Gift guides
Knitting Gifts Under $30: Stocking Stuffers Knitters Love
A small budget buys a surprisingly good knitting gift, as long as it's complete: a skein that makes a whole hat or pair of socks, or a tool that earns its place in the project bag. Every pick below costs under $30.
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Under $15: yarn for stocking stuffers
Good wool doesn't have to be expensive, and a little more indulgence, cashmere or mohair-silk, still fits under $15.
$10Knit Picks · Worsted · 217 yds / 100 gHigh Desert Worsted217 yd of American wool, grown, spun and dyed in the US.Shop at Knit Picks 
$10.50Blue Sky Fibers · Worsted · 123 yds / 50 gWoolstokA round, bouncy Highland wool that makes cables pop off the needle.Shop at Jimmy Beans Wool 
$13.99Knit Picks · DK · 123 yds / 50 gCapra DKMerino with 15% cashmere: soft enough for the neck, sturdy enough for a sweater.Shop at Knit Picks 
$13.99Knit Picks · Lace · 260 yds / 25 gAloft Super Kid MohairSuper kid mohair and silk laceweight that adds a halo to anything it's held with.Shop at Knit Picks
And for the colorwork fan, Jamieson's of Shetland Spindrift is $9.50 a ball of pure Shetland wool, the traditional Fair Isle yarn.
Yarn under $15
Jamieson's of Shetland
Spindrift
Fingering · 115 yds / 25 g
+4
Knit Picks
High Desert Worsted
Worsted · 217 yds / 100 g
+4
Knit Picks
Andean Treasure DK
DK · 110 yds / 50 g
+4
Blue Sky Fibers
Woolstok
Worsted · 123 yds / 50 g
+4
Knit Picks
Gloss DK
DK · 123 yds / 50 g
+4
Sandnes Garn
Double Sunday
DK · 118 yds / 50 g
+4Knit Picks Andean Treasure DK ($10.49) is 100% baby alpaca, a luxury fiber at a stocking-stuffer price.
$15 to $30: one skein, one finished project
This is the sweet spot for yarn gifts, because one skein can cover a whole project: socks, a hat or a shawl.
$22.50Malabrigo · Fingering · 420 yds / 100 gMechita420 yd of superwash fingering-weight merino in painterly colors: enough for a pair of socks.Shop at Jimmy Beans Wool 
$22.25Malabrigo · Worsted · 210 yds / 100 gRios210 yd of superwash merino worsted, enough for a hat.Shop at Jimmy Beans Wool 
$21Rowan · Lace · 229 yds / 25 gKidsilk HazeThe mohair-silk other mohairs are measured against, for a lighter touch.Shop at Rowan 
$16.99Knit Picks · Lace · 439 yds / 50 gLuminance LaceGives a shawl knitter 439 yd of pure mulberry silk.Shop at Knit Picks 
$16.75Koigu · Fingering · 175 yds / 50 gKPPPMHand-painted merino in speckled colorways. Small skeins, big impact.Shop at Jimmy Beans Wool 
$28.50Urth Yarns · Fingering · 435 yds / 100 gUneek FingeringA long merino gradient that shifts color across a shawl without a single join.Shop at Jimmy Beans Wool
Tools under $30
Small tools make good gifts because knitters use them every day and rarely replace them. Needles are sold by size and length, so only choose one if you know what they use.
$24.95LYKKE Crafts24K Gold Stork ScissorsMade in Italy from carbon steel and gold-plated: a little ceremony for every cut.Shop at Jimmy Beans Wool 
$24addiaddiCalibro Needle GaugeA wooden gauge that sizes the unlabeled needles in every drawer.Shop at Jimmy Beans Wool 
$28.50CocoknitsPop-up Sweater DryerLets hand-washed knits dry flat and keep their shape.Shop at Jimmy Beans Wool 
$20.50Lantern MoonEbony Destiny CircularHand-finished ebony: silky, quiet and heavy enough to feel like an heirloom.Shop at Jimmy Beans Wool
Tools under $30
LYKKE Crafts
24K Gold Stork Scissors
at Jimmy Beans Wool
addi
addiCalibro Needle Gauge
at Jimmy Beans Wool
Cocoknits
Pop-up Sweater Dryer
at Jimmy Beans Wool
Lantern Moon
Ebony Destiny Circular
at Jimmy Beans Wool
+4
Furls
Streamline Wood Crochet Hook
at Furls
The Lantern Moon ebony circular ($20.50) is sold by size and length, so only buy it if you know what they use.
Shopping for someone who crochets too? A Furls Streamline Wood hook ($21) fits the budget, and our guide to gifts for crocheters has more.
How much yarn makes a small gift
Pick a project first, then check that the yarn covers it. These are typical amounts for adult sizes:
| Small project | Typical yardage | One skein that covers it |
|---|---|---|
| Pair of socks | 350–420 yd fingering | Malabrigo Mechita (420 yd) |
| Worsted hat | 180–210 yd | Malabrigo Rios (210 yd) |
| Chunky cowl | 80–100 yd super bulky | Malabrigo Noventa (90 yd) |
| Fingerless mitts | 150–200 yd DK | Knit Picks Ewe & Billy (273 yd) |
Small gifts to skip
- Novelty yarn. Eyelash and ribbon yarns look fun on the shelf but are frustrating to knit.
- Needles in a guessed size. Give a needle gauge instead and let them choose.
- A random skein with no project in mind. One skein of sweater yarn ends up in the stash. Choose a yarn that makes something on its own.
- Cheap needle sets. Bargain sets with rough joins snag yarn. One good needle beats ten poor ones.
Questions
What is a good cheap gift for a knitter?
A single skein of good wool, such as High Desert Worsted at $10, or a small everyday tool like a needle gauge. Both get used.
How many skeins do I need for a hat?
Usually one skein of worsted around 200 yd for an adult hat. Super-bulky hats need about 80–120 yd, so check the skein's length.
Is one skein enough for socks?
Most adult socks take 350–420 yd of fingering weight, so one 400 yd skein like Malabrigo Mechita is usually enough. Big feet or tall cuffs may need more.
