These Are a Few of My Favorite Things – Gifts for Knitters (pt. 2)
Last Minute Gifts for Knitters (pt. 2)
A few days ago I started to write about my Gift List for Knitters. I realized I had a LOT of things I loved, so here’s part two!
Everything listed in this blog are items I own* and adore. Since I have quite a few things I adore, this will be part one, stay tuned for more later this week.
So, in no particular order, here are a few MORE of my favorite things:
Knitter’s Keep & Knitter’s Blocks by Coco Knits
This little marvel arrived at my house a few days ago. The inventor, Julie Weisenberger (the inventor of another one of my favorites of all time – The Knitter’s Blocks) was nice enough to send it to me. It’s an ingenious little magnetic wrist band and all the handy notions that always end up in the cushions of my couch. I gave it a test run and I loved it. The first thing I loved is that the wrist band itself (also magnetic) could wrap around, even my ridiculously tiny wrist. The magnet is really strong. I was using the small stitch markers and I dropped one. I couldn’t see it in my rug, so I just kind of waved my wrist towards the floor & up it flew in the magnet – super cool!
Anyone who’s taken my blocking class knows of my affection for my knitter’s blocks. I bought my set in 2007 and it’s holding up beautifully. It’s all I use to block and I love them!
Flatter & Soak by Soak
Speaking of blocking . . . since I generally travel everywhere with my knitting (and that included quite a bit of subway riding) I always like to wash my knits in a proper wool wash before I block them. I’ve been a user of Soak for many years, but in October I saw the Soak booth at Rhinebeck and I noticed a new product called Flatter. It was supposed to be for fabrics and for spraying before ironing. Hmmm, I thought, when we knit we make our own fabric, so I’m going to try this for spray bottle blocking my knits. It works great. It didn’t leave any residue or sticky feeling, but it helped relax the fibers nicely.
Lavishea Lotion Bar
There’s nothing worse than having rough skin catch on your knitting. I have several solutions at hand to get me through the winter. Two of my favorites are listed here. The first one is this little lotion bar. Since it’s a solid, I feel okay about having it in my knitting bag. No need to fear any tragic bottle or jar breakage. Plus, I love the it leaves my hands almost water proof!
Long Island Livestock Company
For sheer knitter’s love, nothing beats having skin care products coming right from the animals we love. Long Island Livestock company created a line of lotions, salves, soaps and (my favorite) lip balm that are full of sheepy goodness. I love my honey lip balm that smells like honey scented sheep. Which, before you ask, is a good thing.
Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book by Vogue Knitting
Someone once asked me for a knitting book recommendation. This is nearly impossible, as there are SOOO many books I love. Just this year alone has added some brilliant design books to my collection. However, I have a special place in my heart for the only knitting book that actually lives on my coffee table. That’s Vogue Knitting: the Ultimate Knitting Book. I realize this may be, at least in part, a sentimental and emotional choice. I remember when I first bought it. I was still working on Broadway at the time. The book had not been out for long, and it was just when I was beginning to think seriously about “wouldn’t it be great if somehow I could earn money knitting” . . . and the rest is history. No really, it’s not, but anyway, it’s a great book and a must have for anyone’s knitting library.
This has not even scratched the surface of the many amazing gifts out there for knitters, so go forth and shop for the knitters in your life – they deserve it!
