Ideas for Gifts for Sewers
There Are Lots of Presents Suitable for People Interested in Sewing
What better gift is there to buy someone who is interested in sewing and needlework than something related to their craft. Sewing and Needlework are such wide and all encompassing crafts that there is bound to be something to appeal and that will fit into all budgets. This ranges from small stocking fillers to large extra special gifts such as a new sewing machine or other equipment.
Ideas for Stocking Fillers
There are some great sewing accessories that make lovely stocking fillers for someone interested in sewing and needlecraft. These include:
- Pincushions – pincushions are very 'in' at the moment and there are a wide variety available. From tiny pincushions that can be worn on the finger, to larger more decorative items there is bound to be something to appeal.
- Thimbles – although thimbles are largely thought of as collectors items, many needlecrafters will welcome a thimble to protect them from painful needle and pin pricks which happen from time to time.
- Fancy Buttons - there are some unusual buttons available and any sewer or needlecrafter will welcome something a little different. In addition to traditional buttons, vegetable buttons from Tagua nuts are increasingly popular and make an unusual gift.
- Felting Needle – this is an unusual gift and will appeal to many needlecrafters. Needlefelting is increasing in popularity and many crafters are using it to embellish items. This is useful for sewers, embroiderers and other crafters. A felting needle is a barbed needle that is poked through wool which has been laid on top of fabric. This starts to entangle the wool with the fabric and firmly joins the two together. Felt needles can also be used for other felting activities including sculpting.
Ideas for Bigger Gifts
There are numerous items which make great gifts. These include:
- Scissors – good fabric scissors or shears are an important part of a sewer's workbox. A good pair of scissors can make a significant different to a needlework project. A good quality pair of fabric scissors is relatively expensive and is often an item that a sewer might compromise on. Therefore these make a good and thoughtful gift.
- Work Box – keeping sewing and needlework equipment tidy can be quite a challenge. There are sewing and needlework boxes available from craft stores; however big tool boxes that are often found in DIY stores can make a good alternative. These are often found on wheels which makes a practical option for someone without a fixed needlework room.
- Special Supplies – every sewer will have a craving for something special. This might be pieces of material or some notions that are just that little bit too special to warrant buying for everyday use. Perhaps a small piece of silk or some fine embroidery threads - or even something like a sari or vintage fabrics. A quilter may yearn for some co-ordinating fabrics, or a weaver some fancy warp threads. These special items can make thoughtful gifts and most craft or needlework stores will be able to advise on something that will make a thoughtful and special gift.
The Extra Special Gift
A very special gift is at the very top of a sewer's Christmas list. Some people will have dropped enough hints (left a magazine or two casually lying around with adverts ringed in red pen) to make buying an extra special gift easy and straightforward. However, this can be steeped in difficulties. The purchase of a new sewing machine for instance isn't a simple as it sounds and with all the number of variations and accessories available it might be worth taking the lucky recipient on the buying trip.
Some ideas for the ultimate sewing gift:
- New sewing machine - perhaps with quilting or embroidery features
- Sewer's work table - this can include places to store fabrics, work in progress and machines
- Design software – there are many design software packages available that can make a great gift for someone who otherwise 'has everything'! Wild Ginger have a free product called Wild Things which demonstrates how their system works.
Buying for a sewer or needlecrafter need not be difficult and with the wide ranging reaches of the crafts there are plenty of options to chose from.
