7 Knitted Christmas Gift Ideas (Free Video Tutorials)
Looking for knitted Christmas gift ideas you can still finish before the holidays? Here are seven, from a super chunky Santa hat and a seed stitch cowl to striped hand warmers and a no-needle chunky blanket. Every project comes with a free video tutorial from its designer, so you can follow along stitch by stitch.
We picked a mix of hats, hand warmers, a cowl, a blanket and one small decoration, so there is something for beginners and for knitters who want a bigger project. Each section tells you what the project is, what you need and where to find the full tutorial on Urbaki Knitting.
1. Super Chunky Santa Hat by Flock & Fern
This Santa hat is knitted in the round from the brim up in super chunky yarn, with a moss stitch brim, a stockinette body and a pompom on top. The pattern covers sizes from premature baby to adult XXL, so the whole family can wear one on Christmas morning.
You need 9 mm (US 13) circular needles, 40 cm long, red and off-white super chunky yarn, a stitch marker and a pompom maker. The video runs about 24 minutes and has chapters for every step. Read the full guide here: Knit a Super Chunky Santa Hat.
Images and patterns courtesy of Flock & Fern
2. Seed Stitch Cowl by Sheep & Stitch
If the person you are knitting for is new to knitting in the round, or you are, this cowl is a gentle first step. It uses only knits and purls to build the bumpy seed stitch texture, and you finish with a bind off in pattern.
The pink sample is worked in super bulky yarn on a 10 mm, 16" circular needle and measures 22" around and 7.5" tall. Davina also shows a green version on a 9 mm needle, which is handy if you want to use a yarn from your stash. Watch the seed stitch cowl video tutorial on her channel, or read our seed stitch cowl knitting tutorial for the materials list and tips.
Images and patterns courtesy of Sheep & Stitch
3. Striped Flat Knit Hand Warmers by Crazy Hands Knitting & Crochet
These fingerless hand warmers are knitted flat and seamed, so you do not need double-pointed needles. The cuff is a stretchy slip-stitch ribbing with color changes, and the hand switches to stockinette with narrow two-row stripes.
The written pattern calls for two colors of worsted weight acrylic yarn, 3 mm needles for the ribbing and 3.5 mm needles for the main part. The finished warmers fit a wrist of 16 to 20 cm and are about 21 cm long, and the video lasts around 38 minutes. More details are in our post on flat knit hand warmers.
Images and patterns courtesy of Crazy Hands Knitting & Crochet
4. Snowfield Intarsia Hat and Gloves by Susan's Family
For a knitter who wants a bigger gift project, the Snowfield set pairs a hat and gloves with a Nordic style colorwork motif worked in intarsia. A matching set like this makes a special present for someone who loves winter accessories.
The hat tutorial covers the brim, the body and the pompom in about 49 minutes, and a separate video covers the gloves. In the hat video, Susan's Family uses its own Morandi 8# yarn, 6 mm needles, markers and a pompom maker. Find both videos in our Snowfield intarsia hat and gloves tutorial.
Images and patterns courtesy of Susan's Family 蘇蘇姐家
5. Canadian Ribbing Fingerless Gloves by JoannesWeb
These fingerless gloves are worked in Canadian ribbing, a textured rib with an open, lacy look. They are a lighter gift than the chunky projects on this list, good for someone who wants warm hands without bulk.
JoannesWeb uses fingering weight yarn and 3.5 mm (US 4) needles, and the tutorial comes in two parts, with the first one running about 15 minutes. You can see the stitch up close in our post on knitted ribbed mittens with Canadian ribbing.
Images and patterns courtesy of JoannesWeb
6. No-Needle Chunky Blanket by Cat Kemble
This blanket is knitted by hand with giant chunky yarn, no needles at all, on a large flat surface such as your dining table. It is the biggest project here, but also one of the fastest.
Cat's tutorial makes a small blanket of 100 x 120 cm (40 x 48 in) with around 3 kg of chunky yarn, and she suggests giving yourself about two hours if you are a beginner. It works as a throw for the sofa or as a cozy present for someone you love. Read our chunky blanket tutorial to see the steps.
Images and patterns courtesy of Cat Kemble
7. Mini Christmas Stocking Garland by The Blue Mouse Knits
These little stockings are knitted in the round in worsted weight yarn, with a short row heel, and hang from the garland on an i-cord loop. The garland is a sweet gift for a host, or for your own mantel.
Each stocking uses about 27 to 30 yards of yarn, and the sample garland has nine of them in solid colors and stripes. You need US 8 (5 mm) circular needles, 32" long, a yarn needle and removable markers. The video runs about 37 minutes and also explains how to knit the striped version. The free printable pattern is on the designer's pattern page linked below, and our Christmas stocking garland post has the video.
Images and patterns courtesy of The Blue Mouse Knits
Why These Projects Work
Most of these gifts use super chunky, super bulky or worsted weight yarn, so they grow quickly on the needles. The Santa hat, the cowl and the blanket are all realistic projects for a weekend, even if December is already busy.
They also cover different skill levels. The seed stitch cowl and the blanket are friendly for beginners, the hand warmers and the stocking garland add simple shaping and color changes, and the Snowfield set gives a confident knitter a colorwork challenge.
Every project has a free video from the designer. When you get stuck on a heel, a decrease or a color change, you can pause, rewind and watch the hands do it again, which is often easier than reading a line of a pattern.
Finally, they suit very different people on your list: a hat that comes in baby to adult sizes, warm hands for a friend who is always cold, a blanket for the sofa and a decoration that will come out every December.
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