One of the great joys of knitting is creating gifts for friends and family. Whether it's a warm winter hat or a soft sweater, a present made by hand is one that comes from the heart. Designers Andrea and Gayle Shackleton have created a collection of knitted items that are perfect for gift-giving. The book is called "Great Knitted Gifts", and their designs are stylish and fresh– wearable art that will appeal to young and old alike. Several of the projects are worked using the intarsia method, making blocks of color that aren't carried along the full length of the work. Each design is represented in a full-color graph that makes following the pattern fool-proof.  
   Great Knitted Gifts features projects for adults in bold geometrics, stripes, and florals. Experiment by changing the colors and sizes of circles and dots. Explore the many color combinations that can be created using the simple striping technique. Then try the variety of pretty flower motifs that are presented, from representational to abstract designs. These wide-ranging patterns look terrific on an assortment of bags, scarves, mittens, hats, socks, and sweaters.
   You will also find many adorable projects for children in Great Knitted Gifts. These designs include a miniature clothesline garland and festive Christmas stockings. The sweet bunny doll is a great way to use up your scrap yarn. It is also a fun project to knit with a child. Your gifts will be cherished because they are distinctive items that you made yourself.
 
   Our book, great knitted gifts, is available now through
Sterling Publishing. --