Stocking Fillers That Actually Get Used: 5 Small Gifts Under $40
Most stocking fillers get opened at 7am, admired for about a minute, and then spend the rest of the year in a drawer. The ones that earn their spot are the ones that fix a real problem the person already has.
That is the test for this list: small, under $40, and used before February. Each one is matched to the person it suits, so you can shop for the kid, the denim devotee and the sneaker collector without guessing. Everything here is a rub-on patch, which means it takes 60 seconds to apply and needs no sewing, no iron and no special skills.
A scuffed white sneaker before, and the same shoe after a rub-on patch.
Which stocking filler suits who?
| Who it is for | What goes in the stocking | Price |
|---|---|---|
| The parent of a kid with worn-out knees | Stretch Black | $29.90 |
| The jeans-and-denim person | Stretch Denim | $29.90 |
| The sneaker devotee | Shoe Repair, White or Black | $39.90 |
| The colourful one | Stretch in Banksia or Budgie | $29.90 |
| The person you cannot shop for | A FabPatch gift card | From $30 |
1. What do you give the parent of a kid who wrecks knees?
Every family has a pair of school pants with a knee that gave up in Term 2. They are still the right size, the kid still likes them, and nobody wants to buy another pair mid-year. A pack of Stretch in Black is the quiet hero here, because black blends into dark leggings, trackies, some uniform pants, but it can also be used on the inside, so you don't have to colour match as you don't see it.
It is soft and it moves with the fabric, so it does not go stiff on a knee that bends a hundred times a day. Pick a patch, rub it on, and the pants are back in rotation. It is the kind of gift a tired parent opens and thinks, that is exactly what I needed.
Soft, stretchy and quick to apply. Goes with everything, including school pants.
2. What is the best stocking filler for someone who lives in denim?
Jeans go at the knee, the thigh and the back pocket, usually just as they have finally gone soft enough to be perfect. Stretch in Denim is made for that moment. The patch sits in the blue family, so it looks like part of the story rather than a bandage.
If you want the full walk-through, our guide to repairing jeans shows where to place the patch and how to get a clean edge.
Worn denim before, and the same jeans after a Stretch Denim patch.
For the jeans that have earned a second life.
3. Do you really give a shoe repair kit as a gift?
Yes, and it tends to land better than you would expect. Good shoes usually get retired for one small reason: a scuffed toe, a split seam, a worn heel lining. Shoe Repair is built for exactly those spots on sneakers, slip-ons and leather shoes, and the kit holds 6 patches in three sizes, so there is enough for more than one pair.
White and Black make the choice easy: match the colour to the shoe. The patches are water-repellent, cuttable to size and machine washable at 40 degrees, which matters for school shoes that live a hard life. Our shoe repair page has the how-to.
6 patches in 3 sizes for scuffed toes, split seams and worn linings.
Same kit, black for the school shoes and the work boots.
4. What if they want a bit of colour?
Some people do not want their repair to disappear. They want it to say something. The Stretch colours, including Banksia and Budgie, turn a worn patch of fabric into a feature, and they are a good pick for the person who already wears their personality on their sleeve.
It is also the easiest way to make a stocking filler feel chosen rather than grabbed on the way to the checkout.
A colourful Stretch Budgie patch worn as a design detail.
5. What about the person you cannot shop for?
Let them pick. A FabPatch gift card comes in $30, $50 and $100, and the recipient chooses the colour and the fabric. If you are still building the rest of the gift list, our Christmas gifts page pulls the bundles and ideas together in one place.
Why do repair stocking fillers get used?
Because the problem is already sitting in the wardrobe. Customers rate FabPatch 4.83 from 41 verified reviews, and the Stretch and Shoe patches are water resistant and machine washable at 40 degrees, so a repair made on Boxing Day is still holding when the washing basket is full in March. We also took home Best in Discipline, Fashion and Textiles, 2026 Australian Good Design Awards, which is a nice thing to be able to say when someone asks what is in your stocking.
One small tear, 60 seconds, back in the wardrobe.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a patch take to apply?
60 seconds. You pick the patch, rub it on, and the garment is ready to wear.
Do they need an iron or any tools?
No. There is no sewing, no iron and no special skills involved. Our how-to page walks through it step by step.
Are Stretch patches only for kids' clothes?
Not at all. Stretch suits everyday fabrics like denim, cotton, leggings and trackies, so it works for the whole household.
Will the Shoe Repair patches survive the wash?
Shoe Repair patches are machine washable at 40 degrees and water-repellent, so they cope with school-shoe life and the odd puddle.
What if I pick the wrong colour?
Choose a gift card instead and let them pick. It also works well for anyone whose wardrobe you do not know.
One small gift that gets used
If you are still working out what goes in the stocking, start with the thing that is already broken in their house. Browse the Christmas gifts page when you are ready. Too good to throw out? You can FabPatch that.