There are many, many things to give thanks for this holiday week, but I thought I’d choose one to focus on today  – an important one. Teachers. It’s safe to say that everyone can be thankful for teachers, but those of us with young children are particularly grateful, as we send our kids off every day to be nurtured, instructed, loved (and disciplined) by people who are relative strangers in September.

Every year around this time, I struggle to find a way to show gratitude to the wonderful people who teach my children. I’m sure many of us are in the same boat: How do you effectively say, “Thanks for putting up with everything my kids throw at you (oh, and also teaching them)”? And how do you find a suitable gift when you’re also trying to do the 4 million other tasks that seem to pile up starting in late November?

For those of us who like to give handmade gifts, the struggle is even more difficult. Sometimes it can be hard enough to make gifts for our nearest and dearest, let alone as many as a half dozen teachers who may be part of our kids’ lives. And honestly, I think most teachers appreciate a nice gift card with a heartfelt note — one size fits all, and you don’t have to worry about their “style,” favorite color, wool allergy, etc.

But I am a maker, and it’s hard for me NOT to give a small handmade token to people who are such huge parts of my children’s lives. And since I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that way, I put together a list of some quick, thoughtful and (mostly) inexpensive gifts that might be good for the teachers in your life. (Warning: If the “apple for teacher” theme offends you, you might want to stop reading now.)

If you’ve given some well-received gifts to teachers (handmade or not), or are a teacher yourself, please share your ideas in the comments. We’d all love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

Let’s get the apple stuff out of the way:

– Apple for teacher: This year, a few teachers in my life will be getting these cute stuffed apples (photo above). I’ve made a few already, from scraps of Cascade 220 and some fingering-weight leftovers for the stems and leaves. I stuffed them with lentils and yarn scraps, so they are a nice weight to sit on a desk.

– Apple cozy: I’ll be the first to admit, apple cozies fall into the category of “completely unnecessary.” But they also fall into the category of “completely cute.” I mean, a sweater for an apple? What could be more adorable than that? And it’s a nice twist on the “apple for teacher” theme, not to mention quick and easy. This buttoned crochet version is very cute (and adjustable), but there are lots more versions out there. I like this one too.

– Apple washcloth: Designer Susan B. Anderson, guru of all cute things, has a free pattern on her site for a sweet apple washcloth. (This would be lovely in Rowan Handknit Cotton, which we carry in the shop in lots of colors.) Package it with a pretty bar of soap (World Market is a great source) or with a nice bottle of dish soap (Method, Mrs. Meyers and Williams-Sonoma all make gift-worthy soaps) to use as a dishcloth.

– Apple coasters: I also love these crocheted apple coasters — wouldn’t four of them look sweet tied up with a ribbon?

OK, moving away from apples …

– Coffee sleeves: These are a super-quick project — you can churn out a whole bunch of them with scraps of yarn. Our own Melissa has written a pattern for a cute pleated sleeve, and there are dozens of other great patterns on Ravelry to knit or crochet. This buttoned-up version has been in my favorites for a long time. It would be a fun way to use some of the cute buttons we’ve got in the shop. (If you run out of time to knit these, let me recommend the fabric coffee sleeves available at the Doe & Mouse Etsy shop. They were a hit with my son’s teachers last year.) Package the sleeves with a Starbucks gift card, and you’ve got a great gift.

– Fingerless mitts: At my kids’ schools (and most elementary schools, I imagine), the kids go outside in pretty much any kind of weather. And that means the teachers do too. For people who are constantly zipping coats, wiping runny noses and settling playground scuffles, fingerless mitts are a good alternative to mittens or gloves (except during really, really cold weather, of course). Last year, I gave my son’s teachers Dean Street Mitts, and they were very well-received. You could knit them up in Malabrigo Worsted for a real luxury item, or use a hard-wearing yarn like Cascade 220 or Berocco Ultra Alpaca for a nice sturdy pair. There are tons of wonderful mitt patterns on Ravelry, and many are very quick.

– Big Lace Scarf: Joelle Hoverson’s “More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts” has been a big hit around the shop, and of course it’s filled with lots of great quick gifts that would work well for teachers. But one of my favorites is the Big Lace Scarf. I am not much of a lace knitter, but I love the way the scarf looks, and I knew one of my son’s teachers would love it. I used three skeins of Blue Sky Alpaca Bulky and size 15 needles, and I was done in two evenings. The BSA Bulky is so, so squishy and warm, and the alpaca gives it a lovely softness. Plus, the scarf looks impressive, even though it’s actually very easy. (Also a very low-pressure introduction to lace.)

– Bulky cowl or scarflette: On the theme of bulky yarn, I love the Wham Bam Thank You Lamb neckwarmer, which is basically just a big garter-stitch rectangle sewn up in kind of a creative way to create a neat cowl. Rowan Big Wool or BSA Bulky would both be great for this cowl. Or try this simple “neckie,” which is just another big swatch. And it’s a great opportunity to use some cool buttons too. The nice thing about projects like this (besides the fact that they’re super-quick and ultra-warm!) is that they suit a wide range of styles.

OK, that’s enough to get us started. Your turn — what have you given teachers in the past?