This week, the staff at WEBS is buzzing about gifts! We’re busy getting our gifts ready for the holidays; only a few weeks left!

( Left) I made the hedgehog wool pet as a gift for my girlfriend. The instructions were easy to follow and the pictures demonstrated every step. After I made the body, I used the finished picture as a guide for the nose, ears and coat pattern. I’d recommend wool pets for anyone looking for a fun and creative gift! > Kyle C.

(Right) I’m making several pairs of socks as gifts this year, and I’m in love with the Karbonz needles. They have the nice, sharp points I love from the Novas, but the carbon fiber has a little grip to it. The joins between the different materials are smooth, and I know I don’t have to worry about my yarn snagging. Definitely a plus when working with thinner yarns! > Jackie V.

I don’t do a ton of holiday knitting, but every year my Grandma Gen is at the top of my list to receive a handmade gift. This year I wanted to go with something beautiful but fast. The Kid Cozy Throw was exactly what I needed; a combination Berroco Boboli and Berroco Cirrus yarns knit on a large needle to make quick work. Plus, I think I like it so much that I’ll have to make one for myself! > Greta S.

When my girls were much younger I made them each Ganomy Hats and a pair of Mitered Mittens from Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Knitter’s Almanac using Noro Silk Garden. They have outgrown them now but my youngest daughter asked for a new set this year. I let her dig through my stash for yarn and she chose the new Noro Kirara, color #11. She’s thrilled with how it’s turning out and can’t wait to start wearing it. > Sara D.

Trying to figure out what to get the knitter or crocheter in your life? Not sure what to put on your list? Check out our video for a few great ideas.

Gifts for the Knitter:

Jade Sapphire Brigadoon, Valley Yarns Pattern #485 – Chrysanthemum Hat, Knitter’s Pride Dreamz 16″ Fixed Circular Needles OR Knitter’s Pride Dreamz 6″ Double Pointed Needles, Della-Q Project Bags

The holidays are fast approaching but there’s still plenty of time for shawls. Here are a few of our favorite projects that offer an extra bit of warmth and style with enough pattern interest to keep you happily knitting or crocheting to the end.

For a quick project with big impact you can’t go wrong with Valley Yarns 506 Crocus Lace Stole crocheted in our dazzling Valley Yarns 5/2 Bamboo.  With an easy to memorize one-row repeat, and a larger than expected hook size, this stole will fly off your hook.

The Valley Yarns 496 Greenway Shawl has a beautiful, modern and graphic style with cleverly worked increase panels.  The merino and tencel fiber content of the Valley Yarns Colrain Lace gives the final garment surprising warmth and an unexpected bit of sheen.

For a fairly simple knit with a flash of interest I really like the Valley Yarns 385 Iced Branch Shawl knit in Valley Yarns Longmeadow.  The simple yet elegant lace panel in the center back surrounded by stockinette stitch and eyelet increases means this project will be finished in plenty of time to cast on for more.

Finally, Valley Yarns 456 Sumac Berry Shawl shown in Valley Yarns 2/14 Alpaca Silk Hand Dyed, also available in solid colors. The center, mesh panel of this shawl crochets faster than you’d think and the bobble lace edge gives a fun and flirty swing to the whole piece.

What knit/crochet gifts are you starting this week?

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Guest: Kathy and Leslie Ann talk about a variety of Holiday gift giving ideas.

Quick and easy Knits
HATS
Valley Yarns Pattern 445: Little Whiskers Hat

                          Pictured here knit in Valley Yarns Buckland and Berroco Quasar

Quarters Cap by Kristin Nicholas would be great knit in Color by Kristin or Valley Yarns Buckland.

HANDS
Swans Island Blackberry Mitts would look wonderful knit in Madeline Tosh Vintage or Valley Yarns Northampton.

FEET
Fiber Trends Felted Clogs – Adult sizes, Children sizes knit up beautifully in Valley Yarns Northampton or Berkshire and don’t forget the suede slipper bottoms!

Pictured: Amy’s clogs with embelishment and suede slipper bottoms

FOR THE HOME

Valley Yarns Pattern Stars 509 Knit Stars knit in Valley Yarns Northampton Sport can be used to decorate your home in almost countless ways!

Quick and Easy Crochet
Valley Yarns Pattern #392 Math for Kathy crochets quickly and with beautiful drape when you use Valley Yarns Charlemont in Solids, Kettle Dyed or Hand Dyed colors.

Great Gift Items

NEEDLES
Knitters Pride Dreamz, Nova and Cubics Interchangeable Needle Sets

Knitters Pride Dreamz Crochet Hook and Tunisian Interchangeable Hook Sets

Addi Turbo, Bamboo, and Lace click sets

BAGS
Hadaki French Market Tote, Herdy Bags, Namaste Boardwalk Backpack,  Atenti Betty, as well as lots of great choices from Della-Q and Lantern Moon.

Blocking Boards and Ball Winder/Swift combos

Schacht Cricket Loom

Have someone on your list that you want to make a sweater for? We have a few suggestions in our Valley Yarns patterns that may be worth a look.

For the crocheters, we’re loving Valley Yarns B-7 Basic Crocheted Cardigan. It is shown her in Valley Yarns Stockbridge, but the beauty of this pattern is that the included directions can be used with a DK, worsted, or bulky weight yarn making this simple pattern a fantastic value.

Valley Yarns 500 Pacifica Cardigan is knit in one of our newer yarns, Valley Yarns Buckland. Worked from the bottom-up, this raglan cardigan really shows off the way that Buckland drapes. I love the pop of goldenrod on this cardigan and the buttons complement it well.

If you’re looking for a great pattern for the guy in your life, you may want to check out some of our other Valley Yarns Basics patterns (B-1 Basic Pullover is shown here). They can be knit in various gauges. Make sure you also check out our blog post: Valley  Yarns Patterns for Men for some additional ideas.

Do you have any sweater plans for the holidays?

This week we have a video edition of The Holiday Buzz at WEBS. Watch our video to find out what’s on our wish lists this year and for some of our favorite gift ideas.

• Stephanie recommends Vogue Knitting Knitopedia and Knitter’s Handbook.
• Theresa is knitting a top-down v-neck sweater with Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Bulky.
• Theo is considering 55 Christmas Balls to Knit by Arne & Carlos.
• Wool Pets Needle Felting Kits are Malea’s favorite holiday gift item.
• Grace would love to get a yarn swift.
• Kirsten recommends Barbara Walker’s A Treasury of Knitting Patterns and A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns.
• Deb would really like the Knitter’s Pride Symfonie Rose Crochet Hook Set for Christmas.
• Greta says that 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders, Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders, One-Skein Wonders, and Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders are great books to give a knitter and have lots of ideas for knitted gifts too.
• Karen suggests Valley Yarns Spotted Christmas Stocking Kits as a great project for the holidays.
• Ken is getting his grandmother a skein of Valley Yarns Franklin Hand Dyed because it’s dyed by one of our staff members.
• Ashley picks Anzula Squishy.
• Angela would be excited to work with Manos del Uruguay Maxima.
• Leslie Ann says the Schacht Cricket Loom is a great gift for kids or somebody interested in trying out weaving.
• Gail thinks a Leclerc Fringe Twister would be a great gift for a knitter or weaver.
• Kane says Knitter’s Pride Cubics Needles are all the rage in the knitting world right now.
• Jeff wants more hats knit out of Madeleintosh Tosh Vintage.
• Dena loves making monsters for her nieces and nephews from Rebecca Danger’s The Big Book of Knitted Monsters.