These bacon-patterned mittens work up quickly in worsted-weight yarn for a tasty last-minute gift.

A great first in-the-round project for new knitters or an ultra-quick knit (~1 hour) for experienced knitters. First Hat is knit in the round on 16-inch circulars, tapering gently at the crown, then cinching closed before decreasing enough to require a switch to DPNs. The plain design showcases self-striping, textured or handspun yarns.

Knitting quickly on 16-inch circulars in just 48 stitches and 32 rounds, this hat is the perfect last-minute gift or charity project. Fast knitters like me can bang one out in an hour, but even adventurous beginners should be able to work one up in an evening.

FRENCH KISS, a classic beret with a feisty peaked tip, works up in two hours from just one skein of yarn.

Working up in two hours from just one skein, pretty LAUREL is the perfect last-minute gift.

Named for the shape of the blocked cowl and the way the pattern trails sideways as it’s knit, this cushy cowl is as quick as it is dreamy. It knits up in under two hours from one skien of Malabrigo Merino Worsted (yarn doubled) with a simple repeating ripple pattern, making it an ideal last-minute gift!

The original pattern, scarves and wizard hat are available for free at thriftyknitter.com. The pattern for sale is a cleaned-up pattern with printer-friendly 1-page instructions, plus a photo tutorial for the critter and extra clothing patterns, including a new toque, cowl, cardigan or sweater vest and Hemmingway (cabled aran turtleneck) sweater!