Grace Coolidge Knitting: 15 Cozy Gifts Inspired by the First Lady Who Crocheted a White House Bedspread
Grace Coolidge knitting is the kind of cozy history story that makes you want to grab a skein of yarn right now. Grace Coolidge was First Lady from 1923 to 1929, and she was rarely without a project in her hands. She kept up her sewing and knitting in the White House and even made some of her own dresses. Her one formal publication as First Lady was an article about knitting, and it brought in a $250 donation for a charity. She also crocheted a bed cover for the Lincoln Bedroom while the White House was being refurbished. That is a lovely reason to make your gifts by hand this Christmas. Below you will find fifteen warm, simple ideas, from a chunky throw to tiny baby booties. Pick one, pour a cup of tea and start your first row..
Grace Coolidge Knitting Started With a White House Bedspread
What if your Christmas gifts could end up as family treasures, like a bed cover made for the White House? Grace Coolidge crocheted one for the Lincoln Bedroom during the refurbishing, and it shows how far patient stitches can go. You do not need to start that big. A basket of small handmade gifts is a sweet first step, and it feels rich and abundant under the tree. You can read more about her life in this Grace Coolidge biography. Plenty of famous people still love yarn, as you can see in these stars who knit. Start with one square and see where it takes you..
You will need: worsted weight yarn in cream and red, a 5 mm crochet hook, 5 mm needles, a yarn needle, a wicker basket, pine sprigs.
How to make it: 1. Crochet a simple lace square about 6 inches wide. 2. Make three more and join them into a small panel. 3. Fill a basket with the panel and a few small gifts, then tuck in pine sprigs.
Chunky Cable Throw for the Armchair
A thick cream throw is the gift that makes any chair feel like a hug. Big needles and super bulky yarn grow fast, so a lap size throw is doable in a few weekends. One simple cable down the middle makes it look like it came from a pricey shop, and it is a fine way to honor Grace Coolidge knitting at home. If you want the no needle version, see these chunky throw ideas. Choose a soft, washable yarn so it can live on the sofa every day.
You will need: 6 to 8 skeins of super bulky cream yarn, 15 mm circular needles, a cable needle, a yarn needle.
How to make it: 1. Cast on 60 stitches and knit 6 rows for the border. 2. Work a 12 stitch cable in the center, crossing it every 8 rows. 3. Finish with 6 border rows, bind off loosely and weave in the ends.
Grace Coolidge Knitting Inspired Hand Warmers
Fingerless hand warmers are perfect for anyone who types, reads or sips tea in a chilly room. They are basically a small tube with a gap for the thumb, so they are a great first project for anyone new to Grace Coolidge knitting style gifts. A heather red wool looks warm and festive without being loud. For more cozy gift ideas made with needles, see these sweet handmade gifts. Make the cuff a little snug so they stay in place.
You will need: worsted wool in heather red, 4.5 mm needles, a yarn needle, a measuring tape.
How to make it: 1. Cast on 36 stitches and work a 2 by 2 rib for 2 inches. 2. Knit plain rows until the piece reaches the base of the thumb, then leave a 2 inch gap in the seam. 3. Rib 1 inch more, bind off and sew the side seam, skipping the thumb gap.
Lace Edged Crochet Pillowcases
Lace edged pillowcases bring a little of that White House bedroom charm to any guest room. Grace Coolidge knitting and crochet went hand in hand, so start with plain cotton cases and add a deep border of crochet lace along the open end. Thin cotton thread gives the most delicate look, but light yarn works too. Find more pretty pieces for the house in these crochet home decor ideas. Wash the cases before you start so they do not shrink later.
You will need: two plain white cotton pillowcases, cream cotton crochet thread, a 1.75 mm steel hook, a sewing needle.
How to make it: 1. Work a foundation row of single crochet through the hem with a sharp hook or a blanket stitch base. 2. Crochet 4 rows of a simple shell pattern. 3. Finish with a picot edge and press it flat.
Grace Coolidge Knitting Style Tea Cozy
A tea cozy is a charming, old fashioned gift that still gets used every day. Red and cream stripes look cheerful on a holiday tray, and a pom pom on top adds fun. It keeps the pot warm much longer, which any tea lover will notice, and it is a classic Grace Coolidge knitting project for a cozy kitchen. Pair it with ideas from these DIY gifts for Grandma for a perfect bundle. Measure the teapot before you cast on.
You will need: worsted yarn in red and cream, 5 mm needles, a pom pom maker, a yarn needle, a tape measure.
How to make it: 1. Knit two striped panels as wide as half the teapot, changing color every 4 rows. 2. Sew the sides, leaving openings for the spout and handle. 3. Gather the top, sew on a pom pom and slip it over the pot.
Red Garter Stitch Scarf
Garter stitch is just knit, knit, knit, row after row, so this scarf is ideal for new crafters who want to try Grace Coolidge knitting for the first time. Wide red and white stripes give it a candy cane look that feels like Christmas. Add a thick tassel fringe at each end for a finished touch. New to yarn crafts? Try these easy beginner projects too. A scarf about 60 inches long fits most adults.
You will need: worsted yarn in red and white, 6 mm needles, a yarn needle, a piece of cardboard for fringe.
How to make it: 1. Cast on 30 stitches and knit every row, switching colors every 10 rows. 2. Bind off at about 60 inches. 3. Cut 8 inch strands, fold them in half and knot them along both ends for fringe.
Crochet Snowflake Coaster Set
A set of four coasters makes an easy hostess gift for holiday parties. Snowflake shapes in white and red cotton look crisp and festive on any table. Cotton is best because it soaks up drips and survives the wash. See more small makes to give in these crochet Christmas gift ideas. Stack the set and tie it with twine and a blank tag.
You will need: cotton yarn in white and red, a 3.5 mm crochet hook, twine, a blank kraft tag.
How to make it: 1. Crochet a center ring and work 3 rounds out in a six point pattern. 2. Add a red picot round for the snowflake tips. 3. Block each coaster flat with steam and stack the set.
Gray Cowl With a Wooden Button
A cowl is a scarf that never slips off, which makes it a smart gift for busy people. One big wooden button on the side looks rustic and stylish. Soft gray suits nearly every coat, so it is a safe pick for men and women. For more gift ideas for the guys, check these Christmas gifts for men. Make the button loop just big enough so it stays closed.
You will need: bulky gray yarn, 8 mm needles, one large wooden button, a yarn needle, sewing thread.
How to make it: 1. Cast on 24 stitches and work in seed stitch for about 24 inches. 2. Make a small loop near one end with a short chain of yarn. 3. Sew the button to the other end and wrap to try the fit.
Grace Coolidge Knitting Christmas Stocking
A hand made stocking gets pulled out every December for decades. Red with a cream cable panel looks classic, and a plain cuff leaves space for a stitched name later. This is the kind of heirloom piece that suits the Grace Coolidge Knitting spirit of patient, useful work. Fill it with ideas from these DIY stocking stuffers. Sew a sturdy loop at the top for hanging.
You will need: worsted yarn in red and cream, 5 mm double pointed needles, a cable needle, a yarn needle.
How to make it: 1. Knit the cream cuff in rib, then switch to red with a cream cable up the front. 2. Turn a heel like a big sock and knit the foot. 3. Close the toe, add a hanging loop and stitch a name on the cuff.
1920s Color Ripple Afghan
The ripple afghan was a favorite of earlier generations, and soft vintage colors bring it right back. Dusty rose, sage, cream and pale gold feel like the era when the Coolidges lived in the White House. The zigzag pattern repeats, a little like Grace Coolidge knitting in a quiet White House parlor, so it is relaxing to work in front of the TV. Learn about the family tree tradition in this Calvin Coolidge Christmas story. Change colors every 2 rows for crisp stripes.
You will need: worsted yarn in dusty rose, sage, cream and pale gold, a 5.5 mm crochet hook, a yarn needle.
How to make it: 1. Chain a multiple of 14 plus 3 for the width you want. 2. Work rows of double crochet with 3 stitch increases at peaks and decreases at valleys. 3. Change color every 2 rows and finish with a round of single crochet.
Crochet Yarn Storage Basket
Every crafter needs somewhere to keep the next project, and a sturdy crochet basket is pretty enough to leave out. Thick cotton rope yarn holds its shape without any frame. Two tones of cream and tan look natural in any room. If you like dense, textured stitches, explore these Tunisian crochet projects. Fill it with a few skeins before you wrap it.
You will need: cotton rope yarn in cream and tan, a 9 mm crochet hook, stitch markers, a yarn needle.
How to make it: 1. Crochet a flat circle about 10 inches wide in single crochet. 2. Work rounds straight up without increases for 7 inches, adding a tan band. 3. Make two short handle openings with chain stitches in the top round.
Grace Coolidge Knitting Lace Table Runner
A long lace runner turns an ordinary table into a holiday dinner you will remember. Cream lace looks elegant with white plates, pine sprigs and red berries. Make it from joined squares, just like a small version of the Grace Coolidge knitting and crochet bedspread story, so you can stop at any length. Add a few blooms from these crochet flower ideas for spring. Block the squares before joining for a neat line.
You will need: cream cotton thread or light yarn, a 2.5 mm crochet hook, rust proof pins, a blocking mat.
How to make it: 1. Crochet 12 lace squares of about 6 inches each. 2. Pin and block them flat with steam. 3. Join them in a long row with slip stitch and add a shell edge around the outside.
Grace Coolidge Knitting Mittens on a String
Mittens on a string are a sweet throwback that kids still need. The cord runs through coat sleeves, so the mittens never get lost at the sledding hill. A simple white snowflake on red makes them look like a storybook pair. Find more ideas the little ones will love in these kids DIY Christmas gifts. Use a soft, washable wool blend.
You will need: worsted yarn in red and white, 4 mm double pointed needles, a yarn needle, a simple snowflake chart.
How to make it: 1. Knit a pair of small mittens with a ribbed cuff, adding the snowflake on the back. 2. Knit a thin cord about 40 inches long. 3. Sew one end of the cord inside each cuff.
Vintage Sewing Box Gift Set
Grace Coolidge sewed as well as she knitted, so a sewing box is a fitting gift in her honor. Look for an old wooden box at a thrift store and fill it with useful basics. Colorful thread, a pincushion and a few hooks make it ready for any crafter. Turn it into a bundle with tips from these DIY gift baskets. Sand and wax the box so it looks fresh.
You will need: a thrifted wooden box, fine sandpaper, furniture wax, thread spools, a pincushion, small scissors, a measuring tape, crochet hooks, red ribbon.
How to make it: 1. Sand the box lightly and rub in a coat of wax. 2. Fill it with thread, pins, scissors, a tape and hooks. 3. Close the lid and tie it with a red ribbon.
Cream Baby Booties in a Gift Box
Tiny booties are the quickest gift on this list and the one most likely to be saved forever. Soft cream yarn and red ribbon ties look sweet for a first Christmas. They take only a small amount of yarn, so make two sizes and finish your Grace Coolidge knitting list on a sweet note. Make them a family project with these Christmas crafts with grandkids. Use baby safe, machine washable yarn.
You will need: soft cream baby yarn, 3.5 mm needles, thin red ribbon, a yarn needle, a gift box and tissue paper.
How to make it: 1. Knit a small rectangle for the sole and pick up stitches around it for the sides. 2. Shape the toe, then knit a cuff with a row of eyelets. 3. Thread red ribbon through the eyelets and tie a bow.
