What to pair with dishclothes for a Christmas gift

[Krisis]

I have two families I need to cover for Christmas and we are out of money due to a shopping spree

Anyway, I have some dishcloths I can knit for these families, but what should I give with them so it's not such a lame present? lol. I'm not really super close with these guys but they are my aunts/uncles/cousins soooo... we usually just do a family gift for all of them, but I just don't know what to put with the knit stuff.

Aw crap I spelled dishcloth wrong in the stupid subject. ARGH that is gonna drive me nuts!!

[meco]

I don't think they are bad presents at all on their own. You could tie them with a ribbon or string and handmake (you or your kids) a tag that personalizes and formalizes them a bit at the same time.

I also love a kid-made card as part of the gift. It makes it feel more special.

If you want to add another item, you could bake cookies, bread or pastries and includes those. Or chocolate or some kind of treat. You could ask make the jarred cookie mixes and give those as well.

Or maybe check out Big Lots and the dollar stores and/or the clearance aisles at TJ Maxx and Marshall's, and look for tea, a coffee mug, coffee, kitchen utensils or something related. You can likely find a good deal here.

[sonuptosondown]

A "fancy" bag of coffee (i.e. not from the grocery store) is always fun for me and doesn't cost much--it's just a treat.

Also, I make fudge every year and people LOVE it. It's very easy, you just need a candy thermometer--the recipe is on the back of the marshmallow fluff jar in the grocery--it's called "Fantasy Fudge". Cut it into small squares and pack it in a small box or tin and it's always a hit.

I think dishcloths are a very nice gift alone, too.

Maybe felted coasters in a felted bowl? That's what I'm making my dd's preschool teacher.

[kennedy444]

I give my dishcloths as face cloths and pair a set of three with a nice bar of soap.

[caiesmommy]

I would do the homemade dishclothes with a holiday dish towel with the knitted top

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/kk...opper.html?r=1

You could prob get the dishtowels for a buck at the dollar store. For some reason I seem to think you only use half the actual towel(cut it across the middle). So you'd have two gifts for a buck.(I havent made these in while)

That would be a wicked gift set imo. Practical which is always my fave!

[Dreamy]

I've been getting tonnes of ideas via newsletters lately - I don't know how fast you knit, but here are some quick gifts:

Eye pillow
http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitt...tml?a=ke091209

Knit ornament
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/70...olidayBall&r=1

Cute bookmark
http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/vi...id=565&lang=en

You could also make scented stones and make little pouches for them, just cut with cookie cutters:
http://www.scentit.com/qna_faqs/crafts_1.html#02026964

Of course, baked cookies or truffles in a tin would, I'm sure, be quite welcome as well!

[SeekingJoy]

You could pair it with a spray bottle and a recipe card for an all-purpose natural cleaner (i.e. 1 part vinegar, 2 parts water, a squirt of castile soap and a few drops of essential oil for scent).

Have any fabric remnants? You could quickly stitch up an apron to go with the dish cloths.

I love the idea of giving them as washcloths with a natural or nice gift soap.

Also, on their own is fine.

[SeekingJoy]

Or what about scented epsom salts in a recycled glass jar? Here is some info on the ways epsom salts can be used. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/use...rful-ways.html

[DeerMother]

Originally Posted by SeekingJoy

Or what about scented epsom salts in a recycled glass jar? Here is some info on the ways epsom salts can be used. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/use...rful-ways.html

I did epsom salts a few years ago. . . big hit. Put some in a recycled jar, few drops of essential oils, shook like crazy, decoupaged the lid and glass, tied w/ ribbon or raffia. I put a tea light in the top too.

This year for the men I'm doing felted oven mitts and homemade bbq rubs. Tons of recipes online but it is really only on the cheap if you can get spices in bulk.

[tayndrewsmama]

Felted potholders?

[MyrDawn]

How about knitted scrubbies? I think they make perfect partners with the dish cloths.

Here's a site with instructions for one that uses worsted weight yarn. I make these with Lily's Sugar and Cream or Peaches and Cream cotton yarn:
http://knitalittlestore.blogspot.com...scrubbles.html


And another that calls for worsted weight yarn:
http://barbsz-lifeisgood.blogspot.co...scrubbies.html

Another neat thing to make to go with them is a soap sack/holder or soap-on-a-rope holder. Here's a couple patterns for different ones:
http://knitmesomething.blogspot.com/...t-boredom.html

http://web.mac.com/bethmcelliott/iWe...oaponRope.html

The last one for soap-on-a-rope would be great with knitted washcloths, which are basically dishcloths but usually larger.

[MyrDawn]

Originally Posted by caiesmommy

That would be a wicked gift set imo. Practical which is always my fave!

I love those towels. When our little girl dried her hands on a regular towel, it would end up on the floor sometimes. Those knit top towels, or crochet top ones, solved that problem. I had received some for a gift a few years ago and when they wore out, I made more. I made holiday ones and everyday ones.