Well, if you have a knitter or two on your list you can breathe easier, because it's no problem to find the perfect presents for your stitching friends and family.
The No. 1 most-appreciated gift is more yarn! You can visit any one of the local yarn stores for gift certificates within your budget. Your knitter can enjoy whatever they want and you'll be their favorite Santa.
Another worthwhile gift is a one-year membership to a local guild. Membership to one of our local guilds runs about $25 to $35. There are guilds for knitting, crochet, spinning, weaving, sewing, quilting, beading and embroidery. A guild membership is truly the gift that keeps on giving.
Books are always big hits. While you can find the newest pattern books and knitting literature at your favorite local yarn- and bookstores, you may not have realized that there is another type of book for knitters that will make them smile. Audio books are a welcome addition to any stitcher's knitting bag and I have often mentioned how much I like to knit and listen while I work.
Knitting Out Loud, a fairly new company located in Stockton Springs, Maine, is dedicated to putting knitting best-sellers on CDs. Publisher Kathy Goldner launched the audio book company in September 2007 as her answer to the oft-lamented dilemma knitters have when they must decide whether to knit or to read about knitting.
Goldner's love of knitting came from her grandmother, a German psychoanalyst who knitted while listening to her patients. Goldner is also founder and director of a literature and arts education program for elementary students in Maine.
Since I just recently talked about "No Idle Hands, the Social History of American Knitting" by Anne L. Macdonald, I have gotten many e-mails asking about this book. Well, you are in luck; Macdonald's "No Idle Hands," narrated by Kimberly Dakin, is available on four CDs (Knitting Out Loud, distributed by Interweave Press, $29.95). Your knitter, and anyone interested in American history, will certainly find the only history of American knitting a rich narrative of fascinating "reading."
Knitter and New York Times best-seller Debbie Stoller offers her funny and humorous stories for this audio series in "Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook" (Knitting Out Loud, distributed by Interweave Press, $19.95). Stoller tells us about her Dutch grandmother while offering insight into how Stoller is credited with jump-starting the current knitting craze. Stoller wrote "Stitch 'n Bitch Nation," "Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker" and "Son of Stitch 'n Bitch: 45 Projects to Knit and Crochet for Men."
"America Knits" by Melanie Falick (Knitting Out Loud, distributed by Interweave Press, $29.95) will lead the knitter down an American road populated by talented knitters and those whose livelihood supports the industry.
The stories offer us a look at just how large the world of knitting really is.
Former editor in chief of Interweave Knits magazine, Falick wrote "Handknit Holidays," "Weekend Knitting," "Knit: A Personal Handbook" and "Kids Knitting" in addition to co-authoring "Knitting for Baby."
Knitting Out Loud has many other wonderful selections and you can visit www.knittingoutloud.com for more information or www.interweavebooks.com to order. Santa can be sure these audio books will bring smiles and many hours of joy to anyone who knits or crochets.
Catherine Hollingsworth, interior designer, artist and professional knitwear designer, has lived in Alaska for 18 years. She is interim president of the Alaska State Yarn Council and past president of Knitters of the North. To reach her, e-mail twosticks@adnmail.com.
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