Kandis - Gifted: Lovely Little Things to Knit and Crochet

I am grateful to all who contributedbig and small to making Gifted a reality.

Our fiber-filled lives would be lacking without lovely yarns in luscious colors and thrilling textures. It was a pleasure to work with some of the best yarns from the best manufacturers. Without their collective passion for knitting and crocheting, very few of us would be inspired to create with needles and hooks.

It is only with the support, guidance, and generosity of Ann Budd, Tricia Waddell, and all involved at Interweave that my ideas have appeared on these pages as beautifully as they have.

Ultimately, I wish to thank all the people in my life who inspire me everyday to make and to sharefamily, co-workers, friends, neighbors, friends of friends, and even neighbors of neighbors! They are all my gift, and for them I am most thankful.

AND ONE OF MY GREATEST JOYS as a knitter and crocheter is to make special stuff for friends and family. I admit to a few late nights and more than one last-minute frenzied button-attaching session over the years. But ultimately, the expression of delight on the face of the gifted always makes it worth the effort.

While assembling the gifts in this book, I explored fun, quick, satisfying knitted and crocheted projects as well as simple recycled sewing ideas. The sewn projects are all crafted in whole or in part with scraps of felted knitting, be it repurposed machine-made sweaters that fell victim to moths (see the felted and stitched Arm Cozies on page 27) or a felting project that did not come out as envisioned (see the Cut-and-Sew Egg Cozies on page 105). In addition, Ive included a few of my favorite treats from the kitchen. Who wouldnt enjoy a spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate mix (page 81) or a jar of refreshingly zippy and versatile Ginger Syrup (page 37)?

The projects in this book are organized in two groups. Gifts for the Body include wearable projects that are as easy as they are appealing. The Precious Baby Jacket (page 42), for example, is a simple first-knit for a baby embellished with cheerful appliqu and stitching. The Gilded Mesh Scarf (page 52) works up in a flash and is better than jewelry for a scarf junkie. The Granny Bag (page 30) is my interpretation of an old favorite with a hidden word of encouragement. The projects in Gifts for the Soul include a wide range of nonwearables, from Felted Heart Milagros (page 82), which are lovely on their own, in groups, or strung in a hanging, to a one-of-a-kind Scissor Sleeve and Heart Pincushion (page 110) to a bouquet of Colorful Crochet Flowers (page 90).

Dont be intimidated if a project calls for a technique thats unfamiliareverything is clearly explained in the instructions and illustrated in the Glossary. And because they are small, the projects are ideal for learning and practicing new techniques. you can learn to felt with the Felted Trivet and Coasters (page 114), gain confidence with crochet with the Crochet flower Brooch (page 47), practice intarsia colorwork with the Heart-in-Hand Mitts (page 68), explore and expand your sense of color with a Bevy of Bangles (page 62), master short-rows with the Ruby Foo Baby Cap (page 28), and perfect your embroidery with Felted Yule Bling (page 106).

I hope the projects on these pages inspire you to grab hook, needles, or spoon and share the joy of giving... even if youre giving to yourself!

mags

They warm hands, wrap necks, top heads, and toast up toes. Always a combination of function and form with a big sprinkle of personal style. Make someone warmer, add colored roses to their hair, or hug them with a scarf.

FINISHED SIZE

About 19" (50 cm) circumference, slightly stretched. Will comfortably fit up to 22" (56 cm) circumference.

YARN

Chunky weight (#5 Bulky).

Shown here: Plymouth Yarn Baby Alpaca Grande (100% baby alpaca; 110 yd [100 m]/100 g): #403 gray heather, 1 skein.

NEEDLES

Size U.S. 10 (6.5 mm): 4 or 5 double-pointed (dpn). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

NOTIONS

Marker (m); tapestry needle.

GAUGE

13 stitches and 17 rounds = 4" (10 cm) in k3, p5 ribbing, slightly stretched.