If you are a long term listener or reader you will know that I have a little bugbear – well, to be honest, I have a few – but this particular one is about knitting kits.
This time of year in particular you can go into any department store and see cutesy-wootsie kits aimed as a stocking-filler type present. Often these are French knitting dolls, or beginners kits which feature a basic toy or a very simple item, like a purse. I think that these might be superb kits from children, but not adults and certainly not adult beginner knitters. Of course, it is far easier to offer pattern support for a small, square garter coin purse as it is to offer the same for a beaded lace shawl kit for these companies.
HOWEVER there are some incredible kits out there indie designers, dyers and yarn producers and these offer wonderful designs and yarn to create a really special item for yourself. I think kits like this are SO appealing and other knitter’s I have spoken to on the topic agree. We know we could buy the yarn, the pattern and the needles separately, but the idea that they all come together in a box or even a TOTE is just such a draw. Read More