Which Hobby Gift guide
Gifts for beginner crafters
The best gift for someone who wants a new hobby is a real start: one good beginner course and the handful of supplies it needs. Here is that combo for four hobbies.
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- For someone who likes calm, quiet evenings on the sofa
Embroidery starter gift
The course: Embroidery and Fabric Painting for Beginners by Polina Oshu (English audio). The gentlest start we found. You learn a handful of basic stitches and pair them with fabric paint, so a small amount of stitching already looks finished. The final project is a floral design on a denim shirt.
Wrap it with:
- A 6-inch (15 cm) wooden hoop
- Plain cotton or linen fabric
- Six-strand cotton floss in 5-6 colors
- Embroidery needles, size 5-7
- Small sharp scissors and a water-soluble pen
Starter supplies cost about $15-25. Not sure about the course? See all 5 beginner embroidery courses or the embroidery starter plan.
- For someone who doodles in notebooks or loves color
Watercolor starter gift
The course: Creative Watercolor Sketching for Beginners by Laura McKendry (English audio). Playful and pressure free. You learn brush control, color and simple shapes by filling a sketchbook, and the course says no drawing experience is needed. Taught in English from the start.
Wrap it with:
- Watercolor paper, 300 gsm (140 lb)
- A student pan set of about 12 colors
- Round brushes in size 6 and 10
- Two water jars: rinse and clean
- Masking tape and a paper towel
Starter supplies cost about $25-45. Not sure about the course? See all 5 beginner watercolor courses or the watercolor starter plan.
- For someone who likes making things with their hands and wearing what they made
Clay starter gift
The course: Polymer Clay Jewelry Design for Beginners by Rachael (Made by Maeberry) (English audio). The quickest route to something you can wear. You learn color blending, terrazzo, stripes and marbling, then bake, sand and add hardware to a set of earrings. No kiln, just a home oven.
Wrap it with:
- Polymer clay (home oven) or air-dry clay
- An acrylic roller and a craft blade
- A ceramic tile or glass board
- Small cutters, or a bottle cap
- Oven thermometer (polymer) or varnish (air-dry)
Starter supplies cost about $20-35. Not sure about the course? See all 5 beginner clay courses or the clay starter plan.
- For someone who has opinions about clothes and likes useful projects
Sewing starter gift
The course: Basic Sewing with a Sewing Machine by Julia Reyes Retana (English audio). The right first course. You get to know your machine and the basic notions, then make three easy projects: a drawstring bag, a patchwork cushion and a tote bag.
Wrap it with:
- A basic sewing machine, or start by hand
- Medium-weight woven cotton
- All-purpose polyester thread
- Fabric scissors, only for fabric
- Pins, a seam ripper and a tape measure
Starter supplies cost about $15-30 + machine. Not sure about the course? See all 5 beginner sewing courses or the sewing starter plan.
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Not sure which hobby they would like?
Send them the 2-minute hobby quiz, or take it for them. It asks about time, budget and mess, then picks one of the four.