Great Crochet Gift Ideas for Crafting Friends

Giving a thoughtful present to a yarn loving friend doesn't mean you have to give yarn. (Your friend will never say so, but most crafters would rather choose their materials personally.) Add a yarn shop gift certificate to your present if it feels unnatural to leave out the string! What else is there to choose from? Here are some ideas to get you started.

Comforting Presents

Crocheting for hours can leave even young healthy hands aching. Arthritis can seriously compound this problem. Why not give the gift of comfort?

1.Good
You can purchase special grips that work on standard hooks. They slip onto the hooks, just like the foam pencil grips from school. The grips turn these slim, sometimes slick tools into a wider non-slip surface.

2.Better
Go one step further and give the gift of hooks with ergonomic handles. These beauties come in a set with interchangeable hooks. They are much easier to hold onto for a long period of time. It's the difference between writing for hours with a cheap round pen and using a Dr. Grip!

3. Best
For ultimate comfort after a long crochet session, soothe those sore hands with heated wraps. Add a package of ThermaCare Heatwraps for Hands and Wrists to your present. The cozy heat lasts for up to 12 hours, easing pain from overexertion or arthritis. You can even wear them overnight, allowing you to hit the ground chaining in the morning.

Gifting Gadgets

New toys, hurray! Who doesn't enjoy getting gadgets? There's a good chance your crochet lover doesn't have these. If they do, doubles are always welcome!

1.Good
Before launching into a new project, most crocheters make a swatch first to check the gauge of their stitches. If the gauge is off, the finished project will not turn out the size the pattern says it will. Disaster!

The Gauge Wizard magnifies and lights stitches in a swatch to make it easy to check the gauge. This tool helps to reduce eye strain. As a bonus, you're less likely to receive a sweater with overly long sleeves from your friend.

2.Better
Center pull balls of yarn are the preferred yarn to work with. Not all yarn comes in this form, and must be wound into a ball or center pull skein. That's why the ball winder comes in at number 2 on my gadget list.

These little wonders clamp onto a standard table and quickly wind yarn into center pull balls with the turn of a hand crank. Any knots are stopped by an attached hook, allowing you to deal with them now instead of midway through a project.

3.Best
This is the ultimate crochet, knitting, cross stitch, or quilting gift, except for the deed to a craft shop. Give them an Ott-Lite. This isn't just an ordinary lamp. By closely simulating natural sunlight, these lamps make it easy to tell the pickiest color shades apart. It reduces eye strain by providing the best crafting light available. It's expensive, retailing for around $270 for a floor lamp model, but well worth the investment.

The Resources box on the left side of this page has links to shops carrying most of these products. If you're up for a field trip, most of these items can also be found in your local yarn shop or crafting store.