What to get your new knitter for Christmas (Children’s edition)
When you have a young new knitter in your life, chances are their Christmas lists are going to look a little different than they did last year. Yarn, supplies, books, there are so many things to try and explore when first getting into knitting. I have two young new knitters in my home this Christmas, and I wanted to share our ideas for what to get your new knitter for Christmas.
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I have two new knitters in my home. New meaning that since last Christmas they have learned to knit.
My girls are six and almost 8 and they’ve been knitting for under a year.
It’s been so glorious to have other knitters, who are my daughters, in the house now. They knit and chat with me, or knit all on their own for a quiet break.
If you have children who are new to knitting, or know other children who knit, you likely want to help them along in this new hobby without overwhelming them. Children don’t need all the latest knitting tools (honestly, nobody does!) and shouldn’t be overwhelmed with yarn stashes.
While I’m freaking out with excitement on the inside that my girls like to knit, I’m not giving them full access to yarn and needles and “let’s start every project we find in every book” energy, because I want to help them nurture this hobby slowly.
So if you have a new knitter in your life that you’re helping spark or keep alive the love of knitting, my hope is that seeing this simple list of what to get your new knitter for Christmas will be helpful to you.
>This list is for children, but head here for my favorite knitting books that make great gifts
What to get young non-knitters for Christmas
The list I’m sharing with you is specific to young children who are beginner knitters. If your little one isn’t quite knitting, there are still wonderful ways to bring yarn into their lives! Reading picture books about knitting is a great way to introduce kids to knitting.
Another really great thing is letting young children wind yarn into a ball. It seems strange, but this motion really helps very young children’s fine motor skills, which benefits them when they learn to knit down the road.
Not sure if your little one is ready to knit? Just try! If they’re not ready yet, try again in 6 months.
>For more information on the benefits of teaching kids to knit, you can read this post.
What to get your new knitter for Christmas
1. Baskets and Project bags
In our house, I added the adjectives “pretty” and “fun” to that. This is the age of bright colors, unicorns and dragons, sparkles and mermaids. Can you tell I have three girls?
Now, I love baskets and project bags for my knitwear design projects, but I really wanted to find ones that’s their style.
Whenever we have an empty box in the house, someone claims it to hold their current treasures. So I know that this is already a way children like to store their things. And while it’s easy to see what’s inside a basket, project bags are incredibly helpful for kids who want to knit on the go, think car rides and waiting rooms.
Our favorites are lightweight drawstring bags (this galaxy bag and florals and fruit bag are pretty prints my girls love) and oddly enough, we love lunchboxes like this one. They hold a great shape and have a wide zip top.
But this is the important part: I plan to get only one for each. If you’re a knitter, you know that WIPs (works in progress) multiply quickly. We can start one project, then halfway through dive into something new.
I want to help teach my knitters to be responsible with their projects and not become consumed with consuming all the projects. So to do this, we’re practicing one project at a time. Now, if their project has passed joy and has now reached frustrating, I’m okay with them frogging it. But I do want to help them focus on one thing at a time. You could even get them baskets or bags in two different sizes, depending on what size projects they might be working on. But giving their projects a home that’s just theirs is really fun.
2. Knitting needles (the kind they like)
Knitters develop a preference to knitting needles over time. Wooden or metal, straight or circular. Knowing your new knitter’s needle style is important. My kids learned to knit on bamboo, plastic, and metal needles. They learned that they like bamboo needles best that are straight or circular. But now that I know they’re not able to use the super long metal needles very easily, I can save them for a younger sibling and buy needles they will have an easy time knitting with.
I do think it’s beneficial for children to have a few of their favorite style of knitting needles that they can use anytime they want without having to check with mom.
ChiaoGoo is without a doubt a trusted knitting needle brand. These bamboo straight needles are only 7 inches long, which means they won’t be awkwardly knitting into their armpit or belly. The quality of these needles is amazing, and I feel good about buying needles they’re going to use for a long time.
3. Knitting needle toppers
I’ve never used knitting needle toppers, but I also learned to knit after college. With children knitting, having the toppers on the needles is going to help a lot of frustration when they first pick up their knitting. We’ve had it happen often that the first three stitches have fallen off when they pick up a project, and they don’t yet have the skills to fix it. So they bring it to me, and I love that I’m able to teach them and show them how to fix it. But I do think that having the needle toppers helps, especially pulling in and out of a bag or keeping safe from younger siblings. Plus it makes it more fun!
I found this amazing mix of knitting needle toppers on Etsy, and they had this really fun gingerbread set. Then there’s this cute panda knitting!
4. Stitch markers
Stitch markers are something you can’t have too many of as a knitter. They get lost between the couch cushions and outside in the driveway. I wouldn’t spend a ton of money on them, but I really like these butterfly charms and simple flower stitch markers. They’re really cute and come with a ton.
Just like going to Claire’s in the 1990s, everything is butterflies, sparkles, and fuzzy animals with faces and these stitch markers bring so much fun hanging from their project.
5. Yarn
My kids have access to my yarn. We keep a basket in our main craft and school cabinet that always has knitting supplies. When it’s running low, I add one or two more balls of yarn. But, picking out a special yarn with them in mind that’s only for their use is such a special Christmas present.
My girls really enjoy sparkly yarn and variegated yarn in candy colors and this soft cotton in Robin’s Egg. I recommend a mix of worsted and bulky weight yarns for new knitters. Brava Speckle has so many fun speckled colors they love, like Cake Pop and Plummy!
6. Knitwear
The last thing idea for what to get your new knitter for Christmas is actually knitwear. Whether it’s a headband, a hat, or socks. Give them something finished, not supplies or a kit to work on.
We love this pattern book full of really adorable tall socks that are knitted with animal faces on them. They are so cute! And my daughters had specifically asked for tall socks
Gifting knitwear to new knitters give them inspiration for what they can do in the future if they keep working and practicing and getting those basics down. Especially if they don’t live with a knitter and see what else is possible beyond rectangles and squares.
They can cable knit a headband, or knit color changes in their own hats. With practice, they’ll be able to do shaping and knit their own socks. Giving knitting inspiration beyond making scarves, small blankets, purses, and stuffed animal sleeping bags shows them what knitting can be. And I think that’s so fun!
7. Books
I’m a library lovin’ homeschooling mom. I already wrote an entire post about their favorite children’s picture books about knitting here. And I mentioned it here already as something to get your really little ones who aren’t knitting yet. But, books have such an importance around here that I had to put it on the gift list for new knitters. My 4 kids voted for their favorite books together, so while my oldest is reading chapter books, she adores the books on this list and will read them over and over again. Especially Annie and the Swiss Cheese Scarf. If you haven’t read that one to your aspiring or new knitter yet, I highly recommend it as they struggle through their first stitches and sometimes knit Swiss cheese.
>Check out this post on how to babyproof your yarn stash.
These are some great gift ideas for children who are beginner knitters. I hope this gave you some ideas of what to get your new knitter for Christmas to help them continue their love of knitting into the new year.
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