Really special yarn/yarn supplies - present

[Tittie]

Hi, a friend's birthday is coming up and she is absolutely obsessed with knitting and crochet. I want to get her some yarn that is special, the sort you wouldn't feel you can justify yourself normally if it's a bit pricey - does anyone have some good suggestions for brands or small retailers please?
She has plenty of needles, hooks, cute stitch markers and things, so I think it does just leave yarn really.
Thank you!

There a lovely thought but speaking as someone who loves to crochet and has been bought beautiful yarn as presents, while the thought is always appreciated, unless you're proposing to buy enough yarn for a whole project (which would be ££££) there is a good chance it will be highly admired and then not used, because one or two balls isn't really enough to make anything. And yes, she could use it in a piece with other yarn, but she'd need to match the weight and be sure they would wash well together, and other complications.

Sorry for the typos 🤦🏼‍♀️ and you do sound like a lovely friend ☺️

Yes agreed with above. However I would. Personally love vouchers to wool warehouse

Does she make small items sometimes as that's a good point above about having enough for an actual project. If she makes socks, hats, scarves etc then a couple of balls is fine.

I’d love special yarn for a gift and would enjoy working out how to use it. There are some lovely “selection boxes” of mixed colours (I haven’t bought any of these myself, but they look gorgeous ).

https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/scheepjes-riverwashed-pack

https://www.yarnworx.com/products/emmas-yarn-theme-packs-practically-perfect-sock-20g-mini-skeins

Slightly off topic but in my experience people who love one textile craft often enjoy others. How about a knitters loom? They are great for using all your bits and pieces of yarn and playing with different colours and textures (might be out of budget but just an idea).

https://www.georgeweil.com/weaving-looms-and-tools/rigid-heddle-looms-for-weaving/ashford-sampleit-looms/ashford-sampleit-loom-10-25cm/

Or what about a kit, with pattern and yarn so you know there is enough yarn. These look lovely (I have never bought from here but they look fab).

https://www.undertheolivetreeknits.com/ourshop/cat_1693838-Shawl-Knitting-Kits.html

Or tickets for a yarn show, it's like a knitters/crocheters paradise, entire halls filled with tables of beautiful yarns and tools. There are usually more generalised craft and hobby shows too which have a wider range of crafts represented.

A skein of beautiful yarn is lovely but something like a cardigan uses 10-20 skeins depending on how much yarn you get in each ball, how big the cardigan is and the stitch being used.

I love gradient cakes like those from this seller (no affiliation! I've just bought from them before). One 1000m cake is enough to crochet a good sized wrap/scarf/shawl.

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BramblewoodYarns?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=961807796

Thank you everyone! There's some really good ideas here, and good points about how much yarn she'd really need for projects. 10-20 skeins for a cardigan?!

I do knit and crochet myself but it's just little things and toys for the kids, so I never need fancy yarn. She's on a whole other level, she's honestly amazing!

One other thought, what about a yarn bowl?

I'd second the really cute colour packs mentioned above. Is she on ravelry? I they have done kind of wishlist feature...

I would get her a voucher and then she can treat herself :) that's a lovely idea for a present

What about a yarn advent calendar? Most of them are taking orders about now and would be something to look forward to for December?

Yarn bowls and advent calendars!

You're making me want to buy for myself now

How about a lovely drop spindle and roving from etsy? Or some really special yarn/ voucher from colourmart? They do milk end yarns that are luxury fibre such as cashmere and alpaca - no squeaky acrylic there! it sounds like your friend knows what she is doing, so she may be interested in coloured service of twisting together pliers and colours to customer specifications ( I think this is free?) It's a bit of a complicated website, but the staff are fab and happy to help via email or phone. Also, there is a super helpful and knowledgeable coloured group on ravelry.

Sorry, didn't read that back! Auto correct being a pain...

I meant MILL ends not milk ends!
I meant COLOURMART not coloured!
I meant PLIES not pliers!

I hope that's all. Sorry! X

If she likes to make socks, you could go for a lovely hand-dyed sock set from Biff Sugar Yarns on Etsy (they come as a main skein with a little contrast skein for the toes and heels).

There's lots of hand dyed yarn makers on Etsy, I'd love to buy some, the colours are lovely but they are too expensive for me. Again like the others have said, you'd need a decent amount of skeins.
Attic 24 has lovely kits on wool warehouse around £30 that make a nice gift.