Simple Holiday Gifts to Knit
Items Knitted in the Stockinette Stitch Without Using a Pattern
Oct 20, 2008
Homemade knitting gifts are not only affordable to make but most recipients are touched that you took the time to make something personal for them.
Although there are scores of patterns from which to choose at craft stores, as well as free ones online, you can also make your own designs, all done in the stockinette stitch.
The beauty of knitting simple items in the stockinette stitch is that you don’t need a pattern. With just a tape measure, yarn and knitting needles and you can knit a well-appreciated gift that’s practical as well as lovely.
The Stockinette Stitch
As knitters know, the stockinette stitch is alternating rows of knit and purl, resulting in a smooth side (made up of knit stitches) and a rougher side (purl stitches). This is an excellent stitch for making household items for the kitchen as well as personal gifts such as purses and scarves.
Find Old Items for Measuring Your Projects
Potholders – Potholders are one of the easiest knitting projects. Take out one of your old potholders and measure it. Then knit your first row until it measures the width of your potholder. Purl the next row (as well as the rest of the even numbered rows.) Continue alternating between knit and purl rows until you have a square. Finish off with single crochets around the edges.
Placemats – Use the same technique for knitting placements, using an old placement for measuring width and length. The only difference is you’ll be knitting rectangles rather than squares. Again, finish off by single crocheting around the edges.
Scarves – Scarves are items that look stunning done in the stockinette stitch. For knitting scarves, you probably want to use some specialty yarns (rather than standard 4-ply worsted yarn.) Besides being fluffy and pretty, the advantage of using special yarns, such as the furry ones, is that it’s much easier to hide mistakes.
Simple knitted purse or bag – You really don’t need an old purse or bag for measuring. Just knit the first row as wide as you want it to be. When finished knitting in the stockinette stitch, turn up the knitting about 2/3 and sew sides together (on the wrong side) with a strand of matching yarn and a plastic yarn needle. Then turn it to the outside. For a shoulder strap, chain enough chains to drape over a shoulder and then sew to the bag.
Decorating Stockinet Knitting with Crewel Embroidery
The beauty of the stockinette stitch is that it’s possible to embroider on it. Unlike counted thread work, crewel embroidery is freestyle stitching, using either yarn or 2-ply wool embroidery threads that are non-divisible. Although crewel embroidery was more popular thirty years ago, it’s still attractive on knitted clothing such as sweaters, especially when done with yarn as it gives better coverage and a soft appearance and warm feeling. A few of the crewel stitches worked on knitting include the stem stitch, satin stitch, straight stitch, French knot, bullion knot, and herringbone stitch. Use a light color, such as beige or white for the background knitting.
Cross-stitching on the Stockinet Stitch
Cross-stitching is also an eye-catching decorative touch to quilting. However, realize that the knit stitch produces more of a rectangle instead of the square used in cross stitch.
Most of all have fun and feel good that you’ve not only saved money knitting homemade gifts, but have also used your creativity in decorating with embroidery as well as knitted without a pattern.
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