20 Must-Have Fiber & Craft Favorites for Holiday Gift Card Spending

Did you get any Amazon or “credit card” gift cards (i.e. Visa gift cards) for the holidays this year? Not sure what to spend them on? Here are a few, must-have, fiber and craft related ideas!

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These are some of my favorite crafty products (in no particular order). Some of them I received free at some point for reviews or projects, but they made this list because I loved them and continued to use them on a regular basis. To see more ideas, including my non-crafty favorites, check out my Amazon storefront!

1. Knitters Pride Nova Cubics Platina interchangeable needle set

These are now my absolute favorite needles. I won them in a giveaway long ago on Underground Crafter, and they’ve been my go-to needles ever since. They are smooth and slippery, with a nice sharp point. The square shape is comfortable to hold and makes it easier to get your working needle into the stitches. My only wish is that the set started with smaller sizes. It goes from size 6 (4mm) to 11 (8 mm), but I often find myself needing a size 4 (3.5mm) or 5 (3.75 mm).

2. Hiya Hiya 4 inch, sharp, interchangeable needle set

This was my first set of interchangeable needles. Hiya Hiya interchangeables are normally divided into two sets based on size. Sizes 2 (2.75mm) through 8 (5mm) have smaller screws and work with the small cables and accessories. Sizes 9 (5.5mm) through 15 (10mm) have larger screws and work with the larger cables and accessories. There are adaptors that allow you to go from one size to the other.

The set pictured here is a (nearly) complete set with all the needle sizes and a bunch of extra accessories. The one thing it’s missing is large cables. They have included adaptors, so you can use the smaller cables with the larger needles, but that’s less than ideal because it’s 2 joins instead of 1. If you buy this set, I recommend also getting a set of the large cables, which you can find at my Amazon storefront.

If you don’t need everything, you’ll find the smaller sets at my Amazon storefront too. I got mine in a series of smaller sets, as holiday gifts. The 4 inch tips with the sharp points are my preference, but Hiya Hiya does make the same sets with 5 inch tips, and with more rounded points.

3. Clover Amour crochet hooks

These are my “good” hooks – the ones I rarely take out of the house and that always seem to get lost in the couch cushions. The handles have just enough squish and shaping to fit my hand comfortably, and they have the tapered style hooks that I prefer. The regular hook set includes sizes B – J (2.25 – 6 mm). On my Amazon storefront, you’ll also see the steel hook set, which includes sizes 12 – 0 (0.6 – 1.75 mm)

4. Premiun Crochet Hooks Set from Athena’s Elements

This is my everyday set. It’s the set I travel with, teach with, and toss into my project bags when I’m on the go. The handles are similar in feel and shape to the Clover Amour hooks, but the price point is much lower. They’ve changed these a bit since I bought them. The ones I have only show metric size markings, in increments of .5mm. The updated set includes the us labeling, and sizes. It now goes from a D (3.25mm) to an L (8mm). Also, when I bought them they only came in a solid pink case. Now there are 3 color options. I really love this triangle design!

5. Damero Crochet Hook Case

If my hooks are ever all in their home (rather than project bags, coffee cups, and couch cushions), this is where they live. It’s soft and padded, holds 2 complete sets, and includes little pockets for notions!

I originally bought this as a travel case but it’s almost too big for that. Even if I combine hooks and needles and pencils, I just never need to carry that many with me at one time, and they’re usually in a project bag anyway. For me, it works much better as home storage. This grey and white polka dot color is the one I have, but there are lots of other options available too!

6. Storage Boxes (set of 2)

This is what I actually use for on-the-go crafting. I got some of these boxes free to review, and use them constantly. With adjustable dividers, I can create all sorts of travel kits with just what I need. I actually keep one packed all the time with notions for the knit and crochet classes I teach locally. When I’m headed out, I just add in the hooks or needles I need, and of course some chocolate for the class!

They are just the right size to hold what I need, and still fit nicely into whatever bag I’m carrying. I can even fit one into the little pouch on the outside of my spinning wheel bag! See my full review here.

7. ChiaoGoo Amish Swift

When I first asked for a swift and winder for Christmas, many many years ago, I had two options on my wish list. There was this one, and an umbrella swift. Unknowingly, my husband bought one and my mom the other, so I got both and was able to compare. From about 6 weeks after that, my umbrella swift has been sitting in a corner in the closet, and this is the one I use.

It moves smoothly and quietly. I can use it in place of a niddy noddy because it has skein size markings. It also comes apart quickly and can be stored flat. I even made a needlepoint box to store it in!

8. Lacis Yarn Ball Winder

If you’re going to get a swift, also get a ball winder. This is not a top of the line, yarn-store quality, jumbo skein winder. But it is a little workhorse that hasn’t let me down yet, and is much more affordable than the higher end winders.

The downside is it won’t hold really big skeins. About 200 yds of worsted is the most it can handle without trouble. It’s also pretty noisy but that doesn’t bother me. Be careful if the yarn slips off the holder though, it can easily get caught in the gears underneath, which is not fun.

9. Oxo Good Grips 5-pound food scale with pull out display

One of my best investments, I use this almost daily. I use it to weigh yarn when I need to calculate yardage. It helps me to divide a skein evenly for socks, and divide fiber evenly for spinning. Since it holds up to 5 pounds, I’ve even weighed entire baby blankets, sweaters, and other large items on this, by folding them up or putting them into a box. The best feature is the pull out display. If you’re weighing something big that hides the display, just pull the display out and you can still read it easily!

10. Ashford Joy Spinning Wheel

Speaking of spinning, if you’re in the market for a wheel, the Ashford Joy is what I use. Mine is the original Joy, which had a slightly different placement of the handle and flyer. The Joy 2 is the newer version, and also comes with a sliding hook flyer instead of the traditional hooks that mine has. There is a single treadle version available too.

My Joy spins beautifully, but my favorite feature is how portable it is. It folds up tight, with everything inside, and has a carrying handle! If you’re going to travel with it (which you are), the bag is a must have. I bought mine separately and it was quite expensive. It fits the wheel perfectly (of course) with enough room for fiber and notions in the front pouches. There’s a jumbo flyer available as well, but that does not fit easily in the bag. I suppose you could squeeze it in but it would be a bit tight.

11. Unicorn Clean Power Scour, Fiber Wash, and Fiber Rinse

Once you’re done creating your beautiful yarn or project, it’ll need a bath. I got some free samples of these Unicorn Clean products years ago for a review. They are now the only products I use and trust for my projects. I also use them to wash my hand washable clothes!

More recently, Unicorn Clean gave me a set of their baby line, which is the same product but unscented. You’ll find those on my Amazon storefront, but I prefer the originals. The light, lavender scent in the original line is lovely, and though my skin is usually pretty sensitive, it doesn’t irritate it at all.

12. Marsboy Portable Steamer

Sometimes, you want to steam your projects instead of washing them. I do this when I’m in a hurry to block something for pictures. This little steamer is just the right size and works well. Though I got it for blocking, I also travel with it. It does wonders on dress shirts and other things that get wrinkly.

One downside on this one, the heating element does not shut off automatically. You can turn off the steam, but unless you unplug it, it will stay hot. I know this, because I once left it plugged in for an entire day. I was pleasantly surprised to find the plastic hadn’t melted!

13. Stainless Steel T-Pins

Whatever brand you get, whatever size you get, make sure they say stainless steel. If it says nickel coated, it will eventually rust, probably while in a white or light colored project. This year, I made 25 snowflakes, and 5 of them got ruined by rusty pins. I had thought those pins were stainless steel but I hadn’t looked closely enough – they were nickel coated steel.

14. Blocking Boards

These are not the boards I have. The ones I have don’t seem to be available on Amazon. These are the ones I want. They are thicker than mine and come with a carrying bag. My favorite part though is the radial markings in addition to the grid. This would make it so much easier to block circular items (or snowflakes). They also come with a set of t-pins, and yes, they say stainless steel.

15. Limo Studio 24 inch, folding photo box

When your project is blocked and dry, it’s time to photograph it! This is a newer version of mine. It now includes a phone mount and LED lights, which I don’t have. I got mine many years ago, when I was still shooting project photos in my basement. It’s compact to store, easy to set up, and works well in bad lighting situations.

Now that I have a space with more natural light, I don’t use the lights or box as much anymore. I do use the tripod and the backdrops, particularly the white one. The tripod is the one I use to shoot all my videos. Because of the unique arrangement of the feet, I’m able to shoot down without anything getting in my way.

16. Schacht Easel Weaver

At the TNNA trade show last year, I mentioned an interest in learning to weave, and the good people at Schacht gave me one of their new Easel Weaver kits to try out and review. It comes with the loom, which has a built in kickstand, plus all the tools you need to get started.

Well, my weaving isn’t yet very good, but it certainly is fun! If you’re interested in learning to weave, this is a great kit to start with. It’s also fun for more advanced weavers to create art pieces, or small motifs. See my full review here.

17. Sculpey Premo Clay sampler pack

Polymer clay is a fun (and affordable) way to make custom buttons, shawl pins, and other decorations. For small projects like these, a little clay goes a long way. I like this kit because there are so many lovely colors, and just a little bit of each one. I’ve used this kit for Valentine’s buttons and my teal pumpkin ornament, and still have tons left over. I’m thinking of doing some new buttons soon, with those bright spring greens and yellows.

One thing to note – as of the time I am writing this, these are not certified as safe for children. I asked the company directly and they said this particular line has not been tested or approved for use by children or in children’s products
(including buttons for children’s clothing). Sculpey does have other products that are specifically labelled as being safe for kids, so If you’re crafting for kids, I would choose one of those instead.

18. Metal Cookie Cutters Set

Cookie cutters of all kinds are fabulous for polymer clay crafting. I like this set in particular because the shapes are small enough to use for buttons. They also come in a small round tin that’s easy to store. The whole set in the tin is no more than about 5 inches in diameter.

19. 2 Piece Acrylic Clay Roller with Acrylic Sheet Backing Board

This simple set was all I need to get started rolling out clay. It’s small, easy to store, and works well. This product seems to have been updated since I got it. Mine has a white coating on one side of the acrylic sheet. I think this was supposed to be to make it easier to see, but it started to scratch off pretty quickly, so I think it’s better without it.

20. Bold Baby Crochet

Ok, this one’s a shameless plug – I designed three of the patterns for this book, and 2 of them made the cover…how can it not be one of my favorite things?

I hope I’ve given you some fun ideas for how to spend your holiday gift cards. For more ideas, head over to my Amazon storefront. I update these lists regularly, so keep checking back!