How to Shop for a Crafter

November 20, 2023

So, you know someone who “crafts.” You may not know exactly what that means, but you’ve seen it mentioned. They’ve occasionally posted excitedly about something to do with handmade “crafts,” and you’ve given the post a like and scrolled on. You know they like to ‘make stuff,’ and you like them enough to have them on your holiday shopping list or there’s a birthday coming up…

What on earth do you get for someone who “crafts?” If you want to get more personal than a big-box-store gift card, I’m here to help.

You see… I have a million hobbies. I wrote as many as I could remember on my About Me page, and I’ve surely left some out. I find myself chiming in on random FB group posts pretty often with product advice for a wide range of projects. I’ve also helped the occasional coworker-dad with advice for their crafty tween or teen who is just curious about starting a new hobby. With the holiday season approaching and big sales looming, I thought I’d post about this! This got pretty long, but again, I have a million hobbies. There are general questions to start you out and both universal and specific ideas.

Of course, I’m not an expert on everything. I’ve tried to explain what each kind of craft is without writing an entire Wikipedia page for each of them. Use this as a starting point to understand what projects the gift recipient makes and what tools would be most appreciated. Read the first section, then use the links to jump to the relevant page.

Please note that Amazon links are affiliate links and will earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. Not all links are Amazon links, but realistically, I know many people look forward to their holiday sales and like to get shopping over with in one go!

There are not a lot of photos in this post to keep things readable, but I must appease the social media overlords, so here is a picture of my cat, Church, to illustrate “gifts.”

What if I Can’t Ask Them What Crafts They Do? What if They are Just Starting?

Of course, it’s great if you can have an open conversation about this subject, but maybe you’re in a Secret Santa work event or otherwise don’t want to spoil the surprise. But my first piece of advice, even if it may send you away from my page:

Don’t assume someone crafts simply based on their age, gender, or personal style. Yes, many of us know someone who “looks like a knitting grandma,” but assumptions may land you in hot water. Similarly, don’t assume someone does not craft just because they don’t “look” like they do. Most crocheters I know don’t “look” like the stereotype!

Also, if they have asked for a specific item, just get that one. Buying a cheap knock-off is not a good look if they have specified something.

I assume you know a baseline of information about the person, have seen the occasional picture of their handmade projects, or could find out. Even so, always include a gift receipt! You just never know if they already owned this item. It’s good practice.

Can’t I Just Get A Gift Card?

The only kind of gift card that shows a personal touch, in my opinion, isn’t for a major retailer or big box store. Local yarn shops, needlework shops, or hobby stores may not always be an option, but did you know many of them offer online storefronts, as well? Popular brands for each craft will also have an online store and some kind of gift certificate. If you at least peruse the next questions to determine what kind of craft your gift recipient prefers, you can pop that into Google with their location and see what you find. I guarantee some major specialty retailers will also appear that you had not been aware of, such as LoveCrafts, 123Stitch, or WEBS.

If you’re not interested in personalizing the gift, you may as well stop reading and just go with that option. I’ve put a lot of work into specialized advice for quite a few types of crafts, and the reason I did this is because, time and again, I see people lamenting the lame, impersonal gifts they received from someone they expected to do better.

You are the best judge of your relationship with this person, I cannot tell you what to do. But I can say from experience that a thoughtful gift will bring the giver back to mind whenever it is used and appreciated. Even a gift I received that I know was an inexpensive crochet kit from Amazon has me thinking fondly of my cousin-in-law every time I use it (which has been surprisingly often).

If you want to show that You Tried, if you want them to know you put time and energy into the decision, if you want to say something a little more personal, this post may help. I can’t guarantee they will like the gift, but I am providing you a framework to start with and hoping that you end up giving someone a gift that they love. If you still want to get a gift card, at least make sure it is for a store convenient to their location. Most people are forced to shop at Michael’s or JoAnn Fabrics due to a lack of options in their area.

So, with that out of the way, go through these questions first:

  1. Do they use yarn or thread? These aren’t the same! If they use yarn, they are most likely into knitting, crocheting, weaving, or possibly more esoteric variations of these.
    • I don’t know how to tell the difference, Jamie. Okay, that’s all right. Yarn is usually thicker than thread, although some very small yarn exists. Yarn would be your choice for things like socks, hats, scarves, blankets, etc. Thread is likely for needleworking, although lacemaking or tatting is another possibility. Picture a lace doily or tablecloth. It’s a thin, delicate material.
  2. Do they joke about “having the patience to stab something thousands of times?” This is a common, silly way to describe needlework or needle felting. If the finished item is fairly flat and worked on a piece of fabric, we can get more specific:
    • Does their work usually contain a lot of super-tiny Xs? This is called cross stitch. It’s really popular right now thanks to some wonderfully creative designers who brought it into the modern age with ‘snarky’ sayings or pop-culture references.
    • Does their work have lots of thread layered onto itself to make thick, raised sections, possibly shaped like flowers or leafy motifs? This is embroidery, a close cousin to cross stitch, but not the same. (Cross stitch is a type of embroidery, but that’s not the reason you are reading this.) These use nearly identical supplies, so I’ve grouped them together further in this post.
    • Does their work use fluffy fiber instead of thread and look sort of like someone has painted on the fabric (or like a collage of cut-up felt)? This is a kind of needle felting! Proceed to the section about needle felting after you read through the general gift section.
  3. Do they take something fluffy and make it into a small figure? Do they have a lot of needles? This would be needle felting! The fluffy stuff is usually called “roving.”
  4. Do they like to make knotted things out of “string” or “rope?” This is probably Macrame! It’s often made into a hanging planter or wall art.
  5. Do they take tiny shiny things and stick them onto a paper to create a sparkly, frameable piece of art? This is a diamond painting, my friend. I have not gotten into this, but I am positive the general suggestions for lighting and magnification will apply.
  6. Do they use fabric, especially printed fabric? This is likely for sewing or quilting. Either one usually leads to a fairly large stash of fabric in short order. Quilting is a type of sewing that creates designs (usually geometric) with a layer of padding between the design and the underside. This work can benefit from specialized tools. Not everyone who sews will quilt. Sewing, more generally, can range from making garments to home goods or handbags. I’m not really good at either, but check the general suggestions for lights, magnification, notions, and scissors.
  7. Do they work with models or like to paint tiny figures, often called miniatures? I can’t speak to a lot of these items (yet), but check the general section for lights and magnification suggestions.
  8. Do they work with metal or wire? Now we’re getting esoteric, I know, but wire-wrapped jewelry is a popular craft! You’d want to ask for more insight if possible here because the costs can add up quickly and the tools used will vary more widely. As always, lights and magnification are always helpful.

I’ve done my best to assemble suggested gifts for as many crafts as I can knowledgeably speak to. Start with the general list! If you already know the name of your recipient’s favorite craft, use these links to get started.

Quick Navigation

General Gifts Or If You Really Don’t Know

Jamie, you say, I cannot tell. I have no clues. I am a lamb lost in the woods.

Okay. It’s hard for me to guess without any clues about what the craft is, but there are a few items that usually make a crafter’s heart happy (and definitely indicate that You Tried, which is sometimes all we can hope for).

I purchased a “gaming pillow” from Valari a few months ago to help support my arms while I knit and crochet. Some of my friends use this for cross stitching, too. It’s not perfect, but it is a much better size than anything else I’d tried (and it is bigger than a nursing pillow, which some people use as a solution for arm fatigue). This is a personal referral link to save you 15% on your purchase! Mine is a “Legendary” pillow.

Crafting Subscriptions

There are a ton of these. It would be wise to know what kind of crafter you’re gifting for before purchasing, but some people really enjoy monthly or bi-monthly subscription boxes.

I couldn’t delve into this without falling into a tangential black hole, but I was a subscriber of The Crafter’s Box for years. It let me try a lot of things I would otherwise have never attempted, and some of them I now love! They sell individual workshops in addition to a monthly kit (which you can opt out of or customize).

I am no longer an active subscriber, but I can offer this discount: Get a free $10 credit for The Crafter’s Box when you spend $50. Use coupon: REF7K4DT8BQ5N https://crafter.com/referral/

Crafting Events

You may not realize this, but there are many specialized crafting events that take place around the world. I’m only familiar with some in the United States, but even my local area has a Fiber Art Show & Sale every year, run by the Handweavers Guild of Boulder (Colorado). When I polled my crafting groups for this blog post, I received some interesting suggestions about this topic.

Technology Gifts

Not all of these are equally expensive, and you don’t necessarily need them for everything, but in general, many crafts make use of them. I am not a tech reviewer by trade, and I recommend you research some of these items on your own, but please do read my caveats below.

  • Tablet: Having a digital pattern that you can take with you is so, so nice. There are two meaningful caveats:
    • The most popular cross-stitching digital tool, PatternKeeper, is only available on Android. An iOS version has been rumored for ages but hasn’t yet materialized. (I wrote this in November 2023.) Refer to my earlier questions to determine if your crafty recipient would prefer an Android tablet.
    • You can’t always easily add apps like PatternKeeper to an Amazon Fire tablet. You need access to the Google Play store. I’ve seen various reports of this over the years, and I’m sure it may change over time, but I’m doing my best to avoid things that have been known problems. Some people can work around it, and others find it difficult.
    • iPads are great for artists, and usually age well for years to come. You’ll probably have to add on an extra stylus, either the Apple Pencil or a third-party option, to make detailed tasks easier. This is still a great tool if you don’t mind missing out on PatternKeeper.
    • Android tablets have a much wider variety of options. Start narrowing it down by display size and brand, such as Samsung or Lenovo (two I usually trust). And, of course, ensure it uses the Google Play store, not something proprietary. I have one that’s a bit old now and have used it for copious amounts of cross-stitching. That one isn’t available, but here are some options. Bear in mind that there are many choices, and I’m just showing examples!
  • Tablets also benefit from extra gifts like a case or keyboard. These are specific to the model of the tablet, so I won’t link any, but you get the idea.
  • Headphones or earbuds: A lot of these projects take dozens of hours to complete, which means listening while we work is highly appreciated. If you’re following a video pattern, you need to be able to hear it, too! Not everyone likes earbuds (or wireless Bluetooth pairing), but like I said earlier, get a gift receipt and do your best to make a choice you think they would appreciate.

Yarn Craft Gifts

Critical! Don’t Skip! You absolutely need to understand that knitting and crocheting are not the same. I repeat: These!Are!Not!The!Same!

Buying a cutesy knitting item for a crocheter or vice-versa is a tiresome experience that causes a lot of quiet disappointment. We know you tried. But it’s not.the.same.

Crochet uses a hook. One item is held in the hand, and it is hooked on the end. It may be longer or shorter; it may be small and precise or thick and hefty. It may have a handle or be a simple piece of metal, but it is always hooked.

Knitting uses needles. Plural. One needle held in each hand. This needle has no hole or “eye” like for sewing. It is a pointy thing that sometimes appears as a weapon in a horror movie. They don’t always look like the ones in a cartoon poking out of a yarn ball; sometimes, they are connected to each other with a cord. But there are two of them.

Please read that as many times as you need to. It’s one of the biggest pet peeves in the crafting world!

Even so, if you can’t tell, or your recipient does both (as I do!), there are some general suggestions. Some of my favorite items are on this list!

  • Yarn Winder: Honestly crucial to any yarn-related craft. It takes a unit of yarn (usually sold as a “skein”) and turns it into a short, fat cylinder that is easy to use and we call a “cake.” Sometimes, you wind it into a “ball” (think of that cartoon yarn basket again). Working from a cake or ball is much easier and more efficient than working from a skein. A winder will definitely bring big improvements in their quality of life.
  • Swift: A what now? This looks a bit crazy, I know. It’s used in conjunction with a winder. You do not want to get this for someone who does not have a winder. In short, you use this to make fancy yarn into your ball or cake. Fancy yarn is sold differently than what you find in big box stores. (It’s called a ‘hank’ if you want to look it up.) I’m only listing one option here because if this item is poorly made, it may cause serious problems. I have this item in a different color, and can recommend this brand.
  • Notions: In addition to those listed in the “general” section above. Multi-pack items are appreciated in case one gets lost, or we have multiple projects in flight at the same time.
  • Yarn Bowl: If you’ve wound a ball of yarn, it’s just going to spin all over the place while you work. Knitting baskets of old are also better than nothing, but these days we have plenty of options.
  • Yarn Storage: If there’s one thing that gets out of hand quickly, it’s a yarn stash. If you know the person needs some improvement in this area, see if they have a specific item in mind.
  • Fabric Shaver: Yarn often pills over time as friction builds up little balls of excess fibers. You’d be surprised how often I use the one I bought for maintaining my sofa. This is the current version of mine!
  • Blocking Mats and Pins: I’ve used these for so many projects; pretty much anything that is not a blanket (although you actually do need to block some blankets before assembling them). Wait, what is “blocking?” It’s simply taking your freshly finished project and forming it into shape. You see, sometimes we create an airy and light fabric, but when it’s just completed, all the openings are bunched up, so we have to position it in its final form and either wet it or steam it to stay that way. Sometimes you hear us discuss “relaxing the fibers.” The process is a little different depending on the fiber type.
  • Garment Steamer: You need this to effectively block acrylic yarn (and some other man-made materials or blends). Otherwise, we’re left trying to use a hairdryer on a wet piece of fabric. Not fun. This is the one I use, although sometimes I wish I had a bigger option like this.
  • Pom Poms to finish off a hat can be handmade with these tools (I have done so many times!). You can also buy a big pack of faux fur poms, although not everyone makes hats.
The Serena Shadow Shawl I knit in 2022, being blocked (and steamed). Pattern here.

I Really, Really Want to Buy Them Yarn, Jamie

Okay, okay, this is a bit tricky, but it’s not impossible. It’s just… A lot of us receive a yarn that’s in some specific size or color that is hard to make into something unless we have more of it. Giving someone a single ball of yarn is good for a small garment (hat, gloves, some scarves, maybe baby clothes or dog sweaters). But if your favorite thing is to make blankets, you will need a lot more yarn than one ball. A lot.

The most impressive yarn gift would come from visiting a Local Yarn Shop (commonly abbreviated to LYS), explaining what you need, and letting the staff member guide you. If you can do this, do it. It’s far, far better to support your LYS than to buy online. It means a LOT to the recipient, and they will often forgive you for giving them 1-2 “really nice yarns,” even if they need a little more.

Buying a kit is a great option instead of simply choosing random yarn. This will be a pattern included with enough yarn to finish the project. The local shop will often have these put together, or be able to help you with some ideas. Online shops that offer patterns for sale will have kits or suggested yarns to add to your order. You will need to know if they knit or crochet to successfully purchase a kit.

If you don’t have a yarn shop near you, check out some online retailers such as Knit Picks and Lovecrafts. This may seem overwhelming, but they also sell bundles of yarn designed for specific projects.

Gifts for a Crocheter

Unlike knitting, I have benefited greatly from owning many inexpensive crochet hooks. (Remember, crochet is done with a single hooked tool held in one hand.)

Hooks come in many sizes, and if your project isn’t coming out as you hoped, the first step is always to “try a different hook!” Well, if you don’t already own each half-millimeter increment of hook sizes but need to modify your planned project, this can be a real downer. Owning each size of hook has helped me enormously, even if they were not expensive to purchase. That said, try to buy ergonomic handles when at all possible. It makes a big difference in avoiding pain.

  • The first thing you find on Amazon will be general starter kits containing many items. These are great for a beginner or someone just starting to build their ‘stash.’ Some of the included notions are actually for knitting, but most of the supplies are useful. Some of these include hook sizes that can be difficult to find individually.
    • Here’s a 12-hook option with ergonomic handles (I actually wouldn’t go up to the “advanced” set because of which hooks you get and the fact that the pricier set includes knitting items).
    • Alternatively, I received this set a few years ago, and despite the knitting-only items included, I have to say it’s been nice to have. This includes several of the notions I described above and a variety of hook sizes.

More practiced crocheters may prefer to avoid these kits of many hooks. You can also pick up a hook case individually without the other components, like this one.

  • Fancy Hooks to Impress: If you don’t like the idea of getting the less expensive option, there are some nice options.
  • Affordable Ergonomic Hooks: These don’t have to cost a lot to help alleviate pain. Yes, some people are particular about their hooks, but I’m working on hypotheticals, here.
  • Safety Eyes: These are used when making small stuffed toys or figures (known as amigurumi, this is a specialty of crochet; although you can knit toys too, it’s far less common). You can’t finish your adorable little toy without giving it eyes! These are named safety eyes due to being more child-safe than some other options (although caution is still advised with young children). Here’s a nice set of many sizes to account for a lot of different projects and it also includes “safety noses.” There’s also this option with different iris colors.

Crochet gift packages benefit from these general items I listed above (the general section and yarn crafts section): locking stitch markers, scissors, yarn needles, notions pouch, project bag, and yarn winder, as well as lights, magnification, or the Valari pillow.

Gifts for a Knitter

Unlike crochet, buying someone knitting needles is tricky. More than any other craft I’ve tried, using cheap tools will completely ruin your experience. I was an inch from homicidal rage when I first tried to knit, assuming that I could just pick up whatever was affordable to learn, as I had with crochet. Oh, no. No, no. Inexpensive knitting needles are the best way to take a good-natured person and turn them into a vessel of destruction. Think Incredible Hulk. Smash!

But there are a lot of affordable knitter gifts, so I’ll cover those first. Knitting is super popular; you can find the previously listed project bags and notions with knitting puns more easily than pretty much anything else. Here’s a silly notions pouch, for example.

Knitter gift packages benefit from the general items I listed above (the general section and yarn crafts section): stitch markers (both locking and closed), scissors, yarn needles, notions pouch, project bag, and yarn winder, as well as lights, magnification, or the Valari pillow. Please note that you do not use closed stitch markers — the kind that does not open — in crochet, just with knitting.

Some knitting-only notions need to be mentioned:

Okay, let’s talk about knitting needles. First question: Why do needles sometimes come on a cord to connect them? Briefly, this means you can make a tube or closed circle of fabric (think socks or hats) or something very wide. You’d never find a single needle long enough to knit a whole blanket the width of a bed. A long cord solves this problem.

When choosing needles, especially sets, quality is the first criterion, then needle length and pointiness. The sharper a needle, the better it is for thin yarn (again, think socks or gloves). I usually prefer the sharper point for more projects. The combined length of the needle and the cord, with circular needles, controls the circumference or width of your finished project (like a baby-sized hat). With straight needles, the overall length determines how wide of an item (like a scarf) you can make). I’m not expecting you to remember all of this, but this explains why there are so many types of needle sets.

Knitting needles that do not evoke blood-boiling rage are listed below. They won’t be as cheap as the starter sets of crochet hooks, but please do not gift cheap knitting needles; it is a crime to the craft. There are still plenty of quality options I didn’t list here — this is plenty long already — so please remember the golden rule: if they asked for a specific item, just get that.

  • Straight needles: These have their uses, and I, for one, had put off buying them, assuming “I can make do with circulars.” Receiving a nice set of these as a gift completely changed my mind on that!
  • Double-pointed needles or DPNS: A crocheter rarely needs these, so I’m keeping them in the knitting section, where you need them often. But why do you need so many?! It takes at least 4 of the same diameter to work with these, and your project may benefit from a different length, too. DPNs of a large diameter are useful when closing up a nice chunky knit hat, and smaller ones are almost mandatory when making socks.
    • This cute coordinating set of Knitter’s Pride in the Mindful Collection to match the Interchangeable Sets (below) is worth a look.
    • I’m hesitant to include this set because mine had at least one needle with a manufacturing defect, but DPNs are so helpful that having any is better than none, and all the others are considerably more expensive.
    • I ended up buying individual pairs of this brand as I needed them. They’re fine, but this was not an ideal way to build my stash. Still, if your recipient has requested a size you can’t find in a set, consider Takumi, which has a lot of size options.
    • This Chiaogoo set coordinates to some of the circulars, which is cute. You can often find a coordinating set of DPNs if you know what your gift recipient uses for their regular work.
    • However, if you want to cover all the bases, you’ll also need “fatter” DPNs that can handle bigger yarn. Lykke offers this set with a case in both size ranges.
    • Square needles, what? It’s supposed to help your hand fatigue by providing a more ergonomic grip. Here’s a set from Knitter’s Pride for the sock-knitter in your life.
    • Fancy flexible DPNs are an option if you’re trying to impress a more experienced knitter. These aren’t cheap, and you have to buy sizes individually, so most of us don’t want to dive in and splurge on ourselves. But I have heard they’re very convenient.
  • Circular needles: These come in either ‘fixed‘ or ‘interchangeable.’ Fixed means the needle is attached to the cord and does not come off. Interchangeable allows you to customize the size of the needle to the length of the cord. Why? Needles below a certain size can’t easily add a screw-on tip to make them interchangeable, so those often come in fixed lengths.

I Think My Child or Loved One Just Wants to Try Yarn Stuff

Everything I’ve written so far is specific to people who are already involved in the craft. If they’re just wanting to try things, maybe they would benefit from a kit? I mentioned them earlier, but if you’re looking for a starting point in yarn crafting, that’s a bit different from someone who already likes to knit or crochet.

I have not tried a Woobles kit, but I have heard great things. On the other hand, I do have experience with some of those kits you see for licensed movies and TV. I really do not recommend these licensed tie-ins. Mine was a kit to make Zootopia figures, but you find them for Pokemon, Harry Potter, etc. These are honestly not great. All I learned from my kit was that I needed to learn crochet in another way before even approaching it. I found this Cookie Box brand and have not yet tried them, but they appear more promising than the licensed garbage.

I’ve tried to find some cheap knitting kits on Amazon, but the reviews have steered me away. Remember, a bad experience with a kit can ruin the entire experience, so I encourage you to look for better options, such as this company, Stitch & Story. I have not used their products, but I can tell these are put together with much more care than the random Amazon finds.

Gifts for Needle Workers

There are multiple reasons you would use a needle as your main tool. I’m pretty experienced in most of these. It’s thankfully not as expensive to get started as most yarn crafts, but it really benefits from some quality tools.

Because cross-stitching and embroidery use so many of the same tools, you can use this guide for both (except needles, below). These gift packages would also benefit from the general items I listed above (the general section): scissors, notions pouch, and project bags, as well as lights, magnifications, and the Valari pillow. (Remember what I said about stabbing something thousands of times?)

I’m not going into patterns in this list because I would be writing this post for the rest of my life. There are so many, both digital and printed. Okay, you want just two suggestions? Feminist Cross-Stitch by Stephanie Rohr and the 2015 classic Subversive Cross Stitch by Julie Jackson.

  • A stand to hold your work. These aren’t just convenient; they can actually prevent injury! Your recipient may have requested one already.
    • Floor stands. Let me be bold and say simply that my Lowery stand is infinitely better than any I had previously tried. First, I tried to save money and got an all-in-one from Amazon with a light, magnifier, and clamp. But it was so difficult to position with my furniture, it didn’t extend far enough to reach over the arm of the couch or chair and allow me the full range of movement I needed, and it didn’t clamp very securely, either. I won’t link to that style; I can’t support it; I gave it away. On the other hand, Lowery stands are soooooo nice. They are metal, sturdy, and stable while being easy to adjust and position. I got an extender arm that makes mine a dream for my family room stitching spot. You can’t always find these on Amazon, but here’s a link to one like mine, and here’s a link to the same item at LoveCrafts. I’m not an affiliate with them, but I honestly don’t think it’s worth buying any other kind of stand based on my experience.. I ordered mine from a small online business based in the US, and got the extender arm separately, because it was less expensive. I can’t find a link for that right now, but there is an extra-wide ‘L’ bar available here at LoveCrafts.
      • Tapestry or scroll frames are a little more old-fashioned than the current plastic snap frames, but they can be useful for very large projects, and some people prefer them. This is a large floor stand option that is better quality than others I’m seeing (but I haven’t used this kind).
    • Lap stands that tuck under your leg are popular with some stitchers, but I have not tried one. I wish I had just tried this instead of the more expensive, crappier experience I had with my first floor stand!
  • Stitching frames to hold your work-in-progress. You can sometimes find an off-brand, but I highly recommend just sticking to the original Q-Snap. They maintain tension so much better! While you can use a hoop for this, frames are frequently seen as an upgrade, and useful to own in different sizes. Here’s an 8″ square that I’ve used for years, the 11″ size that is my usual choice, and a convenient bundle that would be a great gift.
  • Hoops can be used in place of a frame or to finish and display a completed project. It’s super handy to have these in different sizes. I also like some of this stretchy material that keeps tension much more easily and doesn’t have a gap at the top to worry about. (Just to be clear, you need something to display a completed stitch, and it’s usually either a hoop finish, or framed behind glass.)
  • Thread, aka Floss: This can get esoteric, to say the least, but a lot of us love having a good collection of classic DMC cotton embroidery floss. Please do not buy the cheap knock-off of this material. Please. It is an entirely different experience, and usually much worse. Also, please do not buy other DMC products, like pearl cotton, instead of embroidery floss. Those have their own uses, but it is not applicable to cross stitch or embroidery.
  • Needle Minders: This is a small magnetized item to keep your needle safe while you work. It prevents the dreaded “dropped needle” and comes in an absolutely bonkers array of sizes and styles. These are collection items for a lot of us and a very desirable gift. I’ve made my own from small buttons and enamel pins by affixing a magnet (real earth magnet recommended!) with E6000 glue; note that you need to cut off the back of the pin with pliers to do this. I was very worried about linking to Amazon for these, but I discovered one of my favorite artists has a storefront! Please don’t buy these from Wish or other low-price sites that have stolen artwork aplenty.
  • Needle Threaders: I never knew I would have strong opinions about a needle threader until I learned how to cross stitch. I sure do now! This kind from Puffin & Co is my absolute favorite because it works with incredibly small needle eyes. It’s also magnetic, so I can keep it on my needle minder!
  • Grime Guards protect your work-in-progress from getting, well, grimy. Holding your frame means your fingers will touch the edges of the fabric, which can add up over time. Even careful hand-washing isn’t as preventative as simply using a grime guard. This is something else often sold by small businesses (mine were purchased directly from someone years ago), but I’ve found a few with Amazon storefronts. These would fit on round hoops, although most people would probably prefer a square that fits a Q-snap, like this 8″ option, or this 11″ choice. I’m intrigued by this fold-over style, which is new to me but would be less bulky to work with.
  • Floss Bobbins are the most common way we keep our materials on hand for stitching. You’ll definitely need a few of these if you’re just starting out, too.
  • Frame Shop gift cards would be an amazing help to someone who is already an accomplished stitcher, but struggles to display all of their finished pieces. I know many of mine are in a drawer waiting for me to get a frame for them. If you can find a local shop, reach out to inquire about this. Otherwise, Michael’s offers framing.
  • Kits are actually a fun option for cross stitch. It’s a great way to get started. You’ll probably want to peruse what the kit includes and consider the rest of the items I’ve listed above, because even if the kit includes the fabric, floss, hoop, and a needle, you can personalize it with a cute needle minder, project bag, or scissors (you could even get a snap frame to use in place of the hoop).
I had just started on this pattern from The Witchy Stitcher. There’s a needle minder holding my needle and micro threader, plus magnetic cable ties gathering excess fabric around my snap frame.

A Note on Needles and Fabric

This is where cross stitch and embroidery deviate. Cross stitching fabric has a grid system of squares, sometimes very tiny, to position the X in a neat, symmetrical way. Embroidery, however, can be done on a wide variety of fabric, with projects ranging from embellishing your jeans to creating optical illusions on delicate tulle.

If you want to impress your recipient, you can buy some small business fabric that is independently sourced and dyed. I’d honestly recommend a gift certificate for a shop like this because we like to pick our fabric to match a desired pattern. My personal recommendation is Mystic Fabrics. I’m happy to know the owner via social media and have a copious collection of her fabrics waiting to be used.

Although using quality needles brings these crafts to the next level, there are some details worth mentioning. First, some people are allergic or have reactions to metal. For this reason, I don’t recommend buying needles without including a gift receipt or checking to find out what kind the recipient prefers (which I know may not be possible). Here are my suggestions that would really enhance someone’s gift package.

  • Needle sizes are like wire: the higher the number, the smaller, more delicate the needle. It’s really handy to have several sizes in your stash.
  • Needle brands matter! We all start with the cheapos from DMC, but John James and Bohin are so nice. It’s kind of shocking the first time a stitcher uses a quality needle. Most are still pretty affordable (especially if you read the knitting section before this one).
  • Cross stitch benefits from a duller point to avoid piercing the fabric except in the designated spaces. These are often called tapestry needles. You can also find ‘ball-tip’ needles specifically for this purpose. Sizes 24 and 26 are probably the most common, although size 28 would be useful for a more advanced stitcher. I really like my ball tips: size 28, size 26, and size 24. Here are the same three sizes from John James: size 28, size 26, and size 24.
  • Embroidery requires a sharper point to pierce through many layers of thread at once. This pack is a popular choice from DMC, and here’s the equivalent Clover option, which is highly rated. John James is my preferred brand, although the sizes are a little different.

Needle Felting

If you’ve never heard of this, it’s basically like sculpting but with wool fiber. When wool is repeatedly worked, it eventually becomes dense and stiff. Think of a sheet of crafting felt that could be cut up for school projects; that’s literally what I’m talking about. Most inexpensive felt is no longer made of wool, but that’s how it began.

I’m kind of new at this, so I’ve put a lot of time into learning what I’d need and haven’t completed as many projects (yet). There are some fun kits out there that have helped me a lot. However, this is the craft most likely to draw blood, and not for kids. The needles are sharp.

Needle felting gifts would also benefit from some of the general items I listed above (the general section): scissors, project bags, lights, magnification, and the Valari pillow (I’ve used mine for this, specifically).

  • Needles: These aren’t like any other craft. The needles aren’t round, rather star-shaped or triangular, with small notches along the shaft. They’re long, super sharp, and can be used individually or in groups.
  • Felting pad: A quality pad is so much better! The foam kind often included in a kit is okay to start with, but they wear out and can start shedding bits of material into the work. Not cool!
  • Wool: This is the medium of the project. You can use a coarser wool to make the bulk of the project, and then finish with smoother wool of different colors. It’s fun to have a wide rainbow of wool available, like an artist working with paint. However, you must beware of cheap materials that aren’t always what they seem. Read reviews closely if you find a dirt-cheap price!
  • Books really help with this craft since you can follow them closely or adapt them to your style. This cute collection has some universally appealing projects.
  • Online crafting classes: I’ve come across several while learning about this craft, and while I haven’t been able to take any yet, it’s easy to recommend; following along with an instructor is always going to help. There are both free and paid videos by Serafina Fiber Art, and having watched several, I can vouch for her skill! (I also received a kit from here as a gift, but have not yet done it, ack!)

A kit is a great option with this craft, just make sure it includes a felting pad, which is an absolute must. Here are some fun kits I can suggest! These slightly derpy, definitely cute dinosaurs by Woolbuddy, or this cactus by Benzie Design (I’ve made a different kit of theirs that isn’t available right now). I’ve admired several Woolpets kits like this adorable hedgehog. Lastly, this isn’t available on Amazon, but my first kit was this one by Going Gnome to make a pair of chickadees. I love them so much, I have to include it.

Macrame

I’m pretty new at this, so I can’t go on for quite as long, but it’s been a fun addition to my projects.

Please know that selling “dreamcatchers” is not an acceptable practice for anyone outside the Indigenous culture. Yes, I know making an item for personal use is sometimes considered a “gray area.” To be clear, I don’t consider it appropriate to make them unless you are learning from an Indigenous person. I would never knowingly support cultural appropriation, and I would rather avoid any resources that offer it as a simple crafting project. Please inform me immediately if any of my suggested resources change their wording to include appropriative content.

Not as many of the general gifts apply to this craft, although you definitely want a good pair of scissors to cut rope thicker than 3-5mm.

Everything Else?!

If you made it this far, you may realize that this post is wildly long and kind of a ridiculous idea in the first place. I’d like to dig deeper into every craft, but this is already far more than I expected to write!

If you’re disappointed that you didn’t find a specific list for a chosen craft, try doing a quick search of this page (ctrl-F or cmd-F) just in case I mentioned it by name. I know there’s more I didn’t cover, especially for crafts I’m not familiar with (yet).

It’s amazing how much more there is to some of these “hobbies.” You may have noticed I’ve avoided that word in almost all cases because I don’t consider crafting to be “only” a side hobby. It’s a creative outlet that can provide incredible satisfaction and happiness and should always be considered respectfully. Whether we pick up a needle, a hook, or a length of rope, whether we sell our finished items or not, all of us crafters are doing it because we enjoy it, and it should always be considered an important part of our lives. Sometimes, we may get burned out and need to take a break, but that doesn’t mean we’re not still crafters, and it doesn’t mean your gift is unappreciated!

I hope this is a helpful resource. If you’d like to see me expand on this or possibly break it up into a series of posts, let me know in the comments! If you’d like to see any of my handmade crafty stuff, check out the tags on this blog or explore my social media links.