Gifts for Knitters & Crocheters: What Makers Actually Want

Shopping for a maker is harder than it looks. They already own a stash, they have opinions about needle tips, and that novelty mug probably won't get much use. The good news is that makers are easy to please once you know what they reach for every day.

We've been helping knitters, crocheters, spinners and weavers since 1974, and every holiday season the same questions come up: "What size?" "What weight?" "Will they already have this?" This guide is organized by budget and by the kind of maker you're shopping for, with notes on why each pick works.

Quick guide: gifts by budget

Yarn gifts (and how to pick without guessing)

Yarn is the gift every maker secretly wants, but it's also the easiest to get wrong. Three rules make it simple:

• Buy enough for a finished thing. One skein is enough for a hat or a cowl, and two is a generous scarf. A sweater takes a lot more, so leave those to the maker.
• Go for luxury fibers over novelty. Merino, cashmere and silk blends are the skeins makers stroke in the shop and then put back.
• Pick their colors, not yours. Look at what they wear. If everything they knit is neutral, a gray tonal will get used, while a neon variegated may not.

For the cozy-accessory maker: Malabrigo

Available in stunning kettle-dyed colors across versatile yarn bases, Malabrigo is the yarn that makers buy for themselves—and reach for when crafting a gift for someone special. Rios is a superwash merino worsted that's soft enough for a baby and tough enough for the washing machine, and its kettle-dyed colors shift subtly across the skein. For a quick-gratification gift, Rasta is a super bulky that can transform into a hat in just one evening.

For the maker who has everything: cashmere

A skein of cashmere is the ultimate "I'd never buy this for myself" gift. Valley Yarns Brodie is a cashmere worsted, so it's a good weight for a soft cowl or hat. For a lighter touch, Rowan Cotton Cashmere works well for makers in warm climates who rarely wear wool. You can browse the full cashmere yarn collection or our wider luxury yarn picks.

For the blanket maker: a value pack

Blanket makers go through yarn fast. A Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran 10-ball value pack is one color in a machine-washable acrylic, enough for a good-sized throw. If they love color, the Paintbox Cotton DK 10-ball color pack comes with the palette already coordinated.

Tool upgrades they'll use every day

Most makers start out with mismatched, hand-me-down, or starter needles. A good tool upgrade is used on every project from then on, making it one of the most useful gifts you can give.

Interchangeable needles

An interchangeable set lets a knitter screw any tip size onto any cable length, which replaces dozens of separate circulars. The KnitPro Ginger interchangeable set has warm wooden tips with a little grip, so stitches don't slide off. Ask yourself whether they mostly knit in the round (hats, socks, sweaters). If they do, this set is the perfect gift.

Crochet hooks

Crocheters hold a hook for hours, so a hook upgrade makes a real difference. Not sure what size to buy? Match it to what they like to make:

• Amigurumi and small toys: 3.5–4mm (E–G)
• Blankets and everyday worsted projects: 5–5.5mm (H–I)
• Chunky blankets and quick scarves: 6.5–9mm (K–M)

Browse all crochet hooks, or read our favorite crochet hooks first. If they already crochet a lot, a Yarn.com gift card lets them pick up the exact size they're missing.

Shawl sticks and finishing touches

A KnitPro Flora shawl stick is a small, pretty gift that showcases a finished shawl and makes a nice add-on to a skein of yarn. For the sock knitter, KnitPro Aqua Sock Blockers give finished socks a crisp, even shape after washing.

For the serious maker: a yarn swift and ball winder

If they buy yarn in hanks (most hand-dyed yarn comes this way), they have to wind it before knitting. A swift holds the hank while it's wound, which turns a 20-minute untangling session into a two-minute job. The TOIKA wooden swift is made in Finland and built to last.

Pair it with a ball winder. They can hand-wind straight off the swift, but a Clover yarn ball winder is a huge timesaver, and it makes neat little cakes that sit flat and are easy to work from.

Kits: the gift that's ready to go

Kits take the guesswork out of gifting completely, because the yarn and the pattern are already perfectly matched.

• For new or young crocheters: Lykke Amitami amigurumi kits (there's also a giraffe, bunny, and dinosaur) include everything for one small toy.
• For the knitter who wants a quick win: the Malabrigo Entramado Hat & Cowl Kit is a matched set they can finish before the holidays are over.
• For the color lover: the Koigu KPPPM Yarn.com Pencil Box Set is a set of Koigu's hand-painted fingering-weight yarn in coordinated colors, which is great for socks, shawls, or stripes.

Which gift is right for them?

• Just learning? A kit, or a value pack of easy-care yarn.
• Knits or crochets every day? A tool upgrade: interchangeable needles or an ergonomic hook.
• Has a huge stash? One skein of something luxurious, or a swift.
• Still not sure? A Yarn.com gift card. Makers really do love choosing their own yarn.

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Frequently asked questions

What do you get a knitter who has everything?

Luxury yarn they'd never buy for themselves (cashmere or a silk blend), a tool that saves time (a yarn swift), or a gift card so they can choose for themselves.

How much yarn should I buy as a gift?

One skein of worsted or fingering weight is enough for a hat, cowl or small shawl. For a scarf, buy two or three. Leave sweater quantities to the maker, because sizing and gauge vary too much to guess.

Are gifts for knitters and crocheters different?

Yarn and kits work for both. Tools are craft-specific, though: knitters use needles and crocheters use hooks. If you're not sure which they do, choose yarn or a gift card.

What's a good gift for a beginner knitter or crocheter?

A beginner-friendly kit, a set of wooden needles or an ergonomic hook in a medium size, plus a smooth, light-colored yarn so they can see their stitches.