December is flying by, and that means we're drawing closer to the gift-giving time of the season. However you celebrate your Yuletide, it's a wonderful time to gather around friends and family and show how much you care. For knitters, this often means a cozy gift handcrafted with love. But the hazard of handknit gifts, of course, is the potential to run out of time. We contemplate the perfect handknit gift for weeks, months even, and suddenly it's the week before Christmas!

Thankfully, bulky yarns pull through in the eleventh hour to save us from endless knitting purgatory. These heavyweight wonders knit up so quickly that a hat, cowl, or scarf can be made start to finish in a couple hours of dedicated work. A procrasti-knitter's dream! And one of our favorite bulky weight yarns is the delicious Rasta by Malabrigo Yarns.

An extra plump version of the legendary Malabrigo Worsted, Rasta is a bulky single ply, kettle-dyed in your favorite Malabrigo hues. Gently spun from the softest merino wool, Rasta provides knits with tons of squishy body and cozy warmth. And best of all, they knit up in no time!

Most of our favorite bulky winter accessories use only a skein or two of Rasta, and can be worked up in a single evening. Plus, the yarn's cushy, lofty structure makes knits extra insulating, so you can keep warm in style. And Rasta's bold colors add a bit of brightness to even the bleakest winter day!

Forget frantic knitting all-nighters this year--grab a few skeins of Rasta for instant gifts for all your family and friends. They'll be thanking their lucky stars when they're bundled up in warm bulky merino, and you'll receive the priceless gift of stress-free holiday knitting.

If bulky isn't quite your speed, we still have plenty of quick-knit options for your holiday knitting needs. A thoughtful little accessory can mean just as much as a sweater or blanket, and it takes only a fraction of the time. Check out a few of our favorite diminutive knits, perfect for gifting or knitting for yourself!

Above, handknit mitts are a great way to show you care--they're the closest you can get to holding hands from afar. And fingerless versions are quick and simple, not to mention very in vogue! Go for a feminine pair with Susie's Reading Mitts, featuring a sweet picot edging and lace detail. Or pick a mitt like Lockhart, with an ornate twisted stitch design and rustic wooly feel.

The quintessential modern winter accessory, the cowl is the perfect way to keep warm without the floppy loose ends of a scarf. Madelinetosh's Honey Cowl uses a simple slipped stitch pattern to add plush, intriguing texture without complicated stitches (bonus: the pattern is written for multiple sizes, for any level of commitment!). And slippers are must-haves for braving winter weather at home--imagine padding around on freezing floors with bare feet! These adorable French Press Felted Slippers will keep toes toasty and stylish.

All of our pattern picks can be knit in a day or two with just a little perseverance. We're sure that with a little inspiration, you'll be pumping out knitted gifts as quick as can be this holiday!

See Rowan's unique Kidsilk Creation knitted tube yarn in action in this quick class. Kelly will walk you through the simple steps of creating a funky swirl scarf with Kidsilk Creation. The class is free with the purchase of a skein of Creation yarn (available in store only), but please call us to reserve a space, as there is a 10 student limit to this fun workshop!