It’s that time again, when I collate all of my favourite purchases, gifts & generic things from the year gone by and call it a ‘gift guide’. The following items are all ones that I’ve been loving this year & think you guys (or your friends, family members and assorted other loved ones) might love too!

As always, I’ve organised this year’s gift guide by price to make it as helpful as possible, so hopefully there’ll be something on here to suit every budget!

If you want even more gift ideas, you can check out my gift guides from the previous two years here:

• 2024 Christmas Gift Guide
• 2023 Gift Guide for Bullet Journalers
• 2023 Gift Guide for Knitters and Crocheters
• 2023 Gift Guide for Bakers

Also, a quick disclaimer! All of the products in this guide have either been purchased independently by me for myself, or purchased by friends/family for me as gifts. None of the links in this post are affiliate links, nor does this post feature any ads/brand partnerships.

Table of Contents

• £15 or Less
• £20 or Less
• £25 or Less
• £30 or Less
• £50 or Less

£15 or Less

Problematic Summer Romance – Ali Hazelwood, £9.99 from Waterstones

Look, we all know that Ali Hazelwood is popular, but I would argue that Problematic Summer Romance, one of her 3 (!) releases this year, is severely under-hyped. This was my most highly anticipated release of 2025 and it definitely lived up to my expectations: my favourite book of the year by FAR.

The Gnomes of Grimblewood – Sarah Schira, £11.85 from Amazon

Is anyone surprised this made the list? The Gnomes of Grimblewood is a knitting pattern book that has brought me such fun & joy all year. The book contains 8 finished gnome patterns, plus the ability to mix and match individual elements to make your own Franken-gnomes, so it’s really good value for money!

Persephone Books, £15.00 each (or 3 for £40.00)

Persephone Books is a Bath-based company that reprints neglected books, predominantly by 20th century, female authors. All of the books in their main collection feature the same grey, hardback cover and can be purchased for £15 each. It’s a great way of buying a book for people who love to read that will still surprise them! Plus, Persephone Books has a great section on their website called ‘May We Recommend?‘ which contains loads of suggestions of titles for different readers & preferences, which makes gifting them (and buying them for yourself) even easier!

£20 or Less

Tales from the Hoop Christmas Felt Letter Kit, from £18.50 on Etsy

I bought this kit for myself as a festive project this year (more on that in a future post— the photo above is just a little sneak peak!) and I LOVED it. You get absolutely everything you need to make the cutest Christmas decoration(s), plus detailed, easy-to-follow instructions and helpful hints. The letters themselves are surprisingly really straightforward and speedy to make, so I really enjoyed the whole process! You can choose which/how many letters you purchase (after the first letter, the price increases very marginally, so definitely buy them together if you want multiples!), so it’s really easy to personalise them to your own family/friends.

PacificKnitCo Doodle Decks, from £19.00 from PacificKnitCo

Funnily enough, my mum and I both bought each other Doodle Decks for Christmas last year and they are exactly as fun as they look online: they’re essentially sets of little colourwork charts for knitting, with each chart printed on a separate ‘playing card’ (hence the name: Doodle Deck). There’s a huge range of different collections: I have the Arctic Expansion (£19.00) and the Autumn Deck (£22.00), but I also have my eye on the Romance and Fairytale packs!

£25 or Less

Fenty Skin Hydrating Strengthening Lip Oil, £21.00 from John Lewis

Everyone has their own skincare concerns/struggles, and mine is 100% chapped lips. Matte lipstick is my worst nightmare (and, if I’m being honest, even regular lipstick causes me some problems!), so tinted lip oils are right up my alley. My mum bought me this one for Christmas last year in the shade Black Cherry and I’ve been loving it all year long. It’s a kind of oil/gloss hybrid, so it’s really nourishing and hydrating, while still looking really lovely on the lips.

Rare Beauty Tinted Lip Oil, £21.00 from Sephora

Another lip oil for good measure, the Rare Beauty versions are slightly less glossy and slightly more of a stain than the Fenty Skin one, but still super hydrating and wearable on a day-to-day basis. I have three shades (from left to right): Affection (a deep purple: not my usual colour, but surprisingly flattering in moderation), Delight (very much a my-lips-but-better shade) and Joy (a bright peachy, summer-y hue).

Fruitcake Vinyl – Sabrina Carpenter, £21.99 from Sabrina Carpenter UK Store

Sabrina Carpenter’s festive offering is equal parts fun, ridiculous and festive (in other words, it’s an underrated masterpiece). I have the ‘Fruit Punch’ colourway from last year (because I’m a sucker for a limited edition) but, this year, it’s available in the classic ‘Olive Green’ shade, as well as the (slightly more expensive) ‘Milky Clear’ edition, so there are lots of options!

£30 or Less

The German Christmas Cookbook – Jurgen Krauss, £26.00 from Waterstones

Do you guys remember Jurgen from the Great British Bake Off? I was obsessed with him, so when I saw he had a cookbook coming out this year (and that it was Christmas-themed no less), I threw out my previous vow to refrain from adding to my Christmas cookbook collection this year and snapped it UP. The book is full of both classic recipes and modern twists: I was worried it would be a little too similar to my other German Christmas cookbook (Advent, by Anja Dunk), but it’s not at all!

Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector, £28.00 from Cult Beauty

This was the first product from Olaplex that I ever tried and I fell in love immediately: I’ve been using it on special occasions (it is pretty pricey) ever since. It’s essentially a hair mask, so you put it on wet hair, then leave it for a while before rinsing it out and washing your hair. I really notice that my hair feels so much healthier, stronger and softer after using it!

The Loopy Whisk: The Elements of Baking – Katarina Cermelj, £30.00 from Waterstones

My sister bought me this cookbook for Christmas last year and it has been game-changing. Gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free and vegan baking can all be exceptionally challenging and for years I just could not figure them out… until this book. It’s filled with scientific explanations, clear guidelines and simple substitution advice that can be applied to your own recipes in order to adjust them to your preferred diet, along with a plethora of ready-adapted recipes. I really think this book is a must-have for any baker.

£50 or Less

Crumbs – Ben Mims, £34.95 from Waterstones

One more cookbook for good measure, this one solely focuses on cookies/biscuits. Sold already? I thought so. If that’s not enough, though, the cookbook quite literally takes you on a cookie tour of the globe, supplying iconic (and lesser-known) recipes from all over the world. If you’re a fan of my Baking Around the World series, you’ll love this book.

Ocean Bottle GO, £38.00 from Ocean Bottle

Look, everybody needs a good, refillable water bottle and this one, partly made from recycled, ocean-bound plastic is my absolute favourite for when I’m out and about (which, admittedly, rarely occurs, but does happen sometimes). It’s lightweight, has a straw (the dream) AND not only does the purchase of each bottle fund the collection of 1,000 plastic bottles from the ocean, but for every refill (you can record them on the app), Ocean Bottle collects a further 5 plastic bottles before they reach the ocean.

Anddddd that’s my 2025 Christmas Gift Guide! I hope it’s helpful!

Gemma

xxx

Last year, I created 3 separate gift guides for the festive season, each with a different theme. I still love all of those picks, so, if you’re looking for something specific, I’d recommend checking them out! You can find those posts here:

• 2023 Gift Guide for Bullet Journalers
• 2023 Gift Guide for Knitters and Crocheters
• 2023 Gift Guide for Bakers

This year, I’ve opted to make one, bumper gift guide. In this post, you’ll find a chaotic mix of things that I’ve been loving this year, which will hopefully give you some new and interesting ideas for your own gift-giving. To help you navigate through the list, I’ve organised all of the items by price.

A quick disclaimer: 

This post contains no sponsored items, affiliate links or items otherwise gifted from brands. I'm just a small town blogger (at the moment)! Everything listed is something I have purchased for myself, received as a gift from a family member/friend, or have tried out. All comments/reviews are my own personal opinions.

All prices listed are correct at time of writing, but please be aware that they may change over time. 

Table of Contents

• Gifts Under £5
• Gifts Under £10
• Gifts Under £15
• Gifts Under £30
• Gifts Under £55
• Gifts Under £80

Gifts Under £5

The Selected Poems of Emily Dickinson – Wordsworth Poetry Library – £4.99

I recently picked this book up for myself and I was just so impressed by how beautiful it is, especially given the low price point! I think this would make a perfect stocking filler.

Buy it from Waterstones here.

Books by Melissa Nathan – from £3.50

Okay, so this one’s a little more vague because these books can be tricky to source, but I really love them so I wanted to include them here! You’re more likely to find them from second-hand booksellers, such as World of Books, but I promise they are worth the faff of finding them (and buying secondhand is a great way to keep Christmas slightly more sustainable!).

Melissa Nathan (who very sadly passed away from cancer in 2006), wrote 5 witty, rom-com style books: Acting Up (a modern take on Pride and Prejudice), Persuading Annie (a modern take on Persuasion), The Nanny (my personal favourite), The Waitress and The Learning Curve (which was published posthumously). They are all super comforting, lighthearted reads that I think any rom-com reader would love. If you have any friends/family members who are big Jane Austen fans, the first two books would make especially great gifts!

Buy them from World of Books here.

Gifts Under £10

White Mausu Peanut Rayu – £6.99

This is a rogue entry, but this Peanut Rayu from Dublin-based White Mausu would make the perfect, unusual gift for any foodie. It’s essentially a condiment, made with peanuts, sesame oil, chilli and all sorts of other delicious things, but you can essentially treat it like a tasty chilli oil: it can be used as a dipping sauce, a finishing drizzle, a seasoning— the possibilities are endless!

Buy it from Sous Chef here.

Hotel Chocolat Chocolate Gemstones – £7.95 (or 2 for £14)

I love these Chocolate Gemstones— they’re basically just little chocolate drops, but extra fancy. According to the Hotel Chocolat website, individual white and dark chocolate drops are fused together to make these shiny morsels, so you never know whether each one will be all white, all dark, or a delicious combo of both. Again, these would make a great stocking filler!

Buy them from Hotel Chocolat here.

When Santa Fell to Earth by Cornelia Funke – £9.99

Another book from way back when (2004, to be exact), this children’s book was one of my favourites when I was growing up. It features a slightly different take on Christmas, where there are multiple Santas, invisible reindeer and the very real threat of being turned into chocolate. What more could you want?

Buy it from Waterstones here.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett – £9.99

I read this book earlier on this year and absolutely LOVED it. It’s very different to any fantasy book I’ve read before, so it felt really new and exciting, while also being a very gentle, comforting read. It’s written like a scholarly journal, which sounds a bit dry, but it’s infused with a dry sense of wit and humour that makes it thoroughly entertaining. It’s an unusual book and, from the reviews I’ve read, people either loved it (like me) or just weren’t into it at all, but if there are any readers in your life, I’m sure they’d love to give it a go! The second book in the series (Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands) was released earlier this year, while the third book (Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales), is due to be published early next year.

Buy it from Waterstones here.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood – £9.99

Ah, another book, but a completely different vibe. Firstly, this book is much more… adult than the other books on this list (she’s spicy), so it’s definitely not one to be buying for children! Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this book— I’ve enjoyed all of Ali Hazelwood’s usual, romcom-style novels, but this is a different direction for her, which I loved. This would be a perfect gift for readers, fans of Twilight or just lovers of the supernatural in general!

Buy it from Waterstones here.

Gifts Under £15

How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? by Mac Barnett (illustrated by Jon Klassen) – £12.99

Anddddd we’re back to the child-friendly books with this gorgeous, illustrated, festive pick. This book would be the perfect present for families with young children, where reading it every year can become a fun tradition.

Buy it from Waterstones here.

Spectacular by Stephanie Garber – £13.99

I read the Caraval trilogy for the first time this year, which is a whimsical, fantastical story full of romance and plot twists that I really enjoyed. In October, Stephanie Garber released a holiday novella set in the same world and featuring the same characters, called Spectacular (which I haven’t read yet, but am so excited to!). If you have any friends/family members who have already read the Caraval series, this would be the perfect, festive present for them. If they haven’t, consider buying them the whole series: you can buy the books individually, or, if you’re feeling particularly generous, there’s a special edition box set of all 4 books, including Spectacular (but it is a rather staggering £91.99…).

Buy it from Waterstones here.

Herbivore Rose Hibiscus Hydrating Mist – £14.00 for 60ml

This is a holy grail product for me— I use it basically every day: it’s great in the winter to rehydrate dry ski, and in the summer to cool yourself down when it’s hot. It smells SO good and it feels so hydrating and refreshing on the skin, it really is one of my favourite skincare products. It’s available in 2 sizes: 60ml and 120ml, but I’d recommend buying the 60ml one. Not only does it work out cheaper (the 60ml one is £14, the 120ml one is £29), but I have found that the product starts to discolour quite quickly— it doesn’t impact the functionality/smell of the product at all, but it does look slightly less pretty and pink.

Buy it from Cult Beauty here.

Face Halo Pro Makeup Remover – £14.99 for a pack of 3

I swear by these reusable makeup removers— they’re so easy to use AND they’re a more environmentally friendly alternative to regular, disposable cotton pads. You don’t need any cleanser (just water), they take your makeup off so easily (even heavy stuff, like black eyeliner and red lipstick) and they give your skin a little bit of exfoliation as you use them, which is an added bonus.. I like the black version, because you can’t see any makeup stains on them, but they are also available in white.

Buy them from Amazon here.

Gifts Under £30

Baa Baa Brighouse Literary Sock Set – £22.50

If there any knitters in your life who also love to read, these literature-inspired sock yarn sets would be the perfect gift. Each set comes with a full, self-striping skein and a plain mini skein for the heel/toe, and they’re all inspired by the Penguin Clothbound covers of classic books. My particular favourite (and the one I bought my mum for Mother’s Day this year!), is this beautiful teal set, inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma.

Buy them from Baa Baa Brighouse here.

Sushi Go Party! – £27.99

This is a cute card game that makes a great addition to a family game night— it’s pretty easy to get the hang of and a lot of fun to play.

Buy it from Waterstones here.

Gifts Under £55

Crocs Classic Lined Clog – £54.01

Okay, let’s be real. Crocs went out of style years ago, but they seem to be having some sort of renaissance. I vowed to myself that I would never wear a Croc again, but, after untying and re-tying my shoelaces for the hundredth time during a hospital visit, I began to see the appeal. Coincidentally, I had also seen someone at my local surgery wearing a pair of mushroom-coloured, fleece-lined Crocs and had thought to myself, ‘Wow, they’re nice’. Anyway, I decided to splurge on a pair for myself and they have been so helpful for hospital visits, particularly when I’m having long treatments, because they’re so easy to slip on and off, but still comfortable because of the lining. I recognise not everyone needs a pair of hospital shoes, but if you happen to have any chronically ill friends/family members, or if you just know someone who’s constantly slipping their shoes on and off to go outside, these could be a really great, thoughtful gift.

Buy them from Amazon here.

Wingspan – £45.95

This might just be one of the most complicated games I’ve ever played, but it’s also one of the best. Once you get past the (rather steep) learning curve and figure out how you’re supposed to play it (I recommend watching the online tutorials), it’s such a fun, family board game. There are also numerous expansion packs that you can purchase to expand the game even further (perhaps an idea for next year’s Christmas gift). This would make a great gift for bird-lovers, but it’s not a requirement to play this game that you know your birds (I definitely do not, and I’ve been fine!).

Buy it from Amazon here.

Gifts Under £80

Glossier You Perfume (50ml) – £62.00 for 50ml

Okay, full disclosure. The product I really wanted to include in this gift guide was the Glossier You Rollerball perfume, which has been a firm favourite of mine since I bought it as a little Christmas treat for myself last year. Unfortunately, Glossier seems to have discontinued the rollerball version and now only sells a full size perfume (100ml, £112), a smaller perfume (50ml, £62)) and a travel size version (8ml, £32). I still absolutely love this perfume— it smells very clean and fresh, but also has a subtle sweetness to it. I do find that it can smell a little bit alcohol-y at first, but that dissipates super quickly. I’ve listed the smaller perfume here, because it is a pretty expensive purchase, but it’s nice to have different options, so you can spend whatever you’d like. I do feel like the 8ml travel size version is a bit of a swizz, though? Why is it over half of the price of the smaller one that contains nearly 7x more product? Who can say…

Buy it from Glossier here.

Lucy & Yak Harper Fleece in Jasper Red – £79.00

Okay, so this is the most expensive product on this list, but it’s also one of my absolute favourites! I purchased this fleece for myself (using a discount code, thank goodness) in September and I have basically been wearing it non-stop ever since. Sometimes Lucy & Yak’s designs are a bit too patterned for my style, but I just love the warm red and brown colours in this version. It’s super warm and cosy, but the full zip means you don’t need to worry about overheating in it (a big plus for me, because I often feel stifled by warm clothes).

Buy it from Lucy & Yak here.

And that’s it! My 2024 Christmas Gift Guide— a random amalgamation of all of the fun things I’ve been loving over the past year. I hope you’ve found this post helpful, or perhaps been inspired by some of my picks for your own seasonal gifting!

Gemma

xxx

Today’s post is the final instalment in my 2023 gift guide series- one for bullet journallers and one for knitters/crocheters are both on the blog already. Today, we’re all about that bake, with a selection of gifts for all the home bakers in your life. As with the other two gift guides, I’ve tried to find a variety of gifts at a range of different price points, so hopefully there is something for everyone, on any budget. I’ve organised the gifts by price, to help you navigate your way through the list. I’ve included photos of the products that I own, but not for products that are just on my wishlist, for copyright reasons.

A quick disclaimer: 

This post contains no sponsored items, affiliate links or items otherwise gifted from brands. I'm just a small town blogger (at the moment)! Everything listed is something I have either purchased for myself/received as a gift from a family member/friend, or is on my personal wishlist. All comments are my own personal opinions.

All prices listed are correct at time of writing, but please be aware that they may change over time. 

Table of Contents

• Gifts under £15
• Gifts under £20
• Gifts under £30
• Gifts under £40

Gifts under £15

The Great British Bake Off Silicone + Offset Spatula Duo – £6.92.

I use offset spatulas for EVERYTHING: icing big cakes, icing cupcakes, spreading out chocolate etc. This duo pack is great, because it also includes my fave shape of silicone spatula, which makes it SO easy for weak bakers like me to scrape down the sides of a bowl successfully!

Hotec Silicone Spatula Set – £9.35 for 5.

If you don’t fancy the duo pack above, but still like the idea of gifting silicone spatulas, this pack is great because it contains multiple shapes/sizes, so your recipient will always have the perfect spatula for the job.

YellRin Dual-ended Magnetic Measuring Spoons – £13.99 for 6.

Dual-ended measuring spoons are absolute game-changers. You can measure out something liquid, like oil or milk, with one end, then use the other end for dry ingredients, like baking powder or spices, without having to wash out the spoon in between. Also, the fact that these ones are magnetic makes storing them (and finding them later on!) so much easier.

Gifts under £20

Helect Infrared Thermometer – £15.99.

I love to use this thermometer when I’m tempering chocolate. Because it uses an infrared beam, you don’t have to touch the chocolate with it at all, which makes for an easier clean up later. Chocolate can get so messy, so this is a real win!

Wilton Golden Decorating Tip Set – £17.99 for 7 piping tips, 1 coupler and 8 disposable piping bags.

Okay, okay, this is a bit fanciful, but these are definitely on my wishlist. I don’t know what it is that makes the gold piping tips seem so much more fun, but it’s just how it is. There’s also a really great variety of nozzles here, so it’s the perfect gift for a beginner who’s just starting out on their piping journey (or, apparently, a baking magpie, like myself).

The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook – £18.19.

This is one of my favourite cookbooks (I SWEAR by the brownie recipe and, trust me, I’ve tried a LOT of them). The Hummingbird Bakery has a few cookbooks, but this was the first one, so it contains some of their most iconic recipes.

Lakeland 12 Hole Mini Sandwich Tin – £19.99

I know this tin seems a bit frivolous, but it actually has so many different uses- I’ve had it for a good long time now and I’m still finding new ways of baking with it! There’s the standard mini sandwich cakes, but you could also make mini cheesecakes/layered desserts, individual brownies- I’ve even made homemade pork pies in it! I love it.

Gifts under £30

The Crumbs & Doilies Recipe Book – £20.00.

A relatively newer cookbook (it’s just turned 1 year old!), but Cupcake Jemma on YouTube is my go-to for delicious cake recipes and fun/unusual inspiration and this cookbook is the same- loads of cool and surprising new ideas, with clear instructions and gorgeous pictures.

Colour Mill Pastel Colouring Set – £27.45 for a pack of 6 colours.

I’ve recently started using Colour Mill food colourings in my baking and, honestly, it’s been life-changing. These oil-based dyes are great for colouring cake batters, icings and chocolate (just don’t use them for largely fatless bakes, like macarons, because they’ll affect the bake) and they have such a huge range of colours. They have lots of different gift sets, but I particularly love the colours in this pastel pack.

Crumbs & Doilies Caramel Cornflake Brownie Baking Kit – £27.95 (with tin included), or £19.95 (without tin).

Another offering from Crumbs & Doilies, but this time it’s the gift of a whole bake in one- in this kit, you get everything you need to make a batch of their delicious Caramel Cornflake Brownies! I’ve made these from scratch before and, honestly, I still dream about them. I’ve always been a little sniffy about baking kits/box mixes, but these ones are elite. Crumbs & Doilies is a pretty popular company these days, but it has a definite small business vibe and the quality/care put into these kits really shines through!

Gifts under £40

Wilton Deluxe Piping Tip Set – £33.49 for 22 piping tips, 1 coupler and 1 flower nail.

If you’re looking for something a bit more comprehensive (and less stylised) than the gold piping tip set, Wilton offers larger nozzle sets that come with storage containers, to keep everything neat and together. There are a variety of sets available, so you can pick one based on your price point, but this 22-tip set has a great variety of nozzle options and comes with a coupler and flower nail, for even more creative possibilities!

Nordic Ware 6 Cup Swirl Bundt Tin – £35.70.

This is something that has been on my wishlist for SO long (literally since 2015 when the Simply Nigella Christmas Special aired and she made bundt cakes using this tin- I’ve been straight-up OBSESSED ever since). This particular tin was even recently used on Bake Off (yep, I recognised it immediately) and I just… urgh, I love it so much. It’s definitely on the pricier side, which is why I haven’t bought it for myself yet, but Nordic Ware is such a reliable, high-quality brand that the price point kind of makes sense.

And that’s it! I hope you’ve enjoyed my 2023 baking-themed gift guide! That’s a wrap on my 2023 gift guide series- tomorrow I’ll be back with a different (but still super festive!) post. See you then!

Gemma

xxx

Today’s post is another gift guide, this time geared towards the knitters and crocheters of the world. If you missed my last gift guide (for bullet journallers!), you can check that out here. Today, though, we’re focusing on all things yarn-y. Like before, I’ve tried to assemble an assortment of items at a variety of price points, so that you can find something for any level of knitter/crocheter, on any budget. I’ve organised the items by price, to help you navigate your way through the list. I’ve included photos of the products that I own, but not for products that are just on my wishlist, for copyright reasons.

A quick disclaimer: 

This post contains no sponsored items, affiliate links or items otherwise gifted from brands. I'm just a small town blogger (at the moment)! Everything listed is something I have either purchased for myself/received as a gift from a family member/friend, or is on my personal wishlist. All comments are my own personal opinions.

All prices listed are correct at time of writing, but please be aware that they may change over time. 

Table of Contents

• Gifts under £5
• Gifts under £15
• Gifts under £30
• Gifts under £45

Gifts under £5

Hobbycraft Gummy Bear Stitch Markers – £3.00 for a pack of 6.

These stitch marker charms are really affordable but still incredibly cute- I bought myself a pack on a whim and am SO glad I did- I use them every chance I get and they always make me smile.

Tulip Heart-shaped Locking Stitch Markers – £2.79 for a pack of 7.

While ring stitch markers can be useful for knitting, crochet typically calls for locking stitch markers, which can be attached to stitches and removed easily- they are particularly useful for making toys (though they can also be helpful for knitting, to mark rows!). These heart-shaped locking markers are so pretty and, as a bonus, they come in 3 colours: pink, blue and green. I have them in pink and blue.

If you’re willing to go slightly over £5, you can also purchase a mixed tin of 15 (5 of each colour), for £6.49.

KnitPro Elephant View Sizer (available in pink or purple) – £4.68

If you’re read any of my Project Knitwear posts, you’ll know how much I dislike gauge swatching. Unfortunately, it’s a necessary evil, so you might as well try and make the process a bit more fun for your loved one by using a cute view sizer. My mum has the pink version of this Elephant View Sizer, but it is also available in lilac.

Gifts under £15

Jean Greenhowe’s Christmas Special – £7.99.

I have made so many things out of this knitting pattern booklet over the years- from the mini stockings and candy canes, to the famous knitted nativity (which I’ve actually made twice!). I think this would be a great gift for young people who are just getting into knitting- the patterns are super clear and easy to follow. Also, all of the projects are knitted flat, which makes them very beginner-friendly.

The Knitting Barber Cords – £10.50 for a pack of 3.

My mum bought me these last Christmas and they are SO handy. They are essentially long, silicone stitch holders, but they are hollow (think bucatini pasta), so you can press them onto the ends of your needles and just transfer the stitches along in one go. Because they are so long and flexible, they make trying on knitted garments mid-make (another part of knitting I absolutely despise) SO much easier.

Gifts under £30

KnitPro Row Counter Ring (available in sizes 7-10 on Wool Warehouse, 7-12 elsewhere) – £21.49.

This is one of my most used knitting accessories- it’s a little on the pricey side, but honestly, it really is worth it. I wear it on my thumb, so, whether I’m knitting or crocheting, I can quickly and easily keep track of my rows without dropping everything to adjust a regular row counter.

KnitPro Rainbow Blockers – £17.49 for 20 blockers.

Blocking is so important in knitting, even though it always feels like a bit of a drag. These rainbow blockers include two sizes: large and small, and their cheery colours help to make the whole process that little bit less monotonous!

Tales From The Hoop Woodland Fox Embroidery Kit – £27.50 (with hoop included).

Okay- not strictly a knit/crochet gift, but I purchased this kit for myself earlier this year and it’s been so much fun- I think anyone with any interest in textiles/fibre crafts would love this as a gift and sometimes it’s nice to get someone something completely new, that you know they won’t already have! This kit comes with everything you need: the needles, the hoop, the thread and detailed instructions, plus the pattern has already been printed on the fabric, so it’s basically like paint-by-numbers, but with thread. This Woodland Fox kit is my favourite design, but there are lots of other patterns available on the Tales From The Hoop Etsy store, so you can tailor your gift to your intended recipient.

Gifts under £45

Attic 24 Stylecraft Yarn Pack, Dune Blanket – £32.50.

I absolutely love making Attic 24 blankets- the patterns are so easy to follow, the designs are all so beautiful and making them is such a repetitive, mindful process- I’ve made so many over the years! There are loads of different yarn packs (and free patterns: you receive a printed pattern with every yarn park you purchase, but you can also find all the patterns for free on the Attic 24 website) to choose from, but the Dune Blanket is a longtime favourite of mine- I’ve actually made two!

If you want to be a little bit more cutting-edge, opt for the newly released Sungold Blanket. The yarn packs are available from Wool Warehouse, in both Stylecraft Special DK and Yarnsmiths Create DK (although the Stylecraft packs are currently sold out!). The blanket is being worked as a CAL (Crochet-A-Long) in the new year, beginning on 5th January. These yarn packs currently don’t come with a printed pattern (because of the aforementioned CAL) but your recipient will be able to find everything they need on the Attic 24 website, come January.

Full Set of Stylecraft Special DK Yarn Pegs – £35.00 for 100 pegs.

I am obsessed with my Stylecraft yarn pegs- if we’re talking prized possessions, these are way up there for me. I actually got mine a couple of years ago, from a different seller, but ElizaAndTheGiraffe is well-known for making all sorts of yarn pegs. Just as I’m about to post this, I’ve noticed that the Stylecraft Special DK set is currently out of stock, but it’s worth keeping an eye out for their return! These would make a great present for people who love working with colour and creating new colour palettes for their yarny projects.

Clover Amour Crochet Hook Set – £44.85 for 9 hooks.

These are the only crochet hooks I use at the moment- the shape of the handle makes them much more ergonomic than a standard hook, they are much softer on your hands and the colour coding makes it so easy to identify the sizes.

And that’s my 2023 Knit and Crochet-themed gift guide! I hope it was helpful. I’ll be back tomorrow with the final instalment in my 2023 gift guide series- see you then!

Gemma

xxx

This post is the first of 3 (!) gift guides. I love looking at gift guides online to get inspired, so I thought I would gather some of my favourite products and items that are on my wishlist together and make my own this year. I’ve grouped the products by theme- this one is geared towards recipients who bullet journal, but could be applied to anyone who likes stationery or paper crafts. I’ve tried to assemble an assortment of items at a variety of price points, so you can find a present for anyone, on any budget, and I’ve organised the items by price, to help you navigate your way through the list. I’ve included photos of the products that I own, but not for products that are just on my wishlist, for copyright reasons.

A quick disclaimer: 

This post contains no sponsored items, affiliate links or items otherwise gifted from brands. I'm just a small town blogger (at the moment)! Everything listed is something I have either purchased for myself/received as a gift from a family member/friend, or is on my personal wishlist. All comments are my own personal opinions.

All prices listed are correct at time of writing, but please be aware that they may change over time. 

Table of Contents

• Gifts under £5
• Gifts under £10
• Gifts under £15
• Gifts under £20
• Gifts under £35

Gifts under £5

Crayola Pastel SuperTips – £2.85 for a pack of 12.

Crayola SuperTips are such versatile markers and they come in such a great variety of colours. I love these pastel shades, but you can find all sorts of other shade ranges as well.

CICILIAYA sticky notes – £3.29 for a pack of 3.

I like to use these small sticky notes for the Kanban Board spread in my journal (you can read more about that spread in my April 2024 setup post). They’re so handy, though- you can use them for practically anything. I love these ones, because they are such good value (they come in a 3-pack, even though I’ve only photographed 2) and so aesthetically pleasing!

Circle stencils – £4.99.

Confession: I just bought myself these stencils and I already know I am never going to look back. After YEARS of drawing around random objects (very messily) and piercing my bullet journal pages with a compass, I figured it was time to get these circle stencils. They are so useful and I think anyone who does any kind of stationery crafts would appreciate them!

Gifts under £10

Sakura White Gelly Roll Pens – £5.33 for a pack of 3.

These are my go-to white pens for an opaque, quick-drying finish. I use them in almost every bullet journal setup I create!

Sakura Quickie Glue pens – £6.50 for a pack of 3.

A relatively new find for me, these are SO useful, particularly for glueing in small items. They’re also a slightly more unusual piece of stationery, so it’s less likely that your recipient will already own them.

Muji 0.38mm ballpoint pens – £9.40 for a pack of 5.

These are my go-to pens for both setting up my spreads and filling in my bullet journal. I love them because they are fine enough to write neatly with and dry super quickly, so you don’t have to worry too much about smudging them. I’ve gone through so many of them (if you couldn’t tell by the fact this picture only contains 4 of the 5 pens and half of them are empty)- honestly, I can never have enough!

OfficeTree Brown Kraft Paper – £9.99 for 50 sheets.

Not the most exciting present, but this paper is SO useful- I use it all the time for bullet journal-ing and various other paper crafts. You can also print directly onto this paper, as I did for my December setup this year, so it is super versatile.

Gifts under £15

Kuretake dot markers– £12.91 for a pack of 6.

Another slightly unusual gift, these pens are great for habit tracking/easy decoration- you literally press down to get a perfect dot of colour, a little like a stamp in pen form! The packs come in a few different shade variations, but I have the Mild Colours version, which includes 6 pastel shades.

Alphabet stamps – £12.99 for a 70-piece set.

I use these ALL of the time, in all sorts of setups. They’re kind of a staple within the bullet journal-ing community and they can be a really great way of achieving a professional finish with minimal effort.

Gifts under £20

String & Space Star Bullet Journal – £19.95.

This was one of my very first bullet journals and it’s still one of my favourites. It has a super minimal rose gold star design on the front (and spine), as well as gilded rose gold edges, navy blue night sky end papers, two ribbon bookmarks, a back pocket, a pen holder and an elastic closure. The paper is super thick- I had absolutely no problems with ghosting/bleeding, which is great.

Coral & Ink Sakura Polaroid A5 Dot Grid Journal – £19.99.

This was my bullet journal for the first half of 2023 and I loved having it- it was just so pretty! It has a polaroid design on the front (gold this time!), gilded edges, a back pocket and super high quality paper (no bleeding/ghosting here either!). The two ribbon bookmarks, elastic closure and pen holder are all pink, which really complements the white/gold colour scheme. Coral & Ink is such a lovely small business- they have lots of other fun kawaii stationery on offer to check out too!

Gifts under £35

Tombow ABT Dual Brush Pens – Grey Colours – £33.04 for a pack of 12.

I know these are a little pricey, but I have used this pack of pens so much. The different shades of grey are so useful for a variety of things! I bought this pack myself when I was making a Harry Potter-inspired journal for my (soon to be!) sister-in-law and it was just perfect for drawing all of the stone walls, buildings and magical creatures.

And there you have it- my top picks for bullet journal-ing gifts this year. I hope you’ve enjoyed this first instalment in my 2023 gift guide series- I’ll be back tomorrow with the next one.

Gemma

xxx