If your family is anything like mine, you may spend a lot of time on Christmas Day sitting around watching people unwrap presents.
In our family, we like to stretch out the gift-giving as long as possible by playing the Santa game.*
This means that I spend much of my day hanging out on the couch, and you can bet that I’m prepared with a mindless knitting project or two to occupy my hands while leaving my brain free to pay attention to my family.
In case you find yourself in the same boat, here are 7 easy, free, and mindless knitting patterns to keep you happily busy on this special day.
- GAP-tastic Cowl by Jen Geigley – helpful video: Recognize a Knit and Purl Stitch
- Magical Garter-Stitch Scarf by Liat Gat – extra credit: Bind Offs for Garter Stitch
- Classic Washcloth by Clara Parkes – not free but so soft and cute I couldn’t leave it off the list (it’s in The Knitter’s Guide to Yarn, one of my favorite books)
- Mindless by Susanne Sobotta – helpful video: Recognize a Knit and Purl Stitch
- Noro Striped Scarf by Jared Flood – helpful post: Switch Colors and Make Stripes
- Fingerless Mitts by Ann Budd – helpful video: Pick Up and Knit
- Basic Magic Loop Hat by Liat Gat – helpful video: Basic Magic Loop
*How To Play The Santa Game:
All you need in order to play is a Santa hat.
Usually the youngest family member starts out as Santa. “Santa” has to select a gift from under the tree that is not from him or her and give it to its recipient.
Then everyone watches that person unwrap the gift and does the requisite oohing and aahing and photographing, after which the recipient then becomes Santa and selects the next gift. Don’t have a Santa hat? Why not knit one!
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This week at KnitFreedom is all about relaxing with the family while you knit, and tomorrow I’ll be sharing 7 Intermediate Mindless Patterns for You to Knit on Christmas Day.
In the mean time, think about your favorite mindless knitting patterns. What are your favorite projects to knit that are fun but require absolutely zero brain power? Leave a comment and let me know.
18 thoughts on “Relax While You Knit: 7 Free, Easy, & Mindless Knitting Patterns for Christmas Day”
Looking forward to correcting my mistakes……
OMG!!! these patterns are sooooo cool!! Tx, Liat
I can’t find a link to the fingerless mitts either. All I can find is the project page on Ravelry. Why am I not seeing the link to the pattern?
Hi Elizabeth :)
I’m not sure why the download link has gone for that particular pattern. I’m going to ask Liat about it but in the meantime, give this a try: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-fingerless-mitts
Thank you so much for sharing the patterns AND the Santa game – sounds like fun!!!
Merry Christmas!!!
No problems downloading any of the patterns, they are all on Ravelry. Very nice, Liat, thanks for the tips to keep the hands busy so I don’t get the dreaded hand-t0-mouth Christmas urges so strongly. Happy Christmas!
Happy Christmas to you too Mindy!
xox
Hi Liat,
I really would like to knit the fingerless mitts, item #6, but I cannot find the pattern. Will you please find a way to help us to easily locate the written instructions? Nothing I’ve tried takes me to the site with the pattern.
Thank you
Hi there :-)
It looks like the free download link has gone from that pattern. I’ll ask Liat if she has a copy locally but in the meantime, try this: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-fingerless-mitts
Hope that helps :-)
Could not get to mindless mitts pattern. Tried to go through all the hoops. Didn’t your people check if these pattern were even available? Guess not. Links to rav are as far as you can get, to find out out of print links????????
Hi there :-)
Liat picked out all these patterns herself. I’m not sure why the download links for two of them have gone and I’m going to speak to Liat to ask if she has copies locally but in the meantime, here’s a link to a different fingerless mitt pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-fingerless-mitts
Hope that helps :-)
What a great idea, and an unexpected gift for myself!
Thank you! Merry Christmas!
What a great idea, and an unexpected gift for myself!
Thank you! Merry Christmas!
mindless knitting patterns for Christmas – i could not get to any of the patterns i did try several ways. i’m particularly interested in the mindless mitts and the santa hat.
hope i have better luck with the intermediate patterns.
susan
Hi Susan :-)
It looks like the free download link has gone from the mindless mitt pattern. I’ll ask Liat if she has a copy locally but in the meantime, try this: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-fingerless-mitts
As for the Santa hat, I found this free alternative you might like to try: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/santa-hat-19
Hope that helps :-)
Merry Christmas! :-)
I am always looking for mindless knitting patterns for me and my mom. What a wonderful xmas present from wonderful people. Love your website, I have learned so much, positive and encouraging!!!!
I travel a lot and these would be good for when I am sitting around the airport. Thanks!
Great idea