At WEBS, we’ve ramped up our knitting and crochet and are now in prime gift making mode. Here’s a peek at a few of the projects we’ve been busy with or buzzing about making this holiday season.

Great for Any Guy
There’s something extra special about giving someone a hand knit sweater. Sweaters take more time to make than a scarf, mittens or a hat, and they get worn pretty often. Making a sweater for a man can be a tricky task. It can be tough to figure out just what they would actually wear. I got around trying to figure out what he would like by just asking him! I gave my recipient three patterns to chose from, and then let him pick the color for the yarn.

I ended up with a pretty simple project, Knitting Pure and Simple Neckdown Pullover for Men in Valley Yarns Northampton in Dark Grey. It might not be the most exciting project to knit, but I like having a simple project on hand to knit at the movies and for some relaxation. It’ll be completely worth it when he unwraps it and I see it get plenty of wear. > Grace H.

Cashmere for Someone Special

I needed a special gift but one that was quick and easy. I found it in Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere yarn Rain Drops Beaded Socks (free pattern on Ravelry!). I chose color 505 Dark Current and matching beads. With the softness of cashmere, the strength of merino wool and nylon, and colors that blend beautifully these socks are beautiful, luxurious and durable. I planned on making only 1 pair, but I love the easy pattern and yarn so much I can’t wait to begin another pair! > Linda B.

A Whimsical Knitted Hat

The Gnomey Earflap Hat makes a great holiday project. Since it only takes 2 balls of Valley Yarns Cold Spring, it’s an affordable way to pamper yourself or a loved one this season. If you’ve never done stranded colorwork before, don’t fear! This hat features a large and easy motif that flies off your needles, and the earflaps are perfect for cold weather. Warm ears, warm heart–isn’t that how the saying goes? > Emma W.

Feminine Lace Shawlette

Shibui Draper is a sweet little shawlette that knits up quickly with just two skeins of the lovely Shibui Staccato. I really enjoyed knitting our store sample. > Greta S.

Simple and Fun to Knit

I love the twist and the silk slubs of The Fibre Copany Acadia and the slighter than dk-gauge this yarn has to offer. The color choices and combinations are intriguing. Knitting the Katahdin Hat was a treat: not only is it a free download pattern, but it offers an interesting technique for striping in the round, one that I had never used. The stripe sequences were seamless, and no “jog” in the stripe when you change colors.  The slight slouch to the design is so current and looks adorable. This hat was simple, but fun to make – you will want to make more than one, guaranteed! > N. P.

Wrapped in Love

Anzula Cloud is lofty and squishy in a lovely semi-solid variegation. The Aecor shawl is worked from the center top down with a knitted on border. The drop-in ladies were ooh-ing and aah-ing over this, so I know it’s not just me! > Cara S.

A Touch of Silk and Angora

Simple stranded knitting and fuzzy, luxurious Valley Yarns Sheffield make this Snow Day Hat and Mittens set a really special winter time treat. Since color work is so visually impressive, I think these would make a great gift for knitters and non-knitters alike. > Kirsten H.

Cute as Can Be

Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitters Almanac is always a go to pattern book for me when the holidays roll around. The Ganomy Hat and Mitered Mittens make such a great set and have been gifted to almost ever child in my family. Noro Silk Garden does magical things when worked up in those two patterns. > Sara D.

This week the staff is buzzing about…

1. I’m finally admitting I have a fingering-weight yarn obsession. Shibui Staccato is soft and elegant with a faint luster. I love the mix-and-match solid and multi colors, and immediately saw four or five different combos I would love to use. A few skeins have snuck into my stash already (151, 103, and 112) and I’m thinking stripes! > Emma W.

2. Herdy Sheep Banks – Who needs a Piggy Bank when you can have a Sheepy Bank? More adorableness from the Herdy folks. I think I actually let out an audible “squee” when I saw these the first time! > Kathy E.

3. I-91 Shop Hop 2011 – What a weekend! We all had such a great time Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We were so thrilled at the amount of participants that decided to hop along the I-91 corridor. The energy the staff had, and the energy the customers had was incredible. We had fiber enthusiasts from all over joining the party and sharing the fun experiences they had in all of the other shops they visited. We even had people do the hop all in one day!  They must have slept well that night! Customers Nancy and Cathy bravely let me snap their picture after all their fun shopping, and to top off their visit when they walked in the store, Melissa LaBarre who happens to work at WEBS noticed that Nancy was wearing one of her designs. Of course Nancy had to have Melissa sign her book New England Knits! We consider the first shop hop a huge success and are so thrilled you all had a great time! > Karen M.

4. This week we held a celebration for the graduates of our Expert Knitter Certification Program. Each garment exhibited was unique and so well crafted! It was wonderful to hear each graduate talk about their design journey. > Tina M.

5. I love my Della Q Lily Crochet Roll. The hooks kept falling out of my old case (different company) but the Della Q roll holds them in nice and securely and doesn’t take up a ton of space. It can hold way more hooks than I could hope to own. I often just keep it in my project bag in case I finish something and want to whip up a small crochet project. > Kirstin L.