If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a fellow creative or have been asked by someone what you’d like, opt for some high quality haberdashery and elevate the making experience! We’ve put together a handy gift guide of some of our most beautiful and most useful knitting and sewing tools for stress-free Xmas shopping.
SPLURGE
If you’re looking for some ‘wow’ factor check out our top tier tools and haberdashery.
Hexagonal Temari Box
An exquisite wooden handmade storage box honouring the traditions of Japanese craftsmanship. A stunning piece of home décor, perfect for small sewing notions, jewellery, or other odds and ends.
Crafted from the wood of wild cherry trees of the Tohoku region and topped with a handcrafted, plant-dyed temari ball by NONA. This is a truly beautiful piece.
Knitters Block
Blocking after knitting is a vital step to ensuring your yarn blooms and your garment is set in shape. This gorgeous set from Cocoknits contains a set of interlocking EVA backed blocking mats, covered in textured fibre to help grip your garment, a set of steel pins and a gauge cloth to help measure your garment or swatches. This is the only blocking set you will need.
Shozaburo Thread Snips
A fan favourite these thread snips are expertly crafted in Tokyo with the utmost care, one pair at a time, by artisans with a commitment to excellence. Beloved by sewing enthusiasts around the world, extremely sharp, cutting through thread and fabric with ease.
Iga silk braids (also known as kumihimo) cover the handles for a delightful experience.
Awaji Kawara Seam Ripper
This is no ordinary seam ripper - both functional and stunning in design. A ceramic tile handle is glazed and fired, gives a smooth, glossy coat with a rustic texture. A handy little tool for cutting threads, opening buttonholes and ripping back seams. The extra sharp tip is also made in Japan and comes with a leather case for protection.
Masu Pin Cushion
Add an element of modern tradition to your tool kit with this beautifully crafted pincushion complete with three handmade glass head sewing pins. Crafted from fragrant Japanese cypress and a unique Kokura textile.
Asanoha Parquet Pencil Sharpener
A gift for the true stationary lover. This stunning and unique pencil sharpener is handmade with various hardwoods by a master craftsman in a parquet technique called Yosegi-zaiku. The pencil sharpener inside is created by the only manufacturer in Japan who specialises in small pencil sharpeners and the intricate pattern, Asanoha, is a traditional Japanese design that symbolises the hemp leaf and was believed to ward off evil spirits.
Small Scissors with Lacquered Handles
A meticulously handcrafted pair of small scissors, perfect for detailed cutting work. Forged and hand fitted by master craftsmen for a sharp edge and a smooth, hitch-free cutting experience.
The warm lacquered handles are smooth and easy to hold. The red colour is achieved with the Shunuri technique used to produce a vibrant vermillion red, considered the colour of celebration across Asia.
STOCKING FILLERS
A little something extra to spark joy and add a bit of fun to any makers tool caddy.
Flower Push Pins
The prettiest set of three iridescent, flower-shaped push pins in white. Cut from the Akoya shell, or mother of pearl, enjoy the delicate shadow cast by the deliberately set out flowers - ideal for use on a mood or planning board.
Hasami Magnetic Pin Holder
A crowd favourite this cute little ceramic spool uses a magnet to keep pins, needles or paper clips safe. Also perfectly designed to hold a pair of Seki Mini Scissors on it’s outer.
Seki Mini Scissors
A firm favourite in the Cohana range these are the most adorable and remarkably sharp mini scissors you will meet. The result of a true labour of love from a company dedicated to time-tested craftsmanship and inventive ideas. Fits easily into a bag, pocket or toolbox and makes an excellent and unique gift. They are also plane approved!
Maker’s Keep
Simply genius - a magnetic bracelet with a silicon slap on strap designed to hold all your little knitting tools such as metal stitch markers, tapestry needles, metal cable needles and your Cocoknits row counter. Also great for holding pins while sewing or a pair of Mini Scissors. The side of the strap includes a simple ruler for measuring swatches!
Shigaraki Ware Button Magnet
A chic, earthy magnet made of authentic Shigaraki ware in the shape of a button. Finished with a simple glaze and fired to perfection it embodies the Japanese sense of wabi-sabi, or the beauty of rustic simplicity.
Ideal as a needle minder or a decorative magnet. Place one on the inside of your metal toolkit or onto your sewing machine (if metal) and always have a sewing needle handy.
Tombo-Dama Sewing Pins
Tombo-dama beads are a Japanese traditional craft, produced by hand in a variety of colours and unique designs by master craftsmen.
The glass beads are made in house using a technique called millefiori with patented sustainable lead-free glass developed specifically by the maker, Kinari Glass. Millefiori means 'thousand flowers' in Italian and is characterised by its flower-like pattern. Each pin is unique, just like a flower.
TOOLKIT NECESSITIES
These are your bread and butter accessories, the tools and notions every crafter needs in their toolkit - but with a difference! Thoughtfully crafted from premium materials for superior functionality and aesthetic beauty.
Stitch Stoppers
The perfect flexible stitch stoppers that slide securely onto your needle to secure your stitches. These soft, foam stoppers come in a variety of sizes with an opening in the middle to accommodate most needle sizes. Available in a range of colours to suit every taste.
Needle Gauge
Needle sizes are always notoriously difficult to read so it pays to have a needle gauge on hand. Even better if it’s as cute as this one. No more chunky ruler style gauges, this one is designed to fit neatly into the smallest of notions tins and is made from 100% biodegradable bioplastic.
Assorted Needles
You don’t need lots of sewing needles, just a few really good ones and these needles, made in Hiroshima are some of the best. Supple, durable and sharp, various sizes available and all beautifully packaged and ready for gifting.
Glass Sewing Pins
A gorgeous set of 30 glass head sewing pins enclosed in a compact cherry wood box and adorned with a shell flower closure. These pins are manufactured in Hiroshima, a city with a 300-year history of high-quality needle production. Glass headed sewing pins are ideal for sewing as they can be ironed without melting!
Tape Measure
An absolute must for every craft enthusiast is a quality measuring tape. This metal retractable measuring tape from Cocoknits is made from 100% biodegradable bioplastic. No locking mechanism = less chance of breaking and the smooth shape is reminiscent of a pebble in the hand.
Sweater Care Brush
The Sweater Care Brush allows you to refresh and rejuvenate your textiles so they look their best and last for years. Not only does it depill and fluff up mohair and alpaca, it removes lint and other fibres from clothing and household fabrics. A classy and thoughtful gift for the fibre lover in your life.