructions. A small tag saying “hand wash, lay flat to dry” keeps a wool gift looking good for years.
Frequently asked questions
What is the quickest thing to knit as a gift?
Scrunchies and mini ornaments take an evening or less. For something more substantial, a Sophie Scarf, an ear warmer or a beanie can be done in a few evenings or a weekend.
Is the Sophie Scarf good for beginners?
Yes, for a confident beginner. It’s mostly garter stitch, which is all knit stitches, with a few increases, decreases and an i-cord edge to learn along the way.
How much yarn do I need for a knitted scrunchie?
Very little, usually leftovers from another project. Check your pattern, and see the yarn weight chart if you’re not sure which scraps will work.