Gift for MIL who enjoys knitting/crafts

[FelicisWolf]

Hi all, it's my MIL birthday soon and we're stuck for what to get her as a present. We usually end up just giving her a couple of lush bath bombs and some flowers as they're the typical retired couple who buy everything they want/need so are very difficult to buy for!

So MIL enjoys knitting, sewing, crocheting and pretty much anything crafty but she's got the gear and I have no clue what a good gift down this route might be. A quick amazon search comes up with "Knitting for beginners" books etc which is not appropriate. We don't have any DC (yet) so I can't get her soft toy or baby clothes patterns which seem to be the only other thing I can find.

Is there anything else I can get her? Anything useful that's a "nice to have" for this hobby rather than a necessity? Or anything new I could introduce her to that's along these lines? Any help and ideas would be greatly appreciated!

There are some nice but twee personalised knitting bags you can get on notonthehighst.com. For my mum I have bought her bamboo needles (supposed to be very good) and there are some fabulous crochet hooks out there - lovely wooden ones and others that look like Venetian glass.

If she likes knitting you could get her a nice yarn bowl, they have a loaf on Amazon!

*load

I like crocheting and I would love to receive a Toft soft toy project. She can just make it for herself/ give it as a present etc.

I have recently heard of a Crochet monthly box subscription (just like a beauty box), I would love to get a subscription, but I haven't done any research into it so i can't tell you which one is the best.

Yarn bowl - flying tiger shop had some lovely ones recently
A really nice knitting needle set like the knit pro symphonie interchangeable or straight needles

A voucher at a local nice yarn store or John Lewis where she can get some luxury yarns
Tickets to a craft show at somewhere like NEC

New knitting bag, John Lewis haberdashery have some lovely ones www.johnlewis.com/browse/sport-leisure/haberdashery/sewing-knitting-crochet-craft-storage/_/N-7agz

The attic24 blog has lots of crochet projects, including ones where you can buy a pack with all the right yarns from Wool Warehouse - maybe pick one you think she would like to do?

Oooh there are some great ideas here already, thank you everyone, I'll look into all of them!

Another vote for a yarn bowl. I got a gorgeous one at knitfest this year :)

Maybe a Kaffe Fassett tapestry or knitting kit, they do some intricate designs?

What about cross stitch? It’s easy to learn (teach yourself) and you quickly become competent.
Kits range from beginners to experienced.
If you’re not sure what kind of design she would like (scenery, animals, flowers, landmarks etc) I think a sampler would be perfect.
If she’s familiar with cross stitch and you want a design for the more experienced stitcher, my favourite make is Mirabilia. They only produce the chart; you buy the threads separately, which does make them expensive, but they are stunning.

This is a lovely shop

www.loopknittingshop.com

You may find inspiration, or if she lives within striking distance, she might appreciate a voucher?

You could also check out ravelry.com for inspo, and to see what is trendy/which new pattern books and yarns might appeal.

A cross stitch kit that she might not buy herself. Or a sewing lamp - they use daylight bulbs and are angled so you have the clear light you need.

John Clayton is worth a search if you do decide on cross stitch. Stunning designs.

Try the websites of local (to her) yarn shops. Lots have workshops, you might be able to get her a voucher for one.

I would recommend a wool jeanie, looks quite strange but it's similar to a yarn bowl in that it stops balls of yarn rolling around on the floor but also keeps the tension very even

www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/accessories/the-wool-jeanie

Also if she crochets granny squares this is a fantastic book with lots of different patterns for an experienced crocheter:

www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/accessories/the-wool-jeanie

Sorry this is the correct link for the book www.amazon.co.uk/Crochet-Blocks-Blankets-Throws-Afghans/dp/0715321412?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Vouchers, vouchers, vouchers, all the time. As a knitter I would have to be Polite if given a kit for another craft, or wool, or needles, but secretly I'd be very disgruntled.
Crafters like to choose their own tools and yarn.

How much are you planning to spend?

I would love any of the attic 24 crochet packs from Wool Warehouse, I think the are between £25 and £40?

But I also like really nice stitch markers, they are much cheaper. I would never buy them for myself, I would just use a scrap of yarn, so I love getting them as a treat from someone else. These ones are lovely.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/203353131/handmade-rainbow-cats-eye-stitch-markers?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=stitch+markers&ref=sc_gallery-1-5&plkey=52e08c5577063ac5acc4e5b72396c88237dc97e6%3A203353131&cns=1

I wouldn't thank you for any sort of novelty knitting themed brooch or anything, you see lots of those on the gifts section of any online shop.

What about a subscription to a knitting magazine?

Yarn bowl is also a good idea if she doesn't have one already. You can get lovely ones from local crafters if you want to avoid Amazon.

What about a workshop in something like dyeing/spinning your own yarn? Or needle felting? Some yarn shops do a wide range of classes and you can get a voucher so the person can just choose one that they fancy.

Vouchers are always good.

I agree with PP that I don't love being bought kits for things. I like to choose what I'm going to make.

And "knitting gifts" like mugs with sheep on etc aren't something I'd love either.

While books for beginners aren't appropriate, there's a lot of magazines you could subscribe to for her. Take a look at Knit Now, or Crochet Now or for a mix of both Your Crochet & Knitting. Lots of projects in each issue.

The little box of crochet are fantastic boxes. They are £20.

Bella coco has also just released boxes. The reviews are good but I haven’t personally had one myself.

I’m not sure if ravelry do gift vouchers. It’s a knitting and crochet website with hundreds of thousands of patterns.

I personally wouldn’t get a hobbycraft voucher. The quality there isn’t great.

How about a magazine subscription? Most of the craft magazines have a 3 for £5 offer so she could have a few for a couple of months.

I bought my mil a hobby craft voucher (she makes cards). She was delighted. I think the chance to mooch in a craft shop was almost as good as the voucher itself!

Look up Yarn Harlot, she's a knitter and blogger who has written some good books.

As a quilter & crocheter, I'd say avoid buying fabrics or yarn unless you know exactly what she wants. I'd go with vouchers or even cash with a note that it's for craft items ONLY, then let her go shopping. That would be a real treat for me (takes away the guilt!).

You could also make up a list of the recommendations here (some of which I'm about to look up) & include it in the gift, to show that you've thought about it & to give her some new ideas.

I crochet and I would love a Scheepjes whirl, lovely to work with but on the dearer side so can't justify buying one 'just because'. However, as pp have said, it's a very individual thing so I would be over the moon if someone gave me a voucher for Wool Warehouse (assuming they do them) or for Hobbycraft so I could browse (which is half the fun of crafting to be honest!).