It’s almost the holiday season, and it’s the time for thinking about gifts (unless you’re one of those organized people who already has all the presents wrapped… I envy you)!
So I’m taking this week (with an extra post on Wednesday in addition to the regularly scheduled programming) to share some gift ideas for new makers, starting today with new sewists (or sewers or seamstresses or non gendered sewing people) in your life.
Many of you (from what I can tell) are sewists yourselves, so this is geared as a mentoring type of list, and please leave any suggestions in the comments! As part of my job at a makerspace, I’m surrounded by people who are learning to make, so I’m trying to channel that into what I’d give to a friend getting started.
**Other than the links to my own shop, I’m not affiliated with any of these companies. I just like or like the look of the product.**
Gifts of time:
Spend a few hours showing them the ropes. There’s nothing more rewarding for both you and the new sewist than sharing your experiences and helping them through a first project.
Spend some time in a fabric store, helping with choices. I know that my friends who I’ve shared fabric shopping with have been both overwhelmed with all the options, and then underwhelmed with the options for the project they had their heart set on, so having someone experienced can help with both the first and the second problems. I know that if I had someone experienced in garment sewing with me for my first garment fabric trip I would’ve had a much better luck in making it up (I chose very woodgy fabric so cutting it was a nightmare, and then the entire top was too small for my bust, but I didn’t have enough fabric to fix it. Cut to 3 years later before I sewed another garment).
Spend some time shopping through your own stash with them, so they can get some experience with fabrics that you know and have experience with. Plus you get to destash too! (Hide the stuff you can’t bear to part with first though…)
Gifts to Make:
Project bag/box. There’s always a project that needs to be stored, right?
- An awesome cardboard treasure box tutorial!
- A very cool project bag tutorial!
- And if you don’t want to make one, consider buying one on Etsy to support handmade makers and small businesses! Here’s a link to the bags I sell.
Pincushion. There’s nothing more fun than an awesome and/or cute pincushion for beginners.
- Here’s a tutorial for a pincushion on the top of a mason jar!
- Check out some to buy in the next section…
A design or pattern all to themselves, or a copy of your favorite entry level pattern. Sharing something you like to make, or one of your favorite easy patterns is a great way to support someone starting out!
- If they’re interested in garment sewing, try the free Plantain Tee by Deer and Doe!
- Or if a drawstring bag/backpack is more the idea, try this one!
- To introduce patchwork and quilting, try this potholder tutorial!
Gifts to Buy:
Pair of sharp new scissors. I like the normal scissors option, like these, but some people swear by more expensive brands, like these. Bonus points if you decorate them in some way so that the non-sewists don’t use them for silly things like paper! I like to wrap the handle with yarn.
Scissors sharpeners. Optional, but good if the new sewist already has some good scissors that just need to be a little sharper. I bought this one from Lowe’s one day, but here’s a good option that’s similar.
Book of needles – Handsewing and/or machine. depending on if the new sewist has a sewing machine of their own. I personally think both are good to have in a sewist’s arsenal, but it’s up to you!
Good quality seam ripper. I have both a new one and a vintage one, but I definitely prefer the long handled ones because they feel better in my hand when I settle down for a long, frustrating unpicking session. This one here is pretty close to what I’m used to.
Cute pincushion. If your aspiring sewist is a young girl, or generally likes cutesy things, an adorable pincushion is the most awesome gift. My first pincushion was a purple and yellow flower that was gifted to me by some early quilting mentors of mine, and I kept it for 10 years. This one that looks like tomato is my favorite, and it came as a topper to a small storage box, and I can’t imagine another one on my sewing table.
Fabric (or both). Fabric is a tricky gift in my mind. I’m particular about my fabric choices, so it’s rare when gifted fabric actually gets made into something. But if your aspiring sewist is less picky, its a good option.
And chocolate. Chocolate is always good. Or insert other candy of choice here. Or cookies… Today was a cookie day for me.
If there’s anything you want to add to the list, put it in the comments! I’m sure there are things other sewists would put in a beginner sewing kit!
So the remaining lineup:
Tuesday – Gifts for an Established Sewist
Wednesday -Gifts for a Yarn Crafter (ie Knitter or Crocheter)
Thursday – Gifts for a Maker (people who like to make or craft or build)
Friday – Gifts to Make for Non-Crafty People (there’s always a few)
Hope you enjoy this series!