handmade christmas gifts

Cosy
does it.

Shop-bought is lovely. Handmade gets kept. Here’s something to make for everyone on your list, from a bauble you can finish tonight to a blanket that needs a head start, with the yarn already worked out.

until she opens it

Mum’s the word

Something she’ll wear every day from now till March. Pick a colour she already wears, not the one you wish she would.

Jingle Bells Christmas scarfA long red and green scarf that takes real jingle bells, for the mum who starts Christmas in November.Crochet · 229–274m in all, or 2 balls of Paintbox Simply Aran (our UK swap) · A weekend · Confident beginnerFree pattern by Ira Rott · Yarn list and pattern →
Crochet scarfOr a plainer one in her favourite colour. Less jingle, more everyday.Adult size, about 18 × 160cm, in DK · 2–3 balls of Stylecraft Special DKAny pattern you like; we’ve done the yarn · Balls and shades →
Christmas jumper, three motifsOr go all in: a proper Christmas jumper in chunky yarn, sized to fit busts from 81 to 107cm.Knitting · 5–7 balls of Paintbox Simply Chunky (main colour; motif colours extra) · Start now · IntermediateFree pattern by Paintbox Yarns · Yarn list and pattern →

she will check your stitches

Granny squares for your granny

If Nan taught you, she’ll turn it over and look at the back. Weave your ends in properly and she’ll say nothing, which is the highest praise there is.

he’ll wear it till it’s grey

For Dad, who ‘doesn’t want anything’

He’ll tell you he’s got a hat. Then he’ll wear this one every day until March. Go dark, go plain, nothing too clever.

the one who nicks the blanket

For your other half

Make them a blanket of their own and get yours back. Everyone wins, mostly you.

totes amazing, obviously

For your best mate

Something they’ll use every day, so you get to see it out and about.

tiny makes, big photos

Baby’s first Christmas

Small enough to finish, and it’ll be in every photo this year. Choose a soft yarn that goes in the washing machine; new parents won’t hand-wash anything.

for the little ones

Elf-made toys

The toy someone made for them is the one they keep. Rudolph and Mel’s patterns use 9mm safety eyes: for under-3s, embroider the eyes in yarn instead, and sew every piece on firmly.

whoever’s doing Christmas dinner

For the host with the most

They’re cooking for twelve and someone will forget the gravy. Bring something for the table or the washing-up.

small, quick, only slightly obvious

Secret Santa, sorted

For the office, the teacher, the neighbour who takes your parcels in. Make three of the same and you’ve covered everyone.

yule thank yourself later

And one for you

You’ve spent December making things for everyone else. Have something ready to start when the house goes quiet after Boxing Day.

Before you wrap it

Tuck the ball band in with the gift: it’s the care label. If you’ve lost it, here’s what the symbols mean.
Running out of time? Check the last order dates for yarn, then pick something from the quick end of the list.
Never crocheted? The free beginner course gets you from a slip knot to a granny square, and a granny square is a coaster, which is a present.

Every pick links to its card on HazelLoop, where you’ll find the yarn list and, for the Christmas makes, the designer’s free pattern. The patterns belong to their designers; the drawings are ours. The time labels are our rough guide from the size of each make, not the designers’. More for Christmas: all our Christmas makes and gifts for crocheters and knitters.

Cosydoes it.