Are you shopping for a Christmas gift for a crochet or knitting enthusiast? If you don’t crochet or knit, shopping for a crafter can be perplexing task. Even if you do, it’s helpful to get updated on the latest popular gift ideas. We’ve posted this list of best gifts for crocheters and knitters that’s brand new and current for Christmas 2024.
1. A Stitch Dictionary
Most knitters and crocheters would appreciate having a brand new stitch dictionary. There are many possibilities; check out this list of best stitch dictionaries posted at knittingcrochetcrafts.com to find our all-time favorites — or read on to see my current top picks.
Our Readers’ Top Pick for a Crochet Stitch Dictionary
The crochet book that has been the all-time bestseller through our affiliate links was Melissa Leapman’s Indispensable Stitch Collection for Crocheters. I own a copy of this book, and it is one of my most frequently-used crochet references; if you’re looking for a substantial gift to give a crochet enthusiast, one that s/he’s likely to get a LOT of use from, this book is a fantastic choice.
Learn More About This Book:
- Click here to see our detailed review of this book.
- Click here to shop for Melissa Leapman’s Indispensable Stitch Collection for Crocheters at Amazon’s website.
- Click here to see what Melissa Leapman has to say about this book; we interviewed Melissa awhile back. If you crochet, you’re sure to find her insights helpful and informative.
Tuttle Publishing has recently released a whole bunch of amazing knitting stitch dictionaries. All of them are worthwhile, but my top recommendation for gift giving to other knitters would be Keiko Okamoto’s Japanese Knitting Stitches: A Stitch Dictionary With 150 Amazing Patterns.
Why this one?
Because it has such a compelling mix of different stitches — some that would be appealing to total beginners; some that are more challenging; some with multiple colors and some that are solid; some edgings in addition to allover stitches; and most of the stitches included in the book are exceptionally versatile and useful. PLUS the book also includes some instructions for finished projects in addition to the stitches. This is simply a great book — and it’s also a great value for the money you spend on it.
But if you’re shopping for an advanced knitter whose trademark is super sophisticated, jaw dropping knitwear that shows off her or his knitting talent, I’d make an alternate recommendation. In that case, Hitomi Shida’s newly-released English language translation of her first stitch pattern collection might make a better gift. This book is truly spectacular, but it would take an experienced knitter to get the most from it.
2. Knitting and Crochet Patterns
Classic Christmas Crochet
This book makes a fantastic gift for crochet enthusiasts — and if you’re a crochet enthusiast yourself, you might also want to grab a copy of this book for yourself so you can use it for crocheting Christmas ornaments and decorative items as gifts for the people you associate with. This is really a lovely book. You can learn more in my detailed book review of Classic Christmas Crochet.
Jorid Linvik’s Big Book of Christmas Knits
If your gift recipient would be interested in knitting Christmas gifts for others, Jorid Linvik’s Big Book of Christmas Knits is a lovely recent pattern collection worth considering as a gift to get for her or him. The book includes patterns for knitting cute dolls and toys for children; fun Christmas themed decorations like Christmas stockings; and “giftable” small projects like socks, mittens, hats and cowls. There are patterns suitable for men, women and children included in the book. Many, but not all, of these designs are stranded colorwork knits that have Jorid Linvik’s characteristic and remarkable patterning incorporated; some are plainer designs that are easier to knit, but still attractive and appealing.
Where to Buy This Book:
The Woobles Crochet Amigurumi Pattern Book: Make Gifts for Every Occasion
The Woobles crochet pattern book would make a fantastic Christmas gift for the avid crocheter on your gift list, especially if s/he enjoys crocheting gifts for kids or kids-at-heart. And, all the projects in this book are designed to be gift-worthy. None of them are specifically intended as Christmas gifts, but they’d make great Christmas gifts nonetheless.
Click or tap here to see my full-length book review of The Woobles book, or Click here to shop for this book at Amazon.
Delicate Crochet by Sharon Silverman
If you want to either crochet gifts for the ladies on your gift list, or give a pattern book to a lady who enjoys dressing well, this is the book for you. The patterns in this book were contributed by a group of extraordinarily talented crochet pattern designers including Kristin Omdahl, Robyn Chachula, Marty Miller, Vashti Braha, Sharon Silverman and others.
Learn More About Delicate Crochet:
- Click here to shop for this book at Amazon.
- Click here to check out our preview of this book at Knittingcrochetcrafts.com
Arne & Carlos Favorite Designs
If you’re in search of knitting patterns you can use for making gifts for your loved ones, definitely check this book out. The book is heavy on patterns for small, gift-worthy items like embroidered slippers and unique dolls. You’ll also find patterns for stunning wearables like sweaters, mittens, a hat and a scarf.
One of the highlights of the book is the excellent selection of knitting patterns for ball-shaped Christmas ornaments adorned with fun Scandinavan design motifs — heart motifs, angels, squirrels, pigs and many others.
Knitting patterns comprise the majority of the content in this book, but there are other types of craft projects, too. Crochet enthusiasts are sure to enjoy making a couple of spectacular blankets — one of which is an unusual granny square butterfly design. Another is an intricate design made up of wildly colorful floral motifs. There are also a few really cool embroidery projects too.
Learn More About This Book:
- Click here to check out our book review of this title
- Click here to shop for this book at Amazon.com.
Selbu Mittens — If you enjoy knitting small projects to give as Christmas gifts to others, or you’re shopping for a knitter who enjoys doing so, Selbu Mittens is a fantastic book to know about. This book is a huge, comprehensive resource that gives you an a spectacular variety of knitting patterns to work on, plus an in-depth history of mitten knitting in the Selbu region of Norway. You get mitten patterns sized for everyone: men, women, babies and children in this book.
3. Yarn
Yarn is a gift that any knitting or crochet enthusiast will find useful. The trick is in picking fibers and colors that s/he’ll adore. The following yarns are a few of my top picks for this season’s most desirable yarns. These are either yarns I’ve personally tried and can recommend, or yarns that are at the top of my wishlist to try out next.
Alpaca Yarns and Alpaca Blends — If you were to ask me which yarn I’d most like to receive as a gift, I’d have a hard time answering you. There are so many wonderful choices. But after a lot of dithering and waffling, I’d be likely to finally settle on Cascade’s Eco Duo yarn. It’s a heavenly soft blend of 70% baby alpaca and 30% merino wool. The yarn is undyed, but despite that the color line is stunning; it’s comprised of gorgeous natural colors which are all lovely and wearable.
There are many other outstanding alpaca yarns available. Overall, alpaca is a lovely choice of yarns to give as a gift; it’s a soft, warm, lightweight fiber, and it doesn’t have wool’s reputation for being an irritant. Of course, it also doesn’t have the resilience wool has — so blending it with just a bit of wool can be ideal for adding a bit of “memory” into the mix.
Smooth Wool Yarns Suitable for Fair Isle Knitting, Fair Isle Tunisian Crochet and Tapestry Crochet — Fair Isle knitting is a hot trend right now. Fair Isle Tunisian crochet isn’t as well-known, but it’s well worth learning about if you’d rather crochet than knit (and a book about the technique makes another outstanding gift for crochet enthusiasts). For knitters and crocheters who enjoy either Fair Isle or tapestry crochet techniques, smooth wool yarns are some of the best gifts you could possibly give. If you aren’t sure which yarn(s) the intended recipient prefers for this purpose, I recommend Cascade 220 yarn and Cascade 220 Superwash merino wool. The Cascade 220 is ideal for felted projects, and the Superwash is ideal for projects that need to be machine washable.
Bulky, Chunky and Jumbo Yarns — Lately one of the hottest trends has been knitting and crocheting with big, hefty, chunky yarns. There are some really fantastic options out there. I haven’t tried all of them to give you honest input about all your options. Of the ones I have tried, so far my favorite is Cascade’s Magnum, which is deliciously soft; it’s an excellent value for the money you spend on it. The available color line is outstanding, and it’s an all-around fantastic yarn.
Splattered and Speckled Yarns — Colorful variegated yarns make fantastic gifts. Right now, splattered and speckled handpaints are some of the trendiest variegated yarns.
Of all the splattered yarns I’ve tried, my hands down favorite is Cascade 220 Superwash Effects. The available color line is spectacular, and I had a hard time choosing which colors I like best. I went with the Pinks and the Pastilles for my first experience working with the yarn, and they were great choices; I love the way the colors complement each other in the swatches I’ve created so far.
I haven’t tried Plymouth yarn’s Baby Alpaca Grande hand dyed yarn yet, but it is at the top of my wishlist.
If your gift recipient likes to knit socks, there’s a fingering weight speckle yarn s/he might appreciate; it’s Hawthorne Speckle Handpaint by Knitpicks. There are quite a few beautiful colors in this yarn; my favorite is the Berry Smoothie, and the Blueberry is delightful too.
4. Crochet Hooks
Selecting hooks for a crochet enthusiast can be hit or miss, as the hook you crochet with is a largely personal choice; all hooks don’t work equally well for all crocheters. This is an area where I’d encourage you to use caution unless you already have a good idea about what kind of hooks your gift recipient wants. Having said that, I do have a couple of suggestions for crochet hooks that most crochet enthusiasts would be likely to appreciate:
- Crochet Lites are wonderful gifts; they enable crocheters to see their stitches more easily, particularly when crocheting in dim light or with dark yarns.
- Having a new jumbo-sized crochet hook would enable the crocheter you’re shopping for to use the new jumbo-sized yarns that are now coming onto the marketplace. It used to be that a size Q hook was the biggest one I could find; I just discovered that “S”, “T” and “U” hooks are now available. I haven’t tried them yet, but they’re at the top of my wish list to try soon. I have my eye on the Chiagoo hooks, which have racked up more than a hundred fantastic reviews from the crocheters who’ve tried them.
5. Knitting Needles
Knitting needles, like crochet hooks, are challenging gifts to select unless you’re knowledgeable about the intended recipient’s tastes. However, most knitters would be likely to appreciate having interchangeable needle sets like the ones available from Knitpicks:
6. A Knitting Loom and / or Loom Knitting Instructions and Patterns
Loom knitting can be a faster and less strenuous alternative to hand knitting, but it requires a different set of equipment and a different skill set. If you know a crochet enthusiast who wants to learn how to knit, or a knitting enthusiast who complains about how long her (or his) knitting projects take, or a knitter who suffers from arthritis, a knitting loom could be a fantastic gift to consider giving.
If you were to ask me to name the most useful loom knitting book I acquired lately, it would be challenging to choose just one, but Nicole F. Cox’s Round Loom Knitting in 10 Easy Lessons is the one I’d pick. It’s both a technique book and a pattern book.
The author of the book, Nicole, is multi-talented. Her pattern designs are genius for their simplicity and eye appeal. Nicole was the photographer behind the inspiring color photographs presented in the book.
I don’t have a recommendation for which knitting loom is the best; so far the only one I’ve tried is an oddball vintage loom I acquired at a thrift store. If all goes according to plan, I’ll be trying out bunches of knitting looms and posting extensively about the topic of loom knitting soon; I invite you to sign up for my free knitting and crochet newsletter if loom knitting is a topic that interests you.
In the meanwhile, I’ll pass along Nicole F. Cox’s recommendations for CinDWood looms and Cottage Looms. If you aren’t sure which sort of loom would be the best to give as a gift, Nicole praises those looms as being “a joy to work with.”
7. A Hairpin Lace Loom
If you need an inexpensive gift idea for a crochet enthusiast, a hairpin lace loom is a fun possibility. Hairpin lace is a vintage crochet technique that contemporary crafters have revived and modernized. It’s currently a popular technique for creating shawls, wraps, edgings, and bunches of other types of projects.
8. Knitting Kits, Crochet Kits and Yarn Kits
Kits make fantastic gifts for crochet and knitting enthusiasts.
Click here to see bestselling knitting kits, crochet kits and yarn sampler packs at Knitpicks.
9. Craft Organizers
- Artbin Super Satchel 1-Compartment, Item#: 6955AB (Pictured at top left) — The recipient of this high-quality organizer can use it for storing yarn, crochet thread, patterns, hooks, needles, or just about any other type of craft supplies you could think of.
- Artbin Yarn Drum (Pictured at upper right) — The recipient of this excellent organizer can use it as either a knitting / crochet project bag or a yarn and crochet thread storage unit.
- ArtBin Thread Storage Tray, Item#: 6820AG (Pictured at center left) — The recipient of this handy thread storage tray can use it for organizing various sized spools of sewing thread. It’s a useful, heavy-duty piece that can either be mounted on a wall, placed on a shelf or tucked inside a craft organizer.
- ArtBin Mini Sidekick, Item#: 6815AG (Pictured at center right) — If the crafter you’re shopping for enjoys using yarn scraps to make granny squares, appliqués or other small projects, this organizer makes a great gift; it’s a good size for storing leftover bits of yarn and crochet thread. It’s also handy for storing just about any other type of craft supplies you could think of, so it makes an excellent gift for crafters in all media.
- Artbin Hook & Needle Nook (This is the translucent gray container pictured at lower left) — The recipient of this handy case can use it for storing double pointed knitting needles, pairs of knitting needles, traditional crochet hooks, ergonomic crochet hooks, or Tunisian crochet hooks measuring less than 12 inches long. This is an affordable gift idea if you’re on a tight budget. If your budget isn’t so strict, you can fill the Nook with hooks and needles before gifting it to the crocheter or knitter on your gift list.
- ArtBin Solutions XL Craft Storage Box, Item#: 3901AB — If your gift recipient needs a compact and versatile multi-purpose craft supplies organizer, this one is an excellent choice. If you’re buying it for a knitter, s/he can use it for storing circular knitting needles, which is one of the main reasons you might want to choose it instead of the popular Hook & Needle Nook mentioned above. If your gift recipient doesn’t use circular knitting needles, the Hook & Needle Nook is probably a better choice, as the rigid dividers can make it easier to keep hooks and needles from getting mixed up.
10. A Multi-Purpose Yarn Store or Craft Store Gift Card
If you know where your gift recipient likes to shop for craft supplies, you can’t go wrong getting her/him a gift card for that store.
If you frequently give gift cards to the people in your inner circle, I highly recommend getting yourself a die cutter and a gift card holder die by Emily Moore Designs. This combination of items will allow you to easily cut out your own charming gift card holders using ordinary cardstock-weight paper. You can use any cardstock, including cardstock printed with Christmas designs — and you can also make gift card holders for any other gift-giving occasions, too.
So there you have it: our picks for the best gifts for crocheters and knitters for the Christmas season in 2024. We hope you’ll find this list helpful for selecting the perfect gift for the knitters and crochet enthusiasts in your inner circle. Happy holidays!
Methodology
The suggestions on this 2024 Christmas gift guide were compiled using a combination of three things:
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- Feedback from our readers via polls and emails; we asked readers which gifts they wanted most for Christmas, and they answered us in droves. (We invite you to post additional suggestions for best gifts for crocheters and knitters in the comments area.)
- Bestseller lists at our favorite craft retailers
- Our own personal experiences with searching out and reviewing the hottest new yarns, patterns and products as well as high-quality, time-tested classics that have been available for years.
Posted By: Amy Solovay
About the Author: Amy Solovay has been crocheting since childhood. She holds a degree in textile design from FIDM and a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics from Sweet Briar College. She managed the crochet content at TheSpruceCrafts.com, and her crochet projects were featured in the book Delicate Crochet by Sharon Silverman, published by Stackpole Books.
You can find more of Amy’s work online in several places. She writes about the crafting industry and owning a craft business at Crafterprise.com. AmySolovay.com is her personal website, where she writes about her observations on multiple other topics.
This page was last updated on 5-12-2024.