If you love crocheting gifts, spring can be a wonderful time of the year as graduation celebrations that take place from May through July allow for many gift-giving opportunities. Here are three tips for successfully jump starting your spring season gifts.

1. Remember the recipient! As a crocheter, you know about all the time, love and money for supplies that go into a handmade gift. Though you may be tempted to choose the project you’d love to make (and wear!) in the colors and yarn brand you enjoy the most, think of the recipient first. Your gift will be more loved – and will get more use – if it meets the needs of the recipient.

• Color: If you’re making a wearable, consider the colors the recipient usually wears and, more specifically, the saturation of those colors. If your graduate typically wears bright and bold colors, he or she may welcome a gift crocheted with a variegated jewel-tone yarn. On the other hand, someone who tends to wear muted pastels or neutrals may prefer a solid, undyed natural yarn. For graduates starting college, you may want to consider school colors, as well as darker colors that will hold up better between washings.
• Care instructions: Almost more important than fiber content is the way in which the final object will need to be washed and stored. If your recipient can be trusted to hand-wash delicate items, this may be your chance to use the stunning hand dyed llama yarn you found at the fiber festival. However, if your nephew is graduating high school and moving into a college dormitory, assume that a hardy, machine-washable/dryable acrylic yarn may be best.

2. Think spring! To create a great gift that will be used immediately, think about the spring and summer temperatures near your recipient’s home. Spring accessories like shawls, fingerless mitts, hats, bags and jewelry are likely to be worn immediately, while bulkier items may be put away and forgotten by the time winter arrives. Choose lighter weight yarns and more breathable fibers for wearables. Home décor items like accent pillows and throws also make great seasonal gifts. For younger graduates, consider toys, amigurumi and electronics cozies.

3. Be aware of your own time! It can be tempting to start a large gift for a major milestone like your child’s college graduation, but be realistic about your available time when choosing a project so that you don’t end up abandoning it days before the event – or, worse – get a repetitive stress injury. You want to crochet love into your gift, not your stress and crankiness!

With these simple tips and great project suggestions, your crocheted graduation gifts are sure to be hits!