Quick Knitted Christmas Gifts and Cross Stitch Ideas to Finish in Time

The best quick knitted Christmas gifts are small, one-size pieces in a simple stitch – a garter stitch neck warmer on 7 mm needles is a good example. If you would rather stitch than knit, small cross stitch designs for cards, hearts and stars are just as quick to finish. Below are eight of my patterns for gifts you can make in time, each an instant-download PDF so you can start tonight.

Every year I promise myself I will start my Christmas gifts early, and every year I end up knitting and stitching in December. So I have learnt to choose projects that are small, forgiving and finished before I lose heart. These are the ones I come back to.

What makes a gift "quick"?

For me, a quick gift has three things in common:

• One size. No measuring, no grading, no worrying whether it will fit.
• A simple stitch. Garter stitch in knitting, or straightforward cross stitch and half cross stitch in needlework – nothing you have to count every row.
• A small finished piece. A neck warmer, a card or a heart is far easier to finish than a jumper or a blanket.

Thicker needles and coarser fabrics help too. On 7 mm needles or on hessian, every stitch covers more ground.

A knitted gift for a first-time knitter

NECK WARMER #163 is the pattern I suggest to anyone who has never knitted a gift before. You knit every row in garter stitch, so there is no stitch pattern to follow and nothing to count – you cast on and keep going until the piece reaches the right length.

It is knitted flat in one piece and joined with mattress stitch, leaving an 8 cm opening. That small opening is what makes it sit well: the neck warmer rests on the shoulders and gathers softly around the neck. On 7 mm needles it knits up quickly.

The original holds one strand of Faux Fur and one strand of Scandi Soft together, which gives a soft, fluffy surface with body underneath. You can choose your own yarns: any combination held together that knits to 13 sts × 17 rows over 10 cm in garter stitch on 7 mm needles will work. Knit a small swatch first, and you will know straight away whether your yarns match.

Level: Beginner · One size: 31 cm wide, 62 cm around · 7 mm needles · You will also need a yarn needle for the seam · €5

Small cross stitch gifts: cards, hearts and stars

If you stitch more than you knit, small designs are the quickest way to a handmade gift.

CHRISTMAS CARDS is a set of six designs, each around 35 × 35 stitches (approx. 6 × 6 cm). They are stitched in half cross stitch on hessian, or you can use 14ct aida. Mount one in a card, and the card becomes the gift. The pattern includes a colour chart, a DMC colour key and my tutorial for stitching on burlap · €5

GEO HEART is a heart that works for Christmas and long after. The pattern gives you two versions: cross stitch on 14ct aida in red, or needlepoint (half cross stitch) on hessian with wool in soft corals. It works as wall art or as a cushion.
162 × 146 stitches · finished size 29 × 26 cm / 58 × 52 cm · includes a black-and-white graph, DMC colour key, a hessian tutorial and a cushion cover tutorial · €5

For a star, look at SNOW STAR in the next section – it is stitched in white and silver and makes a delicate cushion.

New to hessian? It frays easily, so secure the edges before you start. My guide on how to stitch on burlap takes you through it step by step.

A cushion to give – and to keep

A cushion takes longer than a card, but it is the gift people keep on the sofa for years. I often make two: one to give away and one to keep.

If you knit, start with NORDIC CUSHION – cosy knitted Christmas cushions in traditional Scandinavian red and white. It is easy to knit, and with a large needle size it grows fast. The pattern includes simple instructions, a colour key and yarn details.
Level: Beginner · Finished cushion: 55 × 55 cm · €5

For stitchers, these are my favourite Christmas cushions to give.

WREATH is a mistletoe wreath that brings a little Swedish Christmas into the home. Stitch it on 14ct aida or 28ct linen. The pattern includes a black-and-white graph, a DMC colour key and a tutorial for an easy cushion cover.
Finished cushion: 40 × 40 cm · €5

SNOW STAR is stitched on 28ct linen in white and silver – calm and Scandinavian, and a classic that stays on display long after Christmas. It comes with a colour graph, a DMC colour key, a cross stitch guide and a slip cushion cover tutorial.
115 × 135 stitches · finished cushion 40 × 40 cm · €5

CHRISTMAS CHARM and WINTER FOREST both carry a Nordic Christmas feel and work as wall art or a cushion cover. Stitch them on 14ct aida or hessian. Both include a black-and-white graph, a DMC colour key, a hessian tutorial and a cushion cover tutorial.
CHRISTMAS CHARM: 30 × 35 cm · €6.50
WINTER FOREST: 28 × 35 cm · €6.50

Looking for more? I have gathered thirteen Scandinavian Christmas cushions to cross stitch in a separate post, and all my Christmas designs are in the Christmas cross stitch patterns collection.

Where to start: my three picks

1. For a first knitted gift: NECK WARMER #163 – garter stitch, one size, 7 mm needles.
2. For the smallest stitched gift: CHRISTMAS CARDS – six designs of about 6 × 6 cm.
3. For a gift that lasts beyond Christmas: GEO HEART – two versions, as wall art or a cushion.

Shop the yarn: you will find my yarns in the yarn collection. Check the tension on the pattern page before you choose.

FAQ

What is the quickest Christmas gift to knit for a beginner?

Choose a one-size piece in garter stitch on thick needles. My Neck Warmer #163 is knitted flat on 7 mm needles, every row knitted, and joined with a single seam.

Can I stitch these designs on hessian instead of aida?

Some of them, yes. CHRISTMAS CARDS, GEO HEART, CHRISTMAS CHARM and WINTER FOREST can all be stitched on hessian or 14ct aida. WREATH is for 14ct aida or 28ct linen, and SNOW STAR for 28ct linen.

What do I get when I buy a pattern?

An instant-download PDF. The cross stitch patterns include a chart and a DMC colour key, and many include a tutorial for stitching on hessian or making a cushion cover. Each product page lists exactly what is included.

I hope one of these becomes a gift someone keeps for years – and if you make one, I would love to see it. Tag me on Instagram at @anetteerikssondesign.

Happy Knitting!
Anette