What a great list! Never enough tapestry needles or stitch markers. A couple of years ago, I ordered a big set of tapestry needles for myself and ended up splitting the pack with my sister, while she split her pack of magnetic cross-stitch needle keepers with me! I'd add the suggestion of a nice project bag. I have one of the big canvas bags from KnitPicks, and it's been my go-to for a bigger project like a sweater or a baby blanket. (I also keep a dedicated notions case in there too. Never enough notions sets.) Love the kitty cameo!!!
Thanks for the video, this was super helpful! It's hard to know what to buy an established crafter that they don't already have, so your ideas to replenish the stores of items that "walk away" are perfect. I found this looking for ideas for my partner's grandma.
I may be the only one who doesn't want a Furls hook. 🤭 I love the neck camera holder! Such a great idea! Project bags are also a great gift, especially if they are made by a favorite YTer. Thanks for the great video.
Thank you! 💜 I have a couple project bags in honorable mentions in the description but I didn't even think to look who makes them! It's OK to not want a Furls hook - I would still only use Boye hooks if I could. I had a wrist injury and Furls were the only hooks that helped me crochet again.
Interesting, I kind of like the weight. The resin hooks are much lighter than metal but honestly, if you don't need the ergonomic assistance they aren't necessary.
My additional recommendation if you're buying for an older person or just someone who crafts a lot and may have some hand pain is fingerless compression gloves. An alternative to those fancy ergonomic metal hooks if those are out of your price range would be a set of different broad handles that crochet hooks can be inserted into.
I absolutely LOVE Furls hooks - they're almost the only hook I can use for more than a few minutes, although I also give a small bit of love to OphireCo here and there (which are a smaller and somewhat cheaper alternative on the resin side). The much-beloved Clover Amours not only hurt my hands, they actually caused them to go totally numb. Don't love. The price point of Furls hurts; but the craftsmanship is there (Elise Rose Crochet has a video where her husband tested the smoothness of various hooks including the Clovers; the Streamline Metal basically blew everything else out of the water) and the money is worth being able to use my hands. I like your list a lot (no one ever seems to believe that little plastic stitch markers are not a bad gift!), and I would add to the mid-to-higher end of the list: 1) If someone wants to give someone a Furls hook, but is too unsure about the size to get, there IS the option of a digital Furls gift card! Then if they don't want a Furls hook at all, they can put the money towards their accessories, yarn or patterns. 2) And yeah, there's also the accessories! Specifically, I'm thinking of their hook trays (while the acacia ones are still in stock, anyway - they're terrible about restocking them unfortunately, I think the other woods are sold out). I bought a hook tray with my first Furls because I was nervous about breaking it, and then just...proceeded to stick it on a shelf and totally forget about it for almost a year. I recently rediscovered it, and I can't believe I slept on it this long. I keep a little stash of stitch markers, tapestry needles, my scissors and the handful of hooks I'm using on current projects in it, and it keeps everything accessible. I'm obsessed, it never leaves my desk in front of me. This might not sound that amazing to someone who has more space to spread out and organize their supplies (there's a small amount of fishing around in the tray that does happen); but my space for crafting is really small, and I previously just had a bunch of separate little tins and containers on nearby shelves that I constantly had to get up and go fetch. So yeah. Small crafting space with at least one tiny table to set something on = a hook tray. Also doesn't have to be Furls; you could totally borrow the concept and find something cheaper. 3) Also, a YARN BUTLER. Sometimes called a "yarn unwinder," though I don't like that name. Basically, anything where you put a cake or small skein (loose skeins will need to be caked, so this isn't good for someone who doesn't already have a ball winder) on a spindle and then it spins and unwinds from the outside of the cake/skein while you work. I absolutely HATE center pulls, I HATE how the skein collapses and constantly re-tangles and I have refused to use the center pull for years...I've just gingerly unwound from the outside. Now I have a yarn butler, and that extra-cautious unwinding in exchange for not spending hours untangling later is no longer the choice on the table. My yarn unwinds smoothly down to the center, and that's it. No tangles, and no skeins rolling around. One common style is that of a spindle sitting on what is basically a Lazy Susan. You can find a lot of 3D-printed ones on Etsy if there's a particular color or aesthetic they'd like. That said, I hear those ones can have issues with the yarn slipping down and getting tangled in the mechanism of the base. Alternatively, you can go with the "Wool Jeanie" style where the spindle connects magnetically to an arm that suspends it in midair and the spindle thus spins freely on the magnet. The only issue with that can be a small bit of knocking if you're pulling really aggressively or at the wrong angle. No tangles, though. I'd recommend wood over the plastic "wool jeanie" style. I personally got a "double header" that has a "jumbo" side that will hold Pound of Love-size skeins and large cakes. The double header is very sturdy and doesn't tip even on soft surfaces like a bed or couch. I've used it every day since I bought it, and have bought extra spindles to pre-load every project on, so I can easily swap them at a moment's notice. I will probably get another at some point so I can swap multiple colors without juggling spindles.
Wow what great suggestions. I did mention a few Furls accessories then had to cut the footage because they were out of stock. I did mean to mention whether it's Furls, KnitPicks, JoAnn, or Webs that a gift card is completely acceptable because it's basically giving a shopping spree. I did test Ophire recently against all the "ergonomic" options but it's over 2 hours of footage I need to cut down. I think a yarn bowl would be more universal - the cats would go nuts over a spindle style but they look very helpful. I just have visions of destruction lol. There's just so many things - those safety eye pliers, funny shirts, this also could have been a 2 hour video if I let it! I didn't think the non-yarnies would sit through it all, lol. I did add the Granny Square deck to my list and a granny blocker (down in the honorable mentions in the description) after seeing the haul from @eliserosecrochet
@@StitchesGonnaStitch I bought a yarn bowl a while back and discovered it doesn't work well for outer pulls, so now it's a fancy candy holder, lol. But for sure, for people who don't mind center pulls...there's a ton of absolutely gorgeous bowls out there in all colors and styles. You could get something very personalized. I've actually seen trays with high sides that have the "yarn bowl" spiral holes in them, so you could combine the tray/bowl ideas if you can track down something like that. A really high-end version would be commissioning one from a local artisan woodworker. Admittedly, I didn't consider the cat issue with yarn butlers, but mine aren't allowed in my crafting space. "The destruction" indeed. Pattern books and stitch dictionaries! Yes, I totally forgot, I have those on my personal list too.
It's hard to recommend those, especially to those who are buying for yarnies. I did put a few on my gift list but I know they're ones not everyone would want.
⬇️🧶Don't forget to help everyone with your suggestions!⬇️
What a great list! Never enough tapestry needles or stitch markers. A couple of years ago, I ordered a big set of tapestry needles for myself and ended up splitting the pack with my sister, while she split her pack of magnetic cross-stitch needle keepers with me! I'd add the suggestion of a nice project bag. I have one of the big canvas bags from KnitPicks, and it's been my go-to for a bigger project like a sweater or a baby blanket. (I also keep a dedicated notions case in there too. Never enough notions sets.) Love the kitty cameo!!!
Thanks for the video, this was super helpful! It's hard to know what to buy an established crafter that they don't already have, so your ideas to replenish the stores of items that "walk away" are perfect. I found this looking for ideas for my partner's grandma.
I'm so glad this was helpful! There are also some Honorable mentions in the description too that I found after filming.
I may be the only one who doesn't want a Furls hook. 🤭 I love the neck camera holder! Such a great idea! Project bags are also a great gift, especially if they are made by a favorite YTer. Thanks for the great video.
Thank you! 💜 I have a couple project bags in honorable mentions in the description but I didn't even think to look who makes them! It's OK to not want a Furls hook - I would still only use Boye hooks if I could. I had a wrist injury and Furls were the only hooks that helped me crochet again.
You are not alone. Furls are too big, heavy for me to use, though they are lovely to look at,
Interesting, I kind of like the weight. The resin hooks are much lighter than metal but honestly, if you don't need the ergonomic assistance they aren't necessary.
I bought some Furls. I can use them but I had to change how I hold my hook. I also wish the throat was a little deeper. My yarn kept slipping out.
My additional recommendation if you're buying for an older person or just someone who crafts a lot and may have some hand pain is fingerless compression gloves. An alternative to those fancy ergonomic metal hooks if those are out of your price range would be a set of different broad handles that crochet hooks can be inserted into.
Great suggestion! I love the brand that makes the blue ones but was not a fan of the ones that are a weird tan that smooshes two fingers together.
I'm so glad you threw in the lip stain. I've been trying to pad out my teen's gifts and I'm not much of a make-up wearer!
They were on sale last I checked. They're oddly satisfying to peel and most shades are not obvious makeup. Just a nice touch.
This was timely as I was making a wish list for hubby and you suggested a few things I didn’t think of!!
I'm so glad I could help! I can't wait to hear what goodies you end up with - what made the top of your list?
I also have many scissors!😂
Enjoying your videos; lots of good info. I just started my channel last month and I’m learning a lot. Thx
You can never have too many scissors! I'm so glad to hear that and that you're taking a leap 🖐🏻
I absolutely LOVE Furls hooks - they're almost the only hook I can use for more than a few minutes, although I also give a small bit of love to OphireCo here and there (which are a smaller and somewhat cheaper alternative on the resin side). The much-beloved Clover Amours not only hurt my hands, they actually caused them to go totally numb. Don't love. The price point of Furls hurts; but the craftsmanship is there (Elise Rose Crochet has a video where her husband tested the smoothness of various hooks including the Clovers; the Streamline Metal basically blew everything else out of the water) and the money is worth being able to use my hands.
I like your list a lot (no one ever seems to believe that little plastic stitch markers are not a bad gift!), and I would add to the mid-to-higher end of the list:
1) If someone wants to give someone a Furls hook, but is too unsure about the size to get, there IS the option of a digital Furls gift card! Then if they don't want a Furls hook at all, they can put the money towards their accessories, yarn or patterns.
2) And yeah, there's also the accessories! Specifically, I'm thinking of their hook trays (while the acacia ones are still in stock, anyway - they're terrible about restocking them unfortunately, I think the other woods are sold out). I bought a hook tray with my first Furls because I was nervous about breaking it, and then just...proceeded to stick it on a shelf and totally forget about it for almost a year. I recently rediscovered it, and I can't believe I slept on it this long. I keep a little stash of stitch markers, tapestry needles, my scissors and the handful of hooks I'm using on current projects in it, and it keeps everything accessible. I'm obsessed, it never leaves my desk in front of me.
This might not sound that amazing to someone who has more space to spread out and organize their supplies (there's a small amount of fishing around in the tray that does happen); but my space for crafting is really small, and I previously just had a bunch of separate little tins and containers on nearby shelves that I constantly had to get up and go fetch. So yeah. Small crafting space with at least one tiny table to set something on = a hook tray.
Also doesn't have to be Furls; you could totally borrow the concept and find something cheaper.
3) Also, a YARN BUTLER. Sometimes called a "yarn unwinder," though I don't like that name. Basically, anything where you put a cake or small skein (loose skeins will need to be caked, so this isn't good for someone who doesn't already have a ball winder) on a spindle and then it spins and unwinds from the outside of the cake/skein while you work.
I absolutely HATE center pulls, I HATE how the skein collapses and constantly re-tangles and I have refused to use the center pull for years...I've just gingerly unwound from the outside. Now I have a yarn butler, and that extra-cautious unwinding in exchange for not spending hours untangling later is no longer the choice on the table. My yarn unwinds smoothly down to the center, and that's it. No tangles, and no skeins rolling around.
One common style is that of a spindle sitting on what is basically a Lazy Susan. You can find a lot of 3D-printed ones on Etsy if there's a particular color or aesthetic they'd like. That said, I hear those ones can have issues with the yarn slipping down and getting tangled in the mechanism of the base.
Alternatively, you can go with the "Wool Jeanie" style where the spindle connects magnetically to an arm that suspends it in midair and the spindle thus spins freely on the magnet. The only issue with that can be a small bit of knocking if you're pulling really aggressively or at the wrong angle. No tangles, though. I'd recommend wood over the plastic "wool jeanie" style. I personally got a "double header" that has a "jumbo" side that will hold Pound of Love-size skeins and large cakes. The double header is very sturdy and doesn't tip even on soft surfaces like a bed or couch.
I've used it every day since I bought it, and have bought extra spindles to pre-load every project on, so I can easily swap them at a moment's notice. I will probably get another at some point so I can swap multiple colors without juggling spindles.
Wow what great suggestions. I did mention a few Furls accessories then had to cut the footage because they were out of stock. I did mean to mention whether it's Furls, KnitPicks, JoAnn, or Webs that a gift card is completely acceptable because it's basically giving a shopping spree. I did test Ophire recently against all the "ergonomic" options but it's over 2 hours of footage I need to cut down.
I think a yarn bowl would be more universal - the cats would go nuts over a spindle style but they look very helpful. I just have visions of destruction lol.
There's just so many things - those safety eye pliers, funny shirts, this also could have been a 2 hour video if I let it! I didn't think the non-yarnies would sit through it all, lol.
I did add the Granny Square deck to my list and a granny blocker (down in the honorable mentions in the description) after seeing the haul from @eliserosecrochet
@@StitchesGonnaStitch I bought a yarn bowl a while back and discovered it doesn't work well for outer pulls, so now it's a fancy candy holder, lol. But for sure, for people who don't mind center pulls...there's a ton of absolutely gorgeous bowls out there in all colors and styles. You could get something very personalized. I've actually seen trays with high sides that have the "yarn bowl" spiral holes in them, so you could combine the tray/bowl ideas if you can track down something like that. A really high-end version would be commissioning one from a local artisan woodworker.
Admittedly, I didn't consider the cat issue with yarn butlers, but mine aren't allowed in my crafting space. "The destruction" indeed.
Pattern books and stitch dictionaries! Yes, I totally forgot, I have those on my personal list too.
It's hard to recommend those, especially to those who are buying for yarnies. I did put a few on my gift list but I know they're ones not everyone would want.