When the holidays roll around, it can be difficult to know exactly what the quilter or sewist in your life might appreciate as a gift. Would they like a pair of scissors in their stocking? Is thread a good idea for a Hanukkah gift? With one of my StrengthFinders strengths being Individualization, one of my passions is finding the perfect gift for my friends and family. This year, I have channeled that passion into providing a few gift guides so that you too can find the perfect gift this holiday season.
Gift Ideas for a Quilter or Sewist
Without further ado, please enjoy perusing my 2020 gift guide for what the quilter or sewist in your life might be tickled to find under the tree. Or wrapped for another holiday. Or waiting for them on the brunch table at Mother’s Day. My joy of gift giving extends across religions and seasons!
Note: these links are Amazon Affiliate links, and as such I may receive a small commission if you use my link to purchase the product. I highly recommend checking out your local quilt shop (sometimes abbreviated LQS, for those learning the lingo) and shopping local, especially to support little shops that have been hit hard this year. I have included links to some of my favorite small shops where I could find them.
1. Scissors - high-quality, SHARP sEWING SCISSORS
A good pair of high-quality sharp scissors make every project easier. They slice through fabric like a breeze and don’t leave small threads hanging on that could pull and ruin your fabric. These scissors should also be reserved for just cutting fabric and thread (no paper) as these maintains their sharp edge.
Top Scissor Brands
There are several companies that make excellent scissors for quilting. I, personally, have Gingher brand scissors, a US-based company that has been around for over 50 years. I love that they offer scissors sharpening services for all of their products, as this is an excellent way to take care of your tools and minimize consumption of cheap, expendable scissors. LDH is also an excellent scissors company based in Canada that has been around for 30 years. They have some beautiful finishes on their scissors (rainbow, all black) that can make your gift of scissors feel extra special. Different size and shape scissors come in handy for different tasks, look below for my top four scissors types.
What Type of Scissors You Should Buy
- 6”+ Fabric Shears
- These scissors are the sewing workhorse and can be used to cut everything from fabric to batting to thread. A pair of scissors with nice long blades makes cutting fabric even faster and easier. Here are two examples of good pairs:
- Little “Snips” Scissors
- These scissors are handy to have sitting near your machine or nearby when hand-sewing. They are great for snipping threads as you finish a seam or after tying off a knot. Stork embroidery scissors are a sewing classic, but thread snips, like those linked at LDH, are a mainstay for many sewists.
- Appliqué Scissors
- These scissors are uniquely shaped to make it easy to cut fabric or thread at a 90º angle to your hand. This is perfect for when trimming fabric during an appliqué project or snipping threads on the back of the quilt. I love these scissors.
- Pinking Shears
- Pinking shears have a zig-zag edge that slows fraying of fabric edges after you’ve cut them. I will admit that I do not use pinking shears much, although I do own a pair. Some people swear by them, particularly folks who sew clothes, so if you’re special person sews clothes, this might be the perfect scissor for them!
2020 Gift Idea Guide for the Quilter or Sewist in Your Life. Find the perfect gift for under $50. | curated by Kelsey of Lovely and Enough
2. Modern Quilting Books
A new book with can be the perfect inspiration for starting a new project or learning a new sewing skill. The ones listed below also include gorgeous swoon-worthy photos and insightful tips from some of my favorite sewists. A few of my favorites are:
For the modern minimalist quilter
Inheritance: Minimal Quilts for Modern Home by Riane Menardi Morrison is a beautiful book full of gorgeous simple quilt designs that are primed to become modern heirlooms.
Buy it from Amazon: Inheritance or straight from the author, Riane Elise: Inheritance.
For the quilter who loves hand sewing
check out Savor Each Stitch by Carolyn Friedlander. Carolyn's beautiful needle-turn applique quilts open up a whole new world of quilt design possibilities, and her modern architecture-inspired quilt designs are unlike any else.
Buy it from Amazon: Savor Each Stitch or my local bookstore, Literati: Savor Each Stitch.
For mastering a new skill
For mastering a new skill, try Walk: Master Machine Quilting with your Walking Foot by Jacquie Gering. This book teaches skills surrounding machine quilting your modern machines, providing excellent tips, practice exercises, and inspiration.
Buy it at Amazon: Walk or my local bookstore, Literati: Walk.
For the sewist who doesn’t quilt
Try Anna Graham’s Handmade Style: 23 Must-Have Basics to Stitch, Use, and Wear. This book has quilts, clothes, and some of the cutest bag patterns you can find. Her beautiful pictures and great instructions make for the perfect weekend projects.
Buy it from Amazon: Handmade Style; my local bookstore, Literati: Handmade Style; or straight from the author, Anna Graham: Handmade Style!
For More Ideas
Check our Anna Graham’s website to see her other book and all her excellent patterns! Photo credit: Anna Graham of Noodlehead.
3. Non-slip Ruler
There is nothing more frustrating than slicing into new fabric only to have your ruler slip and steer your rotary cutter astray. Sometimes this just means a little bit of fabric lost, but sometimes this spells disaster for a project. There are two great ways to avoid this nightmare:
- get a non-slip ruler (~$30–40) or
- add non-slip True Grip stickies (~$6) to the back of your existing ruler
For several years now, I have had non-slip stickies from TrueGrips attached to the back of my 6” x 24” ruler, and they have worked well. However, they began falling off about a month ago, close to when I purchased a new 12.5” x 12.5” ruler by Creative Grids that had built-in rough patches on the back. This new ruler NEVER SLIPS. It’s incredible. So, this Christmas season, I am treating myself to a new Creative Grids 6” x 24” ruler.
Not sure what size ruler they want?
If you’re not sure which ruler your gift recipient uses, 6” x 24” or 6.5” x 24” are both safe bets as they are quite standard. Otherwise, you can sneak into their sewing space and see which size ruler they have sitting out, as this is probably one they use the most! If you don’t want to risk buying the wrong size ruler, pick up a pack of non-slip stickies from TrueGrips, and they will be able to add them to whichever ruler they please.
More Gift Ideas for Your Quilter or Sewist
If you’re still looking for more gift ideas, check out my more extensive gift idea list on Amazon:
2020 Quilter’s Gift Guide on Amazon
And as always, if you have any questions, drop them in the comments below or shoot me an email.
