Christmas Gift Guide: Crafty chicas

If you're looking for present ideas for that creative and crafty friend, here are some suggestions that just might help!


For the Yarnista: this Namaste Needle Shell, available from Purlescence for £13.50, is genius. It's like a hard glasses case and it will keep your precious needles safe when travelling - and you can also close it over your knitting to protect your work in transit. Stitch markers are always useful, and The Bothered Owl has brilliant ones, including Lego Heads over on Folksy. Throw in some Lantern Moon rosewood needles too for the best knitterly present imaginable.

Stitchy girl: Jenny Hart's Sublime Stitching is credited with bringing embroidery bang up to date for the contemporary crafter. Her new book, Embroidered Effects, rrp £16.99, is full of projects, techniques and reusable pattern transfers. I love this gingham scissors and this pretty floss organiser (It's pink! It's shaped like a pony! Who wouldn't love it?) from Everything You Needle. Or if someone has been very very good, and Santa is bringing a new sewing machine, then The Sewing Bible by Ruth Singer is a great book to keep alongside it.

Little gems: This great starter kit from Cookson's is only £10.29 and has everything a budding jeweller could want. Handmade kashmiri beads and silver or gold findings (the wire and clippy bits!) are the perfect added ingredients for unique pieces that anyone would be proud of, or for that extra sparkle go wild with Swarovski crystals in luscious colours.

Of course, this also means you can drop hints about the cute embroidered tea towel, pretty dangly earrings or handknitted cashmere socks you're hoping to receive for Christmas 2010...