The Nag

DIY Nag # 58: Knit your Christmas Presents Nag

Why buy them when you can knit them?

created by Wassermann 5 months ago

The general idea

Get some wool and some needles and you can make people presents. It's easy, gives you a wholesome activity for the Autumn and makes really great and ethical presents.

Why why why?

I only started knitting in adulthood and it does take a little time to pick up but the satisfaction of actually making something (and something useful at that) is awesome.

And people really like it when you put in some effort for them so it makes the people you care about happy too.

And you can make something unique.

And instead of slave labour and long supply chains, knitting your Christmas presents means that you can guarantee that the things you give were made in a socially responsible way (instead of paying yourself you can reward yourself with bits of chocolate etc.)

What do you want me for?

If everyone on the website pledged to knit one Christmas present this year that would be amazing.

How? How? How?

Knitting is not that hard but it helps to get some help at the beginning.

Wool and needles are available all over (as are patterns). A lot is on the web now.

www.knittinghelp.com has videos that are useful.

And this shop http://www.fabrications1.co.uk/ do some really cool things too (they also run knitting classes).

There are also groups where you can compare notes or be sociable in your knitting:

http://www.stitchandbitchlondon.co.uk/ - this is a London one but they are all over the place.

The V and A have patterns from the 1940s if you want to do some retro knitting:

http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion/features/knitting/1940s/index.html - I particularly like the balaclava with earholes.

Who? Where? What? How Many? Can You Prove It?

Here's an article to inspire you ...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/jul/26/3

4 people have done something similar. How was it for you?

Tags

activity | christmas | craft | create | hobby | knitting | present