Craft Kits

How craft kits work

A craft kit gathers the materials for a single project, usually with instructions to guide you through it. Because the materials are matched to the project, a kit is a gentle way to try a skill before you buy tools and supplies of your own.

Crochet and wooden kits work quite differently. Crochet builds fabric from loops of yarn worked with a hook, and a kit lets you learn it a stitch at a time. Wooden kits often come as flat sheets with pieces that press out and slot together, while paper and card makes are about folding, cutting and sticking. Check what a kit includes, as you may need scissors or glue from home.

Matching a kit to the person who will make it

We suggest starting with the maker rather than the kit. Someone who likes quick results will enjoy a project they can finish in one sitting, while a patient maker may prefer something to return to over several evenings. Think about the size and look of the finished piece, whether it will sit on a shelf or hang on a bedroom wall, and how much table space the making needs.

Craft kits for adults tend to ask for more patience and reward it with finer detail, and some of ours make a welcome gift for her. Teens often like a kit with a little challenge and a result worth showing their friends, and some of our kits suit them well.

Kids craft kits to make together

Some of our kits are designed for children, and one tucked away in a cupboard is a good standby for a rainy afternoon. Think about what the child already loves doing and how long they like to sit with a project. A make with a clear end, something to keep, hang up or give to a grandparent, tends to hold their interest until it is done.

Making a kit side by side is a happy way to pass the time. Clear a table, read through any instructions and lay the pieces out before you begin. Finding the finished piece a place on show afterwards gives a child something to be proud of.

Cotton, wood and paper in some of our kits

Some of our kits use cotton or polyester. Cotton shows stitches clearly and holds its shape, which suits a piece you want to keep neat, while polyester is hard-wearing and slow to stretch.

Some use wood or plywood instead, for a sturdy finished piece, and a light sanding smooths any rough edges. You will also find paper and card among them, light materials that are quick to cut and fold.

Giving a craft kit at Christmas or for a birthday

A craft kit is a present that lasts beyond the unwrapping, because the fun is in the making as well as the finished piece. Some of our kits suit Christmas, when the quiet days after the festivities leave room for a longer project, and a few are a natural choice for a birthday.

To make the present feel thought through, choose a skill they have mentioned wanting to try, and tuck in a note offering an evening to make it together. The time you share can mean as much as the kit itself.

Storing a kit between sessions and looking after what you make

Keep the pieces together in a lidded box or a zipped bag so nothing goes astray. Store yarn and fabric somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight, which can fade fibres over time, and keep paper and card flat so they do not curl. Wooden pieces are best kept away from damp and direct heat, which can make them warp.

Once a piece is finished, a soft, dry cloth is enough to dust wood, paper and card. A crochet or fabric piece is best spot cleaned, or washed gently by hand in cool water and dried flat, unless it has a care note of its own, in which case follow that.