Knitting gifts

[Lookingbackatme]

My cousin has taken up knitting again (beginner level still) and is currently knitting a scarf as it’s one of the easiest to do.

She always loves a new scarf and hat set every Christmas but as she’s taken up knitting I wondered about buying her some really lovely quality wool. I know she loves autumn colours but I do wonder if picking the colours myself is a bit too personal especially considering the amount of time that goes into knitting?

I’ve looked at yarn holders (so expensive!), and other things like bags, place holders and bamboo needles but all seems a bit meh to me. She’s only 50 and the design of many of the above seem very old-fashioned.

Her local haberdashery shop doesn’t do gift vouchers and I don’t want to send cash.

Gift voucher for an online yarn shop? E.g. www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/gift-voucher

Others may come along with better ideas!

In terms of getting lovely quality wool, if you go down that route make sure it’s sold in balls rather than skeins, as a lot of the nicer wool is sold in skeins and that might be a pain for a beginner as you need to prepare the wool before knitting.

I'm a knitter and people in the past have given me gifts of wool - it's never been used and I've ended up giving it away I'm afraid. There are so many variables that go into the choice, it'd be a bit of a gamble and I don't knit with yarn I don't like because there's so much effort that goes into making something.
A gift voucher for wool warehouse would be a great idea, or a subscription to a knitting magazine maybe (you can get a trial 3 edition sub to simply knitting for a fiver at the moment) or a knitting book? I'd love a yarn bowl or a project bag. Or you can get a knitting roll of bamboo needles from John Lewis - not everyone likes knitting with wooden needles though.

If you go for yarn I’d chose some that comes in a kit with a pattern. It can be tricky to have some lovely but random balls of wool which is the wrong type for what you want to make, or isn’t quite enough to complete a project.

Agree not yarn. Project bag would be a great idea, or a needle roll/holder (loads of both on etsy). If not vouchers for wool warehouse or a more local yarn shop would be a great gift. Alternatively a beginner friendly knitting book (recommend knit how by pom pom or bold beginner knits by Kate Davies)

Or you can get a knitting roll of bamboo needles from John Lewis - not everyone likes knitting with wooden needles though
I had one of these 6 or 7 years ago as a gift (Cath Kidston) and the bamboo needles are just getting a bit splintery. I was also given a Cath Kidston knitting bag which is still going strong and handy for taking my current knitting project around with me.

I bought myself a set of detachable circular needles and cables with Christmas money given to me by my mother in law. These have proved very useful.

Stitch markers are useful, I have some plain ordinary ones but these are nice. I might have to drop some hints. www.amazon.co.uk/Colourful-Leaves-Stitch-Markers-Set/dp/B07KQGB7TK?dchild=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I agree with pp. If you want to gift yarn, do it via a voucher for a lovely local store, that way she can choose exactly what she wants or treat herself.

If she knits socks, sock blockers could be useful. I'm putting these on my own list too.
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/626925271/wooden-sock-blockers-pair-bubbles?ref=landingpage_similar_listing_top-5&frs=1

You can get fancier ones but these are the first that came up in my search.

If you have a Flying Tiger store near you they usually have lovely yarn bowls for less than £10.

Aldi do wool packs every now and again, I'm sure they'll have some before Christmas. I wouldn't bother with a voucher, it's a gamble that the shop will still be operating when she comes to use it.

There are some good gift knit sets for knitters that's supply everything you need to make a hat or scarf

Also beginners knitters books with pattern ideas

Thanks everyone for some great ideas to explore!

I did wonder if buying yarn was too much of a gamble so I’ll shelve that idea and look into all the other suggestions. Thanks!