Hello My Favorite Crafters!!!!

Now that Halloween is behind us it’s officially the start of the Holiday Season… and you know what that means!! So, get those lists going and find amazing hiding spots in your house!! It’s time for gifting and gift-making!!!

We all have that person in our life for whom we never know what to get, and that finicky friend or family member that hates everything we have ever given them…Hopefully we can help you find / make something for them early enough in the season to not have to pull your hair out at the last minute!

Then there's YOU! We want you to make a list for yourself and leave it conspicuously around the house so your loved ones happen upon it and know what to get you! I know the season is about giving, but you deserve to open a little pile of love too (even if you gift it to yourself)!

Finally, we hope to help you on your way if you wish to do some gift-crafting! We all know knitting and crochet make wonderful heirloom pieces, so if you have someone in your life that’s craft-worthy, here are some patterns to knock out that will wow your recipient and make them feel so much joy!

Get ready, Lovies!!

It's the VanRey (Kn)IT LIST, Gift Guide Edition!!

But First, Let’s Start the Countdown . . .

It’s officially November and holiday-themed mini-skein countdown calendars should be hitting your doorsteps any day now! If you were lucky enough to snag an Advent or one of the many imaginative calendars being offered by the incredible makers in our community, get those needles and hooks ready! If you couldn't snag one or didn't quite try because let’s face it, they're expensive… don't hesitate to make your own!

You probably spent the entire year crafting and are drowning in beautiful leftover nubbin balls from former projects, so get them wound and ready! Enlist a fiber friend and each make a calendar for the other, with scraps! It’s never not the right time to open little bags of yarn!

The patterns below are meant to inspire and are great for mini-skeins, leftovers and stash-diving! Make a wonderful gift for someone close to you while using what you've already got! It’s time to knit/crochet all the scrappy and stripey things!

1. Countdown Cardi by Skeinanigans  2. Just Feel Festive Shawl by Caleisha Ryan  3. Smitten, A Holiday Garland by Emily Ivey  4. Land of Sweets by Helen Stewart  5. Advent Socks 2019 by Natalie Sheldon  6. Thisbe Hat by Charlotte Lee  7. Fairbanks Advent Shawl by Toni Lipsey  8. Númenna Shawl by K.A.M.E. Crochet  9. Crochet Advent Baby Blanket by Lucienne Crochet

Gifting season can be a challenge for some of us. It’s fun to pull out all the holiday decorations, but it’s also extremely exhausting and can be very expensive. Unfortunately, no one really talks about that. So many personalities to cover, so many price-points to match, so much wrapping and wrapping and more wrapping… please allow us to try and make this year a little easier on you.

We hope the suggestions below either help you easily find a gift for someone on your list or inspire you towards coming up with a gift idea of your own! ❤️

(Tap the pics to access the links)

For your Favorite Person

to thank them for making your life merry and bright!

For your Ride-or-Die

to show you're by their side through thick and thin!

For the Craft-Worthy

to show you care because your gift was handmade!

For the Hard-to-Buy-for

to show you never surrender bc a great gift, they will get!

For your Crafty Friends

to show you understand their love of creating!

For the Little People

to show them how much joy they bring you!

For Yourself

as a form of self-care, of course!

BTS (behind the scenes) here at VRK!

Annnd, drumroll please…….

The 7 Wonders Shrug is officially in the hands of the Tech Editor!!!!!

Squeeeeee!!!!!

The release of this pattern has been a long time coming and I can’t believe we are in the home stretch! Once the shrug has been graded and the pattern is back in our hands, we will contact all who have reached out to test knit this design.

If you are interested in becoming a test knitter / crocheter for VRK, or would like to specifically test knit the 7 Wonders Shrug please send an email to Testvanreyknits@gmail.com.

I can not wait for this shrug to finally be out in the world and am even more excited to share with you all the new designs that are percolating behind the scenes!

** Thank you all so much for being here every week, it truly means the world.

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Have an incredible couple weeks full of warm exchanges,

relaxing crafting, and of course, love.

See you soon!

♥️ Vanessa