The run up to Christmas is a time for creative crafting. I can almost hear the click of knitting needles across the country, as crafters beaver away on their craft project presents. But as well as giving a finished home crafted gift, creative craft kits and virtual workshops also make the perfect gift.
Over the past few years, I think lots of people have discovered or rediscovered the joy that making something from scratch gives. From baking to making, it’s so good for our mental health and gives you such a sense of pride. After all they do say happiness is home made! So what craft kits and craft workshops should you make or give? Read on for my list of crafty gifts to make or give. They are all from small independent makers too, so you can shop small and support our lovely creative businesses.
Embroidery Kit from Cotton Clara
If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen the embroideries I’ve completed from my Cotton Clara Kits. I’ve done four now, and loved every one of them!
Embroidery Craft Kits
Here you can see the Rebels Get Results Embroidery Kit where the design is printed on to the fabric, and you just back stitch around the elements, so it’s really easy and relaxing.
Then there is the Please Wash your Hands embroidery, which is in reverse chain stitch. This craft kit comes with cream thread, but I used two shades of pink too, to tie my theme together.
Board Embroidery Craft Kit
You can also see the Small Rainbow Board Embroidery Kit which you can buy here in several colourways. This is the easiest of all as the holes are already punched into the wood, and you just do back stitch to fill it in. There are different versions of this with words too, which are also gorgeous.
Price: From £8.95 for the board kits, to from £26 for the larger embroidery kits.
Knitting Craft Kits for Beginners Onwards
A knitting kit is a great gift, but it also makes a good self purchase, as then you can give the things you’ve made. It’s a win/win situation as who doesn’t want a lovely cosy scarf or, if you want more of a challenge, something more adventurous?
This Knit Your Own Snood Kit from I Knit Pretty contains everything you need to make a cosy snood, and you can choose from loads of lovely colours.
How about gifting a cushion knitting kit? This gorgeous DIY cushion from Cloud Nine Knits Studio is around 35cm in diameter, and you can choose from lots of beautiful colours to suit any decor scheme.
Or what about crocheting a cat bed for your favourite feline out of chunky yarn? This DIY Cat Bed Crochet Craft Kit is also from Cloud Nine Knits Studio. You can also buy one ready-made – I wish I’d found this when we got our kitten!
A few years ago I did arm knitting with this kind of yarn and found it so much fun!
Macrame Craft Kits from Wool and the Gang
I bought this macrame craft kit from Wool and the Gang and chose black to go with our mainly monochrome decor. I’m going to hang it next to our bedroom window, which I recently madeover with black wall stickers on the old white blind.
Despite lockdown, I haven’t managed to make it yet. And now we have a kitten I think I’ll have to wait a bit longer as she’s obsessed with anything that dangles!
KIT CONTENTS:
- 1 x roll of Jersey Be Good Yarn
- 1 x Shadows and Light Wall Hanging pattern
- 1 x 20cm metal ring
- 1 x 30cm metal ring
- 1 Made-by-Me label
Jersey Be Good is a t-shirt yarn made from off-cuts from fashion factories in Turkey, making this a great eco-friendly gift.
Wool and the Gang have lots of other macrame and knitting kits to choose from.
Price: From £20
DIY Headband Craft Kit
I spent a fun hour making my DIY Headband Craft Kit from AGNES LDN. The kit comes with everything you need to make a lovely cotton headband, and the fabric used is offcuts, so it’s eco-friendly too. You can choose your colour scheme at checkout (I chose Black) so although you’ll know the shade, the pattern is a surprise.
Here is the finished headband, it was so easy yet satisfying to make. You can also buy the headbands ready made but as this kit is all hand-sewn, anyone can do it.
Online Calligraphy Workshop from Merrie & Bright
Calligraphy is a wonderful craft for mindfulness, so it couldn’t me more perfect for 2020! This online calligraphy workshop with optional kit add on are ideal to either gift, or buy yourself so you can write beautiful cards or make pictures to give as gifts, lettering positive quotes to brighten the mood.
If you buy the kit you receive a calligraphy knib, ink, pen holder, and pad, so you can dive straight in to the online workshop. It’s not a live workshop so you can fit it in as and when you like, so it’s great when you’re busy.
You can also buy an online workshop gift voucher.
Price: From £40
Craft Subscription Gift from Cosy Craft Club
(Previous AD) Back at the start of Lockdown I reviewed a brilliant concrete candle making kit from craft subscription service Cosy Craft Club. They have a lovely wide variety of modern craft kits to choose from, including paper cutting, macrame, weaving, knitting, cross stitch, crochet, himmeli, and moasic.
This craft kit comes with everything you need to make your homemade candle so all you need is some peace and quiet to make it.
Not only did I thoroughly enjoy making the concrete pot, and then the inner candle, it makes me smile every time I see it, because I made it.
You can read more about this excellent candle making craft kit on my full review. And here is a quick peek of what you get.
You can buy a craft subscription for yourself or for a loved one, and the beauty of Cosy Craft Club is that you can buy a one off kit here from their back catalogue, or buy a month by month subscription, or a pre-paid 3, 6 or 12 month subscription, meaning this is the crafting gift that keeps on giving!
Price: From £24
Origami Kit and Online Craft Workshops from Origami Est
I am an origami super fan, and have done loads of Origami Est workshops in the past, including making a huge origami lampshade, and screen printing and folding decorations. They’ve all taken place face to face, until Covid struck, and Esther pivoted to doing online origami workshops instead. They are just as much fun, even though I did miss getting an Esther hug like normal! But now, anyone can join in, not just people who can travel to the workshop venue. I recently did the Origami Peonies online workshop and there was a lady on the Zoom call from Germany.
Here are my finished origami peonies, I’m so pleased with them! Even though they look really complicated, they were actually amongst the simpler origami makes I’ve folded with Esther over the years.
A week or so before the origami workshop, you’ll get a box of papers, and whatever else you need to complete your chosen origami project. Then at the allotted time you all log on to Zoom together and Esther walks you through how to make your origami.
All the Origami Est Christmas workshops have sold out already (they are THAT good!) but you can book on to her online workshops for next year and also buy gift vouchers.
Price: From £25
Christmas Craft Kits To Make Yourself
The beautiful craft kits above are ideal to give to a loved one, and the next ones are to make yourself. They do make great early Christmas gifts too.
Christmas Wreath Kits from Emma Hewlett
One thing I will really miss this Christmas is going to a wreath making workshop. I’ve been to three wreath workshops over the last three years and thoroughly enjoyed each one! Luckily you can do an online Christmas wreath workshop with talented florist Emma Hewlett.
She has various times to choose from in December, and you can choose from traditional and Scandi versions – both are equally stunning!
Before the workshop you’ll receive a parcel of the kit you’ll need to complete your wreath. You just need secateurs or strong scissors. This would make a fabulous early Christmas present, or present to yourself.
KIT CONTENTS:
- Live wreath demonstration from expert florist Emma Hewlett
- 12 inch wire ring
- Binding wire
- Moss
- Foliage
- Printed instructions
Price: From £40
Joy & Peace Embroidery Kit
When I was looking for the links to add in to the Embroidery section above, I spotted this lush Christmas embroidery kit.
This lovely Joy & Peace embroidery, it’s the perfect self-gift, don’t you think?
Mosaic Craft Kits from Honey Mosaics
Another festive craft to do before Christmas uses mosaic craft kits from Honey Mosaics. These are perfect for kids to do either to decorate your own home, or to give to relatives as really special handmade gift.
These craft kits contain everything you and your child need to make a Christmas decoration that will be treasured for years to come.
KIT CONTENTS:
- Wooden template
- Tiles
- Glue
- Grout
- Cloth
- Glove
- Spreader
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Instructions
Or how about this gorgeous mosaic craft kit? It would make the perfect gift too, and could be displayed all year round.
Price: From £15 each
I hope you’re feeling inspired with my collection of gorgeous craft kits to make or give this Christmas. Why not save it to your gifting boards for later, or for your own wish list?
