Jun
Okay so gifts for crochet people
Look the thing about buying gifts for someone who crochets is you gotta know what stage they’re at because I’ve been on both ends of this and it’s weird. Like last summer 2024 I was helping my sister pick something for her roommate who just started crocheting and we ended up in this yarn store for like an hour just staring at stuff.
Hooks but make it make sense
So crochet hooks seem obvious right but here’s the deal. If they’re already into it they probably have hooks. BUT. Ergonomic hooks are actually different and most people don’t buy them for themselves because they seem expensive for what they are. I got a set of Clover Amour hooks as a gift in spring 2022 and honestly I was like okay sure thanks but then I used them and my hands didn’t hurt after like two hours which was new.
The regular aluminum hooks are fine but they’re not comfortable for long projects. Boye hooks are what most people start with, they’re cheap and they work but your hand gets tired. The Clover ones have this rubber grip thing that actually helps. Furls hooks are the fancy wood ones that look pretty but they’re like $40 per hook so that’s more if you really want to splurge on someone.
Don’t buy a cheap Amazon set of hooks with like 50 hooks in weird sizes. Nobody needs a 0.5mm hook unless they’re making lace doilies and if they are they already have it.
Yarn is complicated sorry
This is where it gets annoying because yarn is personal. I’ve gotten yarn as gifts that I smiled about and then it sat in my closet for three years because I didn’t know what to do with it or the color was weird or the texture felt wrong.
If you KNOW what they’re making right now that’s different. Like if they’re working on a blanket in specific colors you could get more of that exact yarn. But you need the brand name and color number because “blue yarn” doesn’t help when there’s 47 blues.
Safe yarn brands that most people like: Lion Brand is everywhere and reliable, Caron Simply Soft is actually soft and comes in good colors, Red Heart Super Saver is the cheap reliable one but it’s kinda scratchy so it depends. I use Red Heart for stuff that needs to be sturdy like bags or whatever but not for anything touching skin really.
Hobbii is this online store that people are obsessed with lately and their Twirl yarn is pretty I guess, it’s got this long color gradient thing. I ordered some once and my cat knocked the box off the table before I even opened it which was fun.
What annoyed me about getting yarn as gifts is when people buy the novelty yarn. You know the ones with like eyelash texture or the really chunky roving yarn that falls apart. It looks interesting in the store but it’s actually terrible to work with and you can’t see your stitches and it just sits there mocking you.
Project bags are actually useful
This sounds boring but project bags are genuinely good gifts. You need something to keep your current project in so the yarn doesn’t get tangled or dirty or eaten by pets. I have this one canvas bag with a drawstring that I got somewhere and I use it constantly.
The fancy ones have grommets for the yarn to feed through which stops tangling. You can find them on Etsy with weird patterns or quotes about yarn. Some people like that stuff. I’m neutral about it but I do use the bags.
Stitch markers but the good ones
Okay so stitch markers seem like a tiny thing but they matter. The split ring ones are better than the closed ones because you can add them after you’ve already made the stitch. Clover makes good ones, they’re like $4 for a pack.
Don’t get the decorative ones with big charms unless you know the person is into that aesthetic. They get caught in the yarn and it’s annoying. I got some once that had little butterflies on them and they were cute but completely impractical for actually using.
Books and patterns maybe
Pattern books are hit or miss. A lot of crocheters use free patterns from the internet now so books can feel outdated. But there are some good ones. The “Crochet Stitch Dictionary” type books are useful because they show different stitch combinations.
If they’re into amigurumi those little stuffed animals there’s tons of pattern books for that. I don’t really make those much but people seem to like them.
You can also buy individual patterns on Etsy or Ravelry as a gift but you need to know what they want to make. Ravelry gift certificates are actually practical if you don’t know specifically.
Yarn bowls are a thing
These are like ceramic bowls with a slot in the side where the yarn feeds through. They keep your yarn ball from rolling around. I don’t have one because I just use a regular bowl or whatever but people seem to like them as gifts because they’re pretty and functional.
They’re usually like $25-40 depending on how fancy. Wooden ones exist too.
Tools you didn’t know existed
There’s this whole category of tools that beginners don’t know about. Tapestry needles for weaving in ends you need the metal ones with bent tips not the plastic ones. Blocking mats if someone makes wearables or blankets that need to be shaped. I still haven’t bought blocking mats for myself even though I should so that would be a good gift actually.
Row counters are useful for people who make garments because you gotta track rows. The digital ones are easier than the manual clicky ones.
Yarn winder and swift this is like $50+ for the set but if someone is serious about crochet and doesn’t have these yet they’re great. They turn hanks of yarn into cakes so you can actually use the yarn without it becoming a tangled mess. I borrowed my friend’s once and it was so satisfying to watch I put on that baking show in the background and just wound like six hanks.
Subscription boxes I guess
There are yarn subscription boxes where they send you yarn every month. Darn Good Yarn does one, KnitCrate has a crochet version I think. These are good if you want an ongoing gift but make sure the person actually wants random yarn showing up because that can get overwhelming fast.
Some people love them some people are like why do I have all this yarn I didn’t choose.
Gift cards are not cop outs here
Honestly a gift card to a yarn store or Joann or Michaels is totally fine. Crochet people will use it and they can pick exactly what they need. Joann has sales like every week so the gift card goes further.
Online stores like LoveCrafts or Hobbii or KnitPicks do gift cards too.
Organization stuff
If someone has a lot of yarn they need organization. Those clear plastic bins work or there are specific yarn storage systems. Ziplock bags for smaller amounts. I use a combination of whatever I have around which is probably not the best system but it works.
A yarn bowl we already covered but also there are yarn holders that sit on the floor for big cakes of yarn.
Lighting matters more than you think
A good lamp for crocheting is actually super important especially for dark yarn. Those daylight lamps that clip onto tables are useful. I have one somewhere that I got during a phase where I was trying to make a black sweater and couldn’t see any of my stitches it was awful.
Wearable stuff with yarn themes
There are socks and shirts and mugs with yarn jokes on them. “Just one more row” or whatever. Some people like this some people think it’s cheesy. You know your person.
Enamel pins of yarn balls or hooks if they’re into that.
Actually asking what they want
Here’s a weird concept just ask them. Crochet people usually have a wishlist of stuff. I know it ruins the surprise but it’s better than getting something that sits unused.
Or ask what project they’re planning next and get supplies for that. When I was making this blanket last year I mentioned I needed like eight more skeins of Caron Simply Soft in that grey color and my friend just bought them for my birthday which was perfect because I was gonna buy them anyway.
What not to buy
Okay so things to avoid. Those kits that are like “complete crochet kit for beginners” with cheap hooks and bad yarn unless you know for sure they’re a total beginner with nothing. Even then the quality is usually bad.
Really expensive luxury yarn unless you know their taste. Some fancy yarn is $40 per skein and if they don’t like the color or texture that’s a lot of money wasted.
Anything that says “crochet” but is actually knitting. People mix these up and it’s awkward. The pictures usually show knitting needles instead of hooks.
Those hand crank yarn winders that are supposed to be portable but break immediately.
The actual best gifts probably
From experience the gifts I’ve actually used most are the ergonomic hooks, good scissors that are sharp, and just yarn in colors I actually like. The Clover Amour hooks I mentioned earlier I still use them constantly. Sharp scissors matter because yarn scissors get dull and trying to cut yarn with dull scissors is frustrating.
Oh and stitch holders which are like safety pins but bigger for when you need to hold stitches. Those are cheap and useful.
A good tape measure that doesn’t stretch out. The retractable ones are convenient.
Budget considerations
If you’re on a budget the stitch markers and tapestry needles are like under $10 total and actually useful. A nice skein or two of good yarn is maybe $15-20. The hooks are more like $30-50 for a set but they last forever.
Expensive options are the yarn winder and swift set, premium hooks like Furls, or a big yarn haul from somewhere like Hobbii.
Where to actually buy this stuff
Michaels and Joann are the big craft stores they have most of this. Sometimes their hook selection is limited though. Local yarn stores have better quality stuff usually but it’s more expensive. Online there’s LoveCrafts, KnitPicks, Hobbii, Etsy for handmade project bags and stuff, Amazon has tools but check reviews because quality varies a lot.
I got my blocking pins from Amazon and they’re fine but I also ordered hooks once that were weirdly shaped and had to return them.
Random specific things that worked
When my friend gave me a set of those Clover bent tip tapestry needles I didn’t think much of it but weaving in ends is so much easier with the bent tip. Game changer is overused but like it actually made a annoying task less annoying.
Someone gave me this little scissors necklace thing where the scissors hang on a chain so you don’t lose them and I thought it would be silly but I wear it when I’m working on projects now because I’m always losing my scissors between the couch cushions or whatever.
A friend got me a custom project bag from Etsy with my dog’s face printed on it which was ridiculous but I love it. So like personalized stuff can work if it’s done right.
The thing that didn’t work was when someone gave me this really expensive merino wool yarn that was beautiful but I was too scared to use it because what if I messed up the project and wasted it so it sat in my stash for like two years until I finally just made a simple scarf with it.
