Nicky Epstein is a big-hearted knitter, and her latest book, Knitting a Kiss in Every Stitch, helps other knitters with plenty of ideas for gift knits.

The book has 37 patterns for kids (from babies to teens), men, women, pets and the home. There are scarves, shawls, throws, hats, bags, socks and legwarmers, most of which are one-size projects so you don't have to worry about knitting something too big or too small for its recipient.

It also provides quick profiles of 26 different charities that accept knit items, so that you can use the patterns in the book, your own or the patterns provided by the charity itself to get in some good knitting time and help others all at once.

Debbie Macomber has teamed up with Daily Guideposts author Mary Lou Carney to write a children's book about knitting. The Truly Terribly Horrible Sweater . . . That Grandma Knit tells the story of a little boy who gets an ugly handmade sweater from his grandmother. He does all he can to try to destroy it, but the thing just won't die, so he ends up wearing it when she comes to visit and learning a lesson about the love that goes into even unsuccessful knitting projects.


Travel writer and adventurer Ben Fogle has been a lot of amazing places and done a lot of crazy things, but the UK's Telegraph newspaper challenged him to try something out of his comfort zone: knitting. He says he found knitting really tricky and requiring of a lot of attention at first, but he loves the idea of knitting wooly scarves in Antarctica and making little hats for his new baby, so he might keep up with it.


And you can tell it's the giving time of year, because there are tons of stories in the news about people using their knitting to help others, including:

• Knitters raffling a knit gingerbread house to help cancer patients

• A knitting group giving $50,000 to a hospital where knitters sell their wares; the money will help fund an emergency department at the White Plains Hospital Center
• An 87-year-old knitter still hard at work knitting caps for kids
• Kids in Wales knitting more than 1,000 snowmen to be sold to benefit a cancer hospital
• New Yorkers knitting for soldiers

Happy Thanksgiving, folks. Welcome to another edition of Make it Merry, where talented crafters share their holiday how-to's.

Snowman Ornament


Sherri Osborn will show you how to create a cute snowman face using a clear, glass ornament. It's a great project for the whole family.

Recycled Pine Cone Gnome


Get a glimpse of this pine cone gnome at the Recycled Crafts blog. It's a cute reason to collect a few pine cones around the yard.

CopprClay Pendants


Try your hand with pendant making this year with a little help from some winter foliage. The Beading Arts blog will show you how.

How to Make Paper


Handmade paper not only makes a great gift for the avid scrapbooker in your life, but you can also create tags and cards for every present on your list. Marion Boddy-Evans shows us how.

Little Town of Bethlehem Cross Stitch


Get down to the true meaning of Christmas with this simple cross stitch pattern from Connie G. Barwick.

Mitten Earrings


Tammy Powley shows us how to make these cute mitten earrings using lampwork beads.

Christmas Stocking


This cute two-color Christmas stocking is a breeze to knit, even if you've never knit a sock before. Worked with bulky yarn on big needles, it will be done and ready for you to embellish in no time.

Advent Garland


If you are looking for something a little different when it comes to counting down to the holidays this year then take a look at this pyramid box garland. Use the free template to make the boxes and decorate them with your favorite festive stamps.

Miniature Gift Boxes


Have a little gift to give? Check out these free printable miniature gift boxes for small gifts or advent calendars from Lesley Shepherd.

Manga Holiday Card


Instead of a traditional Christmas card, you could go with something a little more contemporary this year. Helen South has tips on how to create a manga style card.

Want to Join Make it Merry to show off your holiday crafts? We will showcase your crafts and recipes of all holiday traditions. Learn more.

If you have other knitting (or crochet) fans on your list, knitting or crocheting gifts for them is a great idea (because makers so rarely seem to get homemade gifts themselves). But you can also craft a gift that they can use in their crafting, and do so in a lot less time than it might take you to actually knit or crochet a worthy gift.

For example, check out my super-simple knitting needle case tutorial, which could also hold crochet hooks. I'm not a great sewer, but I still managed to make this in an afternoon and it's incredibly useful, holding lots of needles in a small space.

Or try these beaded stitch markers. One of them literally comes together in minutes, even if you're not really skilled at beadwork, and a set of a bunch can be made in an afternoon. They're sure to bring a smile to any crafter who uses them.