With just one month til Valentine's Day, it's time to think about gifts for the special someone in your life.

And if you're tired of chocolates and teddy bears, why not knit a unique present to show them how much you care? We've come up with three great ideas - why not add your own suggestions below?

Hand-holding Sweet Heart gloves - knitted in just 100g of yarn, Amanda Jones' design consists of a mitten for you, one for your other half, and a double-mitten for you to hold hands snugly. And this pattern is currently half-price at just 99p in The Making Spot sale - offer ends 20th Jan, so be quick!

Have you joined the ever-growing group of iPad or iPhone-loving knitters? If so, you won't want to miss the Simply Knitting digital magazine on Apple Newsstand. 

Apple Newsstand sells magazines suitable for reading on an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. You can flick through the pages, zoom in to see small details, jump straight to different pages, and access websites from the links in the magazine. You'll never have to worry about losing an issue, as they're all stored on your virtual bookshelf, and you can easily flick through the contents of all your magazines without wading through mountains of paper.

We have five copies of the fabulous new book "Knitting Masterclass" as prizes in our online-only competition. Packed with essential knitting info, and featuring our very own Kirstie McLeod, it covers everything from Reversible Double Knitting to Lace, Steeking to Cables, and Kitchener to Fair Isle.

To enter, fill in the competition form here.

Did you see our feature, Social Media Tips for Knitters? Packed with advice for making the most of Facebook, Twitter, Ravelry and Pinterest, it's essential reading whether you use social media for fun or as part of your yarn business. 

From 14th to 17th March, London's Olympia will be hosting the 2013 Knitting and Stitching show, so make a note in your diary now. 

Feeling the pinch after Christmas? There's no need to cut back on indulging your love of knitting, thanks to The Making Spot - over 1000 patterns and projects are half price until 20th January, so be quick!

How lovely are the square shell buttons with issue 102? Inside the mag you'll find seven projects where you can use them, including the cushion on page 67 and the mittens on page 9. Plus the tea cosy pattern in your supplement looks perfect finished off with one pretty button on top. 

If you're looking for a couple of quick knits, don't miss this heart sachet and phone cover on page 52...

And for a great January bargain, you can use five of your free buttons on Amanda Jones' lace stitch cardi on page 12.

Christmas may seem a long time ago already, but don't despair - we have the perfect way to banish the January blues. Our special Christmas subscription offer extends for the next few weeks, so why not treat yourself and look forward to a fresh dose of knitting goodness dropping through your letterbox every month. 

Fancy learning to calculate your own patterns? It’s the ultimate in knitting freedom, but really does take a certain level of confidence. You can boost yours by taking one of Amy Twigger Holroyd’s Calculate Your Own Pattern workshops in Hereford. 

The two-day course takes place from 26-27 January 2013 and costs £150, which includes all materials plus lunches. Among the topics covered you'll learn the basics of garment shaping, stitches, structure and all-important trouble-shooting tips.

By the end of the weekend you’ll be ready to start designing your own items to knit, as well as modify existing patterns and items! The course is suitable for both hand and machine knitters, but to get the most out of it you’ll need some knitting skills already.

Social media has opened up a whole world of networking opportunities for talented knitters. Judy Darley reveals how you can harness its power.

Chances are, you already use social media in some form, but you may not be utilising its potential for your craft interests. If you run a business, it’s especially important to get the hang of it. The major channels right now (though this changes fairly fast!) are Facebook, Twitter, Ravelry, and, most recently, Pinterest. Signing up to any of these is free. Then it’s just a matter of engaging with people in eight easy steps.