3 Knitted Gift Ideas for College Alumni

It can be hard to come up with gift ideas for family and friends during the holiday season. If you like to crochet or knit, you may want to incorporate your talents into some homemade gifts. If your friend or family member is a college alumnus, they may love a knitted gift that features their official college colors. Here are just three gift ideas to consider.

1. Placemats/Table Runner

The holiday season is a great time to host friends and family members for dinners and parties. If a friend or family member likes to host these events, then placemats and table runners are great gifts that you know they’ll use. Placemats and table runners are also great for beginning knitters since they are just flat, rectangular projects.

To make this type of gift, you’ll need to get:

• Size 10 knitting needles or a J-size crochet hook
• Scissors
• Tapestry needle to tuck in loose ends
• Six skeins of worsted college color yarn

The yarn should be sturdy and machine washable since the placemats and table runner will likely get crumbs on them after meals. To make placemats, you can just repeat rows of purl stitches and then weave the loose ends in a box stitch pattern.

You can also check out free videos online, like this one here, for more detailed instructions on table runners.

2. Christmas Stockings

Christmas stockings are a great gift if you are a little more advanced in your knitting technique. Once the stockings are complete, you could embroider or use a sewing serger to put the person’s name or monogram on top. Like the placemats and table runner, you should get worsted yarn since it is strong and won’t pill as easily. Take a look here for ten free Christmas stocking patterns.

3. Coffee Sleeve/Coffee Cozy

Like the placemats and table runners, coffee cozies or sleeves are great projects for beginning knitters. Coffee sleeves make great gifts for people who love coffee or hot cocoa. The sleeves keep the drinker’s hands from burning when he or she is holding the hot drink. They look cute and can keep the drink insulated. They can also be used on thermos flasks if your loved one wants a warm drink at a college football game.

For the coffee cozy, you will need:

• A tapestry needle
• 1 medium-weight or heavyweight skein of college colored yarn
• Size 5 knitting needles

The pattern for a coffee sleeve is easy. You’ll first need to cast on 12 stitches. Then, you’ll need to knit two and purl two for rows 1 and 2. Then, purl two stitches and knit two for rows 3 and 4. Repeat rows 1 through 4 until your coffee cozy is about 9 inches in length, and then cast off. You can then seam the ends together.

Lastly, if you aren’t sure what yarn colors should be included in your knitted gifts, here is a list of colleges in the U.S. (in order of state), as well as their official colors:

• Alabama A&M University: maroon & white
• Alabama State University: black & gold
• Auburn University: burnt orange & navy blue
• Samford University: red & blue
• Troy University: cardinal, black and sliver
• University of Alabama: crimson red & white
• University of Alabama at Birmingham: white, gold, green
• University of South Alabama: red, white & blue
• University of Alaska: green & yellow (gold)
• University of Alaska Fairbanks: blue & gold
• Arizona State University: maroon & gold
• Northern Arizona University: navy & gold
• University of Arizona: cardinal red & navy blue
• Arkansas State University: scarlet red & black
• Arkansas Tech University (ATU): green & gold
• University of Arkansas: red & white
• University of Arkansas at Fort Smith: blue & white
• University of Arkansas at Monticello: green & white
• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff: black & gold
• University of Central Arkansas: purple & white
• California State University at Fullerton: white, orange & navy blue
• California State University at Irvine: blue & gold
• California State University Long Beach: black & gold
• Chapman University: cardinal & grey
• Fresno State University: cardinal red & blue
• Humboldt State University: green & gold.
• San Diego State University: scarlet & black
• San Francisco State University: purple & gold
• San Jose State University: blue, gold & gray
• Santa Clara University: red & white
• Stanford University: cardinal red & white
• University of California: blue & gold
• University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA): True blue & gold
• University of Southern California: cardinal & gold
• Colorado College: gold & black
• Colorado School of Mines: blue & silver
• Colorado State University (Fort Collins): green & gold
• Colorado State University (Pueblo): red & blue
• Colorado Technical University: red
• Denver University: crimson & gold
• University of Colorado: silver & gold
• University of Northern Colorado: navy blue & gold
• University of Connecticut: navy blue & white
• University of Hartford: scarlet red & white
• Yale University: blue & white
• Delaware State University: Columbia blue & cherry red
• University of Delaware: blue, yellow, & white
• Florida Atlantic University: blue, red & silver
• Florida International University: blue & gold
• Florida State University: garnet & gold
• Florida Agriculture & Mechanical University: orange & green
• University of North Florida: blue & gray
• University of Tampa: red & gold
• University of Miami: orange & green
• University of Florida: orange & blue
• University of South Florida: green & gold
• University of Central Florida: black & gold
• Armstrong Atlantic State University: maroon & gold.
• Fort Valley State University: old gold & royal blue
• Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech): old gold & white
• Georgia Southern University: blue & white with gold trim
• Georgia State University: blue & white
• Kennesaw State University: black, gold & maroon
• Mercer University: black & orange
• North Georgia Tech: blue & green
• University of Georgia: red & black
• University of West Georgia: blue & red
• University of Hawaii: green & white
• Boise State University: blue & orange
• Brigham Young University (Idaho): blue & gray
• College of Idaho: purple & gold
• Idaho State University: black & orange
• Lewis-Clark State College: Columbia blue & white
• Northwest Nazarene University: red & black
• University of Idaho: silver & gold
• Eastern Illinois University: grey & blue
• Illinois State University: red & white
• Knox College: purple & gold
• Loyola University Chicago: maroon & gold
• Northern Illinois University: red & black
• Northwestern University: purple & white
• Southern Illinois University: maroon & white
• University of Chicago in Chicago (Hyde Park): maroon & white
• University of Illinois: orange & blue
• Western Illinois University: purple & gold
• Ball State University: cardinal red & white
• Butler University: navy blue & white
• Indiana State University: royal blue & white
• Indiana University: crimson & cream
• Purdue University: old gold & black
• University of Evansville: purple & white
• University of Notre Dame: gold & navy blue
• University of Indianapolis: crimson & grey
• Valparaiso University: brown & gold
• Drake University: blue & white
• Iowa State University: cardinal & gold
• University of Iowa: black & gold
• University of Northern Iowa: purple & gold
• Kansas State University: royal purple & white accent
• University of Kansas: blue & crimson
• Wichita State University: black & gold
• University of Kentucky: blue & white
• University of Louisville: red & black
• Western Kentucky University: red & white
• Grambling State University: black & gold
• Louisiana College: orange & navy blue (Go Wildcats!)
• Louisiana-Grambling State University: black, gold & red
• Louisiana State University: purple & gold
• Louisiana Tech University: blue & red
• Southeastern Louisiana University: green & gold
• Southern University: blue & gold
• Tulane University: olive & blue
• University of Louisiana at Lafayette: vermillion (red) & white
• University of Louisiana at Monroe: maroon & gold
• Xavier University of New Orleans: white & gold
• Bates: Maroon & gold
• Bowdoin: black & white
• Colby: blue & white
• University of Maine: blue, sky blue & white
• University of Southern Maine: blue & yellow
• Goucher College: blue & gold
• Loyola University (Baltimore): green & grey
• McDaniel College: green & gold
• Naval Academy (Navy): navy blue & gold
• University of Baltimore: blue & green
• University of Maryland: black, gold, red & white
• Washington College: maroon & black
• Boston College: maroon & gold
• Boston University: scarlet red & white
• College of the Holy Cross: purple & white
• Curry College: purple & white
• Harvard University: crimson, black & white
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): black, cardinal & steel grey
• Northeastern University (Boston): red, black & gray
• University of Massachusetts at Amherst: maroon & white
• University of Massachusetts at Lowell: black, blue & white
• Wentworth Institute of Technology: black, cardinal & gold
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute: crimson & grey
• Central Michigan University: maroon & gold
• Eastern Michigan University: green & white
• Ferris State University: crimson & gold
• Grand Valley State University: light blue, white & black
• Kalamazoo College: orange & black
• Michigan State University: green & white
• Michigan Technological University: black, gold & silver
• University of Michigan: azure (F-H: navy) blue & maize
• Western Michigan University: brown & gold
• Bemidji State University: green & white
• Minnesota State University (Mankato): purple & gold
• Minnesota State University (Moorhead): red & white
• Saint Cloud State University: cardinal & black
• University of Minnesota: maroon & gold
• University of Minnesota (Duluth): maroon & gold
• University of Mississippi: navy blue & cardinal red
• Mississippi State University: maroon & white
• Southern Mississippi: black & gold
• Lindenwood University: black & gold
• Stephens College: burgundy & gold
• University of Missouri : black & gold
• Washington University: green & red
• Montana State University: blue & gold
• University of Great Falls: sky blue & harvest gold
• University of Montana: maroon & silver
• Creighton University: “Blue Jay” blue & white
• University of Nebraska: scarlet & cream
• University of Nebraska (Kearney): blue & gold
• University of Nevada: silver & blue
• University of Nevada-Las Vegas: scarlet & gray
• Dartmouth College: green & white
• Southern New Hampshire University: blue & gold
• University of New Hampshire: blue & white
• Caldwell University: red & gold
• Centenary University: grey & navy blue
• The College of New Jersey: blue & gold
• Drew University: blue & green
• Kean University: white, silver & blue
• Monmouth University: white & blue
• Montclair State University: white & red
• New Jersey Institute of Technology: scarlet red & white
• Princeton University: orange & black
• Ramapo College: white & maroon
• Rider University: cranberry & white
• Rowan University: brown & gold
• Rutgers University: scarlet & white
• Seton Hall University: white & blue
• Steven’s Institute of Technology: grey & Stevens red
• Stockton University: black, Columbia blue & white
• William Paterson University: orange & black
• Eastern New Mexico University: silver & green
• New Mexico State University: crimson & white
• University of New Mexico: cherry & silver
• Western New Mexico University: purple & gold
• Art Institute of New York City: red, white & blue
• Adelphi University: brown & gold
• Bard College: red & white
• Columbia University: Columbia blue & white
• Cornell University: Carnelian red & white
• CUNY (City University of New York) Queens College: blue & silver
• Elmira College: purple & gold
• Fordham University: maroon
• Ithaca College: blue & gold
• New York University: violet & white
• Niagara University: purple & white
• Siena College: green & gold
• Bonaventure University: brown & white
• Lawrence University: scarlet & brown
• Syracuse University: orange & navy blue
• University at Albany: purple & gold
• University of Rochester: blue & yellow
• Vassar College: burgundy & grey
• Wells College: maroon & white
• Appalachian State University: black & gold
• Campbell University: orange & black
• Central Piedmont Community College: black & green
• Davidson College: red & black
• East Carolina University: purple & gold
• Elon University: maroon & gold
• Gardner Webb University: black & scarlet
• Johnson and Wales University: white & blue
• Johnson C. Smith University: navy blue & gold
• North Carolina State University: red & white
• North Carolina Central University: burgundy and gray
• University of North Carolina: Carolina blue & white
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC): green & white (gold accent)
• University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG): gold, white & navy blue
• University of North Carolina at Wilmington: teal, navy & gold
• Duke University: Prussian blue
• Wake Forest University: black & gold
• Western Carolina University: purple & gold
• North Dakota State University: green & yellow
• University of North Dakota: green & white
• Bowling Green State University: orange & brown
• Kenyon College: white & purple
• Miami of Ohio: red & white
• Mount Vernon Nazarene University: blue & green
• Ohio State University: scarlet & grey
• Ohio University: green & white
• Otterbein University: tan and cardinal red
• University of Cincinnati: red & black
• University of Dayton: red & Columbia blue
• University of Toledo: navy blue & gold
• Wright State University: green & gold
• Oklahoma State University: orange & black
• Oral Roberts University: Vegas gold & navy blue
• Tulsa: gold, blue & red
• University of Oklahoma: crimson & cream
• Oregon State University: orange & black
• Portland State University: white & green
• University of Oregon: green & yellow
• University of Portland: purple & white
• Bucknell University: orange & blue
• Carnegie Mellon University: grey, cardinal, Tartan plaid
• Lehigh University: white & brown
• Messiah College: navy blue & white
• Montgomery County Community College: blue & black
• Penn State University: navy blue & white
• Robert Morris University: red, white & blue
• Slippery Rock University: green & white
• Temple University: cherry & white
• University of Pennsylvania: blue & red
• University of Pittsburgh: old gold & blue
• University of Scranton: purple & white
• West Chester University: purple & gold
• Brown University: brown, cardinal & white
• Bryant University: black & gold
• Community College of Rhode Island: green & grey
• Providence College: black & white
• Rhode Island College: maroon & gold
• University of Rhode Island (URI): royal blue & white
• College of Charleston: red & white
• The Citadel (The Military College of South Carolina): blue & white
• Clemson University: orange & purple
• Furman University: purple & white
• South Carolina State University: garnet & blue
• University of South Carolina: garnet & black
• Wofford College: Old Gold & black
• South Dakota State University (SDSU): blue & yellow
• University of South Dakota: vermillion & white
• Middle Tennessee State University: royal blue & white
• Tennessee Tech University: purple & gold
• Trevecca Nazarene University: purple & white
• University of Memphis: blue & gray
• University of Tennessee: orange & white
• Vanderbilt University: gold & black
• Austin College: crimson and gold
• Baylor University: green & gold
• Hardin Simmons University: purple & gold
• Houston State University: orange & white
• Lamar University: red & white
• Midwestern State University: burgundy & gold
• Rice University: Oxford (dark) blue & grey
• Southern Methodist University: Harvard crimson, Yale blue
• Stephen F. Austin University: purple, red & white
• Edward’s University: blue & gold
• Texas A&M University: maroon & white
• Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi: true blue & true green
• Texas Christian: purple & white
• Texas-El Paso: blue & orange
• Texas State University: maroon & gold
• Texas Tech University: scarlet & black
• Trinity University: maroon & white
• University of Dallas: blue & white
• University of Houston: red & white
• University of Mary Hardin-Baylor: white, gold & purple
• University of North Texas: green, black & white
• University of Texas: burnt orange & white
• University of Texas (Arlington): orange, white & royal blue
• University of Texas (Dallas): white, orange & green
• University of Texas (El Paso): blue, orange, silver
• University of Texas (San Antonio): orange & blue
• University of the Incarnate Word: red & black
• Brigham Young University: navy blue, gold & white
• Southern Utah University: red & white
• University of Utah: crimson & white
• Utah State University: navy blue & white
• Bridgewater College: maroon & gold
• College of William & Mary: green & gold
• George Mason University: green & gold
• James Madison University: purple & gold
• Liberty University: navy, red & white
• Longwood University: royal blue & white
• Lynchburg College: red/maroon & gray
• Norfolk State University: green & gold
• Old Dominion University: slate blue, silver & cerulean blue
• Radford University: red & black
• Randolph-Macon College: black, gold & white
• Shenandoah University: red & blue
• Strayer University: garnet & tan
• University of Mary Washington: grey & navy blue
• University of Richmond: red & blue
• University of Virginia: orange & navy blue
• University of Virginia at Wise: red, gray & white
• Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU): gold & black
• Virginia Military Institute (VMI): red, white & yellow
• Virginia Tech: Chicago maroon & burnt orange
• Eastern Washington University: white and red
• University of Washington: purple & gold
• Washington State University: crimson & gray
• Western Washington University: white, light blue & blue
• Alderson-Broaddus College: navy & gold, gray accent
• Davis and Elkins College: scarlet & white
• Marshall University: Kelly green & white.
• University of Charleston: maroon & gold
• West Liberty University: black & gold
• West Virginia State University: black & yellow
• West Virginia University: old gold & blue
• West Virginia Wesleyan College: orange & black
• University of Wisconsin-Madison: red & white
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: gold & black
• University of Wyoming: brown & Wyoming prairie gold

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Please note: sports team names and colors are licensed by their respective owners and can’t be used without permission. This list is for informative purposes only.