Still panicking - adult stocking

[Zaphodsotherhead]

Yes, yes, I know adults don't need stockings, blah blah.

But this is for my lovely lovely friend. She's a widow in her 60's, one adult son who's ASD and thinks a Poundshop box of chocolates is a suitable present for his mum. Her family just send her money. She always does me a Christmas stocking, full of the usual stocking gifts, tissues, chocolate coins etc.

This year I want to give her a stocking. But I want to put in things that you'd not usually think of. So, small adult gifts, not too pricey, bit special. She really has a tough time over Christmas (she LOVES Christmas and hers are always a bit thin since her DH died).

Thinking caps on, lovely MNers. How can I surprise, spoil, and entertain her without breaking my own bank? She's a keen walker, crocheter and reader by the way, but spends a lot of time on her own or with her 25 year old son.

Miniature bottles of favorite tipple crossword book soduku book ready mixed drinks in a can pimms Jack Daniels and coke ect hotel chocolat do nice little chocolate gifts vouchers for coffee shops little picture frame with a family pic if you can get hold of one

Oh more thoughts mini pots of jam honey marmalade a cd if Christmas music

if she does hikes rather than walks how about one of the bottles that kep things hot or cold so she can take a hot drink. Good walkers gloves - thin but warm good length and top fastners

Go to go outdoors or similar and have a look at the clever hat/scarf things they have - thin but warm again but can be warn as neck warmer or hat etc and useful for sharp days when the wind get cheeks/ears and foreheads etc

Carabeenas or however you spell it

book of walks in certain areas

I do an adult stocking for relatives every year.

One thing I’ve had success with before was alcohol miniatures - doesn’t break the bank, can be fun (there’s all sorts of weird and wonderful out there - got my uncle a marzipan liqueur one year!)

A photo desk calendar also goes down well, and there’s often good deals about.

Another website I have used is Bags of Love - they do all sorts of photo personalised stuff, from fabrics (tea towels, blankets) to lovely leather bookmarks/key rings. A little in the pricey side, but worth t if you can find a code/multi buy offer.

If you are near Aldi they have some lovely yarn in that is very cheap.
What a lovely friend you are!

Wool needles like these. Invaluable for darning in the woolly ends.

I asked a similar question and had some brilliant responses on this thread. Adult stocking ideas please www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/3709917-adult-stocking-ideas-please

My own contribution is the re-usable shopping bags from Oxfam - they're made out of recycled saris and are just beautiful as well as being light as air for stuffing in handbags etc.

Thanks, Elizabeth I'll go over and have a look at your thread!

Friend doesn't drink, at all, and is a semi-professional at the hiking thing, so already has all the kit (it's one of her son's obsessions, so they walk A LOT). But other stuff is great, and you keep suggesting things that I know she loves but I've forgotten about, so it's fabulous.

Thank you all so much.

For any crafter you can get 'handmade with love' buttons on etsy. You can even get them personalised.

If she has a fire at home, fancy matches (extra long ones, or ones in a nice box)

What about a nice Christmas decoration if she loves Christmas? Something she can save and put out every year.

Yes to the thread cutter linked by PP. It's on my wishlist. I am a walker, reader and crocheter, and this is my ideal stocking:

Stitch markers are always handy. You can get some really pretty ones - just make sure they are crochet specific. They need to be removable, think necklace clasp.

Yes to Wool Warehouse voucher.

Pretty wooden or porcelain buttons just because.

A pompom maker is also good.

A yarn bowl. Wooden ones are gorgeous.

Some pretty new embroidery scissors.

A non greasy hand cream. Greasy ones that don't absorb make it really awkward to crochet.

Some sock yarn and sock blockers.

Pretty notions cases, tins or bags.

A yarn needle with a pretty needle minder (magnetic so the needle doesn't get lost when facing pesky ends).

A bamboo takeaway cup. My coffee is always cold when I crochet.

A small box of luxury handmade truffles. Four or so is about perfect. Just for a decadent treat.

Bailey's miniatures.

Pocket hand warmers.

Fingerless gloves.

A new booklight.

Pretty bookmark.

Mini flower press.

Bee bombs.

Lip Balm Kit - Make Your Own 100% Natural Beeswax Lip Balm www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N9I1A2F/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_3bgXDbTWFNMKB?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
Something like this. I get awful chapped lips when I walk in the winter but hate buying balm sticks with all the plastic.

A walker's journal to record my walks.

A crochet journal to record my projects/ patterns.

An eco water bottle for walking with.

Not on the High Street has a lovely personalised crochet hook. I've just ordered one for my aunt.

I'm doing my mum a stocking this year. Sophie allport has some lovely mugs, hand creams and candles. Also a foldable shopping bag for her handbag from Sophie Allport. Liz Earle stuff always goes down well. So nice little chocolates.
Not on the high street have some lovely things/inspiration too

What a lovely idea! Could you possibly pop a voucher for an afternoon tea in the stocking and arrange a date for the two of you to go in January?

Leeds2 The town where l work (about 10 miles from home) has a lovely new 'green' shop - loads of lovely sustainable and recycled/recyclable stuff. They do their own 'bee bombs' for about a fiver each, l think, so l'll likely get mine from there. l might get myself a couple while l'm at it, too.

I've ordered a thread cutter and stitch markers, a puzzle book, some nice hot chocolate and some chocolate marzipan. I've also turned out some old walking magazines and flicked through the small ads in there for some extra ideas.

You've all had some wonderful ideas thank you. I hope this thread might help a few others in the same boat (along with Elizabeths thread too).

I just came on to say, make the stocking look special. My mum does one every year and will buy a simple quality stocking but put a glossy ribbon round with a bit of costume jewellery from the charity shop.
They looked themed and amazing but it also shows she cares enough to make the effort to give me a lovely sticking.

Have you thought about turning it into an advent calendar so she has something lovely to open every day? I know someone who does this with a friend and they have a fab December opening one present everyday... I’m similar to your friend and should love this

D'you know, Potential that's a really good idea! She'd love that! Only drawback is I'd have to think of something really wow for her to open on Christmas Day!

My friends kinda of do it with which present following on from the one before if that makes sense? So one week might consist of a book one night, chocs the next, pjs the next then slipper socks.. so by the end of one week they can have a lovely night in with new book and chocs wearing slippers/pjs..
doesn’t that make sense? Presents could depend on your budget... I would love it and my friend always seems to love posting online what she has got that day etc...
other ideas to add to list..
Colouring pens
Adult colouring book
Head torch
Socks ( can never have enough hiking socks if you are a hiker)
Buff
Foot treatment
Book on walks in her area
Voucher for a nice hot choc trip out with you to redeem after Christmas
Voucher for a long walk with you to redeem after Christmas
Wool bowl
Wool ( crafters never have enough wool for their stash)
Pom pom makers
‘Homemade by ‘her name’’ tags

Does not doesn’t

I am now getting Amazon parcels delivered every day and it's like Christmas here! I forget what I've ordered and open the parcel and it's 'whooo - what's that?'

I've acted on so many of your suggestions, stuff to do with crochet (which I know nothing about) and per another thread I also ordered her an illustrated copy of 'The Nutcracker' to bulk things up.

I think I have enough now. I'm torn between the advent calendar idea or putting it all in a pillowcase with a pretty ribbon, so she can dip in during the day and open things. She spends most of the day cooking while her son talks at her (the ASD is a big problem), so I think I might give it to her for the day, to make things feel more Christmassy. We're going on a trip pre Christmas to see the lights, so hopefully that will get her in the spirit.

Thanks again, everyone. My friend has a tough life, her son will never work or live independently, and I have five kids who buy for me and spoil me and turn up at Christmas and cook and I am very aware of how fortunate I am.

Whatever you do I’m sure it will be really lovely for her at Christmas.. what a lovely friend you are