Here are some knitted gifts I’ve made throughout March and April. Knitting gifts for people brings me so much joy and knitting for babies and children is something that I just absolutely love. There’s so much love in every stitch, which is what is so magical about handknits, they make you feel incredibly loved every time you wear them. I get so inspired seeing others’ projects, I thought you might enjoy seeing what I’ve been up to and who knows- maybe you’ll find a new favorite pattern for your next gift. 

These adorable pink baby shoes were knit for my cousin’s baby girl due this summer. She had a shower by mail and I was so excited to send these to her. That was my second time knitting the pattern: Keelan- Chunky Strap Baby Shoes. When I shared about knitting the pattern the first time, some of you said you purchased the pattern and have enjoyed knitting these baby shoes as much as I have. They are easy to knit and quick to make (not to mention so adorable!) and have definitely become my go-to knit for all the baby girls I’ve wanted to knit for lately. The first pair I made were in purple, the second pair shown above were in light pink, in the same yarn. I had planned on finishing them up with smaller buttons, but then I saw these buttons Jeff made in buckthorn wood and I felt they were the perfect match with that pink. I love the way the colors go together!

{My Ravelry notes can be found here.} 

I knitted these mitts for my nephew’s third birthday. I wanted to knit something for him, but since I had knit him a hat for his second birthday (and thought it might still fit, not sure), decided some cozy mitts might come in handy. (Springtime in the Pacific Northwest may not seem like a time for mitts, but what about an especially windy beach day? There’s always an opportunity to bring the handknits out, isn’t there?) This was my third time knitting the pattern, Marshmallow by Tin Can Knits. I like the garter stitch in the pattern and they make for especially cozy mitts that way, but I needed to get the project finished in time to mail out for his birthday, so just knitted around, rather than do the garter stitch because it was quicker. The yarn is from Timberwolf Farm. It’s handspun by our friend, with wool from their sheep, along with some merino wool and silk threads. The buttons Jeff made in reclaimed western red cedar. (You can find similar ones in the shop here.) I was absolutely delighted when I held them up to the blue yarn and saw how much I loved them together. Seriously, I think the red cedar wood and this blue yarn are a gorgeous match!

{My Ravelry notes can be found here.} 

Yep, I knit another pair of those baby shoes! This time for my dear friend’s baby girl. Our friends are beekeepers and I couldn’t help but knit their first girl the “Beekeeper’s Daughter Hat,” as I called it. I felt the newest addition to their family needed a honeybee knit too, so I made her these shoes. The yarn is also from our friends at Timberwolf Farm and is naturally dyed with marigolds. I love that bright yellow color! Jeff made the honeybee buttons in Oregon juniper wood and I adore the woodburning he did around the edges. I wanted to snap a few pictures of these wee shoes when I finished them and the daisies in the grass were calling out, as if inviting the bee booties to come and rest for a bit. I can’t help but smile when I look at these!

{Ravelry notes here.}

Can I just say how excited I was when I finished this sweater? I made it for Jeff’s grandson. I picked out the yarn at the Black Sheep Gathering last summer, planning to finish the sweater in time for his birth in October. However, I got quite stuck in the pattern and then planned to finish it for Christmas. I kept getting stuck in the pattern and it kept getting set aside. But then when I picked it back up, determined to finish it, I realized the size I knit wouldn’t fit him anymore so ripped it all out to start again (though I had made mistakes in the beginning, so needed to start over anyway.) I was determined to figure it out and finally found the missing piece I was looking for (picking up stitches correctly, mentioned in my Ravelry notes) and then was knitting up a storm. I can’t tell you how good it felt to get un-stuck in that pattern at last! (That wonderful feeling when it finally clicks.) I think the pattern is so cute, by the way. Small Things, by Carina Spencer. (Don’t let me getting stuck discourage you.)

I was finishing up the sweater and was going to stick in the mail, but the fun part was that the timing worked out perfectly and I was able to give the sweater in person. Jeff made the buttons in black walnut wood. I had the buttons picked out before I even finished the sweater, holding them up to the yarn and loving how they paired together. (I know I’ve said that quite a bit today, but I love matching wood buttons and yarn, what can I say?) I thought the lighter hue of the black walnut was so pretty, more subtle than the deep colored black walnut we often work with. The sweater turned out a little big, which I’m very pleased about because it’s better to have it too big than too small! There will be some growing room and it can be enjoyed longer.

{Ravelry notes here.}

And my final project to share with you today: a striped hat for a sweet little girl’s second birthday. I’ve been really into knitting striped hats lately. I also love to knit elf hats. This one I made to have more of a pixie-style shape, rather than a taller elf hat. (I adjusted the Magic Coffee Baby Hat pattern, like I did previously.) I chose two handspun yarns, one wool from Hungry Hill Farm and one a very light colored alpaca. I did six rows in the wool and two in the alpaca because I wanted to showcase the color of the purple yarn and have the striping of the lighter color be more of a subtle accent. The really fun part about this hat is the button. The sweet little girl’s name happens to be Juniper, so Jeff made a special button for her hat in Oregon juniper wood with a juniper tree on it. That’s the wonderful thing about handmade gifts, you can make them specially for that special someone in mind.

{Ravelry notes here.}

…..

What are your favorite go-to patterns when you want to knit up a gift?