Gift Guide:
The Crafty Maker
Embroidery kit
05
$20
For cool, folksy vibes, we recommend a kit by Hook, Line & Tinker ($30 each).
For something super different, go with a doll kit by Kiriki Press ($39 for the full starter kit or $20 for the basic doll kit). Their patterns are separated into 3 levels – level 1: pig, koala, sloth, monkey, panda, elephant; level 2: kangaroo, alligator, llama, fox, horned owl, bear, fiesta cat, squirrel, tabby cat, lion, bunny; level 3: badger, otter, barn owl, raccoon, matryoshka, wolf, beaver, blue jay, hedgehog, chipmunk.
We also love cozyblue’s range of original designs ($24 each) – their lunar blossom kit is our favorite for beginners.
Need more options? If the person you’re buying for is above beginner level, check out Stitch Palettes’ “The Best Modern Hand Embroidery Kits, A Growing List” (link below).
Get one from Hook, Line & Tinker, Kiriki Press, or cozyblue. Or check out the Stitch Palettes list here.
Upcycled sari silk ribbon yarn by Darn Good Yarn
06
$17-18
This colorful yarn, made from vintage silk saris headed for the landfill, comes in 8 color options for a 50-yard skein. They are created by hand (torn, dyed, and sewn) by women in India who work in safe conditions & are paid fair wages. Give this beautiful, cool upcycled yarn to someone who knits, crochets, or weaves.
Washi tape
07
$3+
A set of washi tape rolls makes a cute, versatile gift for crafters. Washi tape is one of those things that’s everywhere, but most of us don’t entirely know what it’s for – however, crafty maker types can think of tons of ways to use this stuff and can always use more to mix & match patterns and designs. Kawaii Pen Shop has the best selection, where you can get pre-made sets or grab a bunch of individual rolls & make your own set. Individual rolls run around $3-5 a roll, while sets are usually around $6-18.
Weaving kit with loom by BlackSheepGoods615
08
$37
If you know someone who wants to make their own wall tapestry, get them this weaving kit by Etsy seller BlackSheepGoods615. It comes with a pop out loom, tools, instructional, dowel, & 150 yards of yarn, available in 6 color scheme options (each with 5 colors). This kit is great for beginners because it includes the 2 shuttles, a pickup stick, a comb, and a tapestry needle (in addition to the loom & yarn), meaning when you give this to someone, they don’t need to go out and get a bunch of other supplies to get started. The loom is made with Birch from sustainable sources, as certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Screen printing kit from DIY Print Shop
14
$23-290
There’s a huge range of kits (both in what they contain and price). We’ve found one for every price point (for the casual hobbyist in your life all the way up to someone who wants to open their own Etsy shop):
1) 42-piece starter kit by Pllieay ($23)
2) DIY kit by Etsy seller WelcomeToMarlow ($45-60)
3) EZScreen’s basic starter kit ($47-50)
4) EZScreen’s complete starter kit ($111-120)
5) DIY Print Shop’s screen printing shop kit ($250)
6) DIY Print Shop’s XL poster screen printing kit ($290)
Get one from Amazon, two from Etsy, three or four from EZScreenPrint, or five or six from DIY Print Shop.
Books
Make and Mend: Sashiko-Inspired Embroidery Projects to Customize and Repair Textiles and Decorate Your Home
16
$18
“An exquisite, full-color guide to sashiko, a simple Japanese stitching technique that uses stunning patterns to decorate or repair clothing, accessories, and home textiles. Requiring no special equipment other than a sewing needle & thread, Make and Mend introduces the incredibly simple technique of sashiko – a striking hand-sewing method using a running stitch to form pleasing geometric patterns. Sashiko is traditionally used to mend & repair clothing & textiles, but it can just as easily be used to create beautiful, decorative projects for the home. With fifteen projects applying a modern, on-trend aesthetic to this ancient craft, Make and Mend shows readers how to apply sashiko stitching to a variety of craft projects, such as repairing torn jeans, mending a ripped hem, and making decorative pillows, napkins, a tablecloth, & a totebag. Touching on the concepts of beauty in minimalism & resourceful simplicity, as well as a fascination with Japan & Japanese design, this easy & accessible book appeals to both the seasoned maker & total beginner.” – Goodreads
Crepe Paper Flowers: The Beginner’s Guide to Making & Arranging Beautiful Blooms by Lia Griffith
17
$18
“Crepe paper is the best material for creating paper flowers, especially for beginners. It's forgiving and malleable--easy to cut, bend, curl, and shape into peony petals, daffodil trumpets, chrysanthemum blooms, and more. And if you have a Cricut Maker, you can easily cut out the shapes from templates you download for free on Lia Griffith's website using a code. Then, follow instructions for crafting the flowers to arrange and display in vases and pots and as bouquets and wreaths.” – Goodreads
Woodworking: Traditional Craft for Modern Living by Andrea Brugi & Samina Langholz
18
$28
“Rustic Italian style meets Scandinavian design in this stunning collection of simple woodworking projects. Woodworking husband-and-wife duo Andrea Brugi and Samina Langholz invite you into their magical world, where their Scandinavian sensibility for clean design is balanced with organic and aged imperfection inspired by their Tuscan home. Discover some of their key woodworking techniques through twenty simple projects for useful and decorative objects for the home—from cutting boards and simple doorstops to benches and dining tables. With striking photography, step-by-step instructions, and information on the types of wood and tools required for each project, you’ll have everything you need to start handcrafting your own woodworking masterpieces that celebrate the beauty of uniqueness and combine modern design with rustic warmth.” – IndieBound
The Gift of Calligraphy by Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls
19
$23
“An easy-to-follow guide to learning the art of calligraphy, with 25 gorgeously photographed projects that use calligraphy to make beautiful gifts and home décor. Calligraphy and hand lettering have surged in popularity as people rediscover traditional handicrafts as a creative outlet and way to relax. Unlike other hand lettering books, The Gift of Calligraphy shows you how to use your calligraphy skills to create invitations, wall art, wrapping paper, a tote bag, even a calligraphy kit for kids. Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls, calligraphy teacher and author of Belle Calligraphy, brings her signature modern style to this traditional craft. The first quarter of the book provides a primer for creating a simple alphabet and how to find your own personal style of lettering, followed by wonderful projects that will delight your family, impress your friends, and beautify your home, all accompanied by clear step-by-step photography and inspiring shots of the finished pieces.” – Goodreads
The Year of Cozy: 125 Recipes, Crafts, & Other Homemade Adventures by Adrianna Adarme
20
$12-22
With easy-to-follow instructions and warm & comforting photographs, this craft book is “organized by the months of the year and by categories as ‘Live’, ‘Do’, & ‘Make’.” It “offers ideas for activities, recipes, & DIY projects that make the little moments in life just as exciting as the big. Adarme gives us special (but totally doable) things we can do for others & ourselves. From quick recipes to easy crafts, she focuses on simple, inexpensive undertakings that have a big reward: happiness. The Year of Cozy will surely inspire you to march into your kitchen & craft closet to make something you can truly be proud of.” – Goodreads
Get it from Alibris or Better World Books.