Gift Ideas: String Theory + The Bookstore

If you live locally or have been to our brick-and-morter shop, then you've probably visited our colorful next-door neighbor on Main Street, The Bookstore of Glen Ellyn. 

In the spirit of supporting local small businesses this holiday season, we thought it'd be fun to give you some creative ideas for gifts pairing something from String Theory with something from The Bookstore.

We came up with great gift ideas for every age group.

For a super tiny person (ages 0-4):

Frog & Toad Collector's Edition  from The Bookstore + Frog & Toad stuffie

You really can't go wrong with a classic. The timeless wisdom of Frog and Toad seems more relevant than ever, and this stuffie pattern is simply adorable (heirloom-level gift!). The pattern calls for DK-weight yarn, but we also think that Shetland fingering weight  or Plied North Avenue Bobbins yarn held either single or double would work wonderfully! 

For a little person (ages 3-8):

If You Want to Knit Some Mittens by Laura Purdie Salas from The Bookstore + a knit pair of mittens.

This is a brand-new picture book published in 2021! From the publisher:  "In this playful story, a girl follows 18 steps to knit mittens–from bringing home a sheep to carding, spinning, and dyeing the wool to knitting the mittens. But along the way, her mischievous sheep creates chaos and wins her heart." A fantastic alternative picture book for the same age group would be Extra Yarn by Mac Banett, which is also currently in stock at the Bookstore. 

Malabrigo Rios or Spud & Chloe Sweater make for excellent worsted-weight, kid-friendly mittens! 

For your friend who knits or crochets:

On Skein of Death by Allie Pleiter from The Bookstore + Anna Wright Zipper Pouch from String Theory

If you're looking for a good read for a fellow knitter or crocheter, we can't get enough of local author Allie Pleiter! Since many makers prefer to listen to audiobooks while they knit or crochet, we also recommend getting this in audiobook version from Libro. Allie Pleiter narrates the audiobook (if you were able to attend our book event with her this past summer, you know what an incredible performer she is!). And as an added bonus, if you purchase an audiobook from Libro.fm, it benefits The Bookstore of Glen Ellyn. Win-win!

We would "wrap" this mystery novel in one of our project bags.

For lovers of anything Cozy:

Give a cozy winter night in. Pick any jigsaw puzzle from The Bookstore + a Hot Water Bottle from String Theory

The Bookstore also has a ton of fun games for both children and adults which make super fun gifts for families or couples.

We only have a few of these hot water bottles, so hurry in to nab one while they last!

And finally, 

You really can't go wrong with a pair of gift cards from String Theory and The Bookstore of Glen Ellyn Treat your loved ones to an afternoon shopping on our favorite stretch of Main Street - we know this is a gift we'd love for ourselves!