Knitting hamper for a beginner - what to include?

[Flippingnorah]

I'd like to make my DM a little basket of things for knitting. She's never knitted before but has mentioned a few times it's something's she's always wanted to do.

I have no experience either. Can anyone recommend stuff to go in the basket? A knitting magazine, needles and wool?

That's full of typos, ruddy predictive text!

I meant JAN Eaton and EASY to follow instructions.

I took up knitting a few years ago. My kit includes a set of metal needles, various sizes in a nice roll, a set of bamboo circular needles, various sizes, a set of double pointed needles, various sizes. 3 yarn needles, some sewing needles (for sewing buttons on) some sewing pins for laying out finished projects, two different kinds of stitch marker - the first type didn't fit on my super chunky needles so had to get bigger ones. Stitch holders (they're like giant safety pins) A couple of tape measures, scissors, a stitch counter, a highlighter, a pen, a clipboard to hold patterns, and a folder to file my favourite patterns in.

I would also recommend the crochet hook, rubber ends, perhaps a pompom maker and maybe a small reading light. And a decent bag to store it all in.

If you get her a teddy bear pattern make sure you get teddy stuffing as well as wool so she can finish the whole thing.

If you're anywhere near Harrogate, it's the knitting show there this weekend. That would be a fab place to browse all the possible needles, books kits etc that you could possibly want and chat to some really knowledgeable people too.

What do you think your mum would like to knit? Clothing? Toys? If clothing, I'd make up two kits, one for a scarf and a matching hat (knotted on the round). That way she can learn two simple knitting techniques that will quickly give results. Chunky yarn knits up faster and can be easier to see the stitch at the beginning so I'd start with that.

I'd make up the kits myself to get better quality needles and yarn than you often find, but that's obviously trickier. If you want to share any pattern name you find / pm me I'd be happy to look it over and see how easy it is for a beginner.

As pp mentioned, Toft do lovely kits (with lovely quality alpaca wool) so if buying individual bits is daunting, i'd go down that route. If you live anywhere near Rugby, they are based near there and do knitting classes too on their alpaca farm, which could also be an option?

There are lots of places now which do beginner knitting classes, perhaps a voucher for one would be useful?