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Gift Ideas for Sewing Beginners

Gift Ideas for Sewing Beginners

Is there someone in your life who has expressed an interest in learning to sew? With the help of the awesome ladies who follow me on Facebook, I’ve created a list of gift ideas for sewing beginners.

Now as anyone who sews knows, there are hundreds of sewing notions, tools and accessories available. But the worst thing you could do for a new sewist is to overwhelm them with things they have no idea what they are or what they’re for.

The items on this list are the basics plus a few “nice to haves” that will get them started. 

Various sewing notions arranged on a stack of blue fabric with text at the top Essentials Every Sewing Beginner Needs in Their Sewing Basket

 

Welcome to the 5th annual 12 Days of Holiday Ideas event, hosted by Shirley of Intelligent Domestications  and  Erlene of My Pinterventures.

Between Nov. 11th and December 6th there will be hundreds of new ideas shared by over 55 Co-host bloggers! 

You can find our kick-off collection of holiday ideas as well as all of this years talented participating DIY and Foodie Blogs in my previous post How to DIY Your Christmas.

 

As you’ll have perhaps realized, today’s topic is Gift Guides.

In addition to my Gift Ideas for Sewing Beginners, you’ll find lots of other gift giving inspiration for everyone on your list when you scroll down to the very bottom of the post.

 

Gift Ideas for Sewing Beginners

Choose one or more items from the list below to get your sewing beginner started on what could well become one of the most enjoyable and practical life skills they can acquire.

Or if you're wanting a larger gift, fill a sewing basket with items. But like I mentioned earlier, you don't want to overwhelm them with too many items all at once. You can always come back to this list for future gift ideas.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you make a purchase after clicking on one of the links, I receive a small commission.

Sewing Storage Container

Since your sewist is just starting out, they're going to need a container of some sort to store their new sewing supplies in.

There are all kinds of fabric covered baskets in a variety of prints available. Most have a removable plastic tray in the top.

There are also solid wood fold out sewing bins or opaque plastic sewing boxes with a single tray in the top. In fact, I kept a wooden one and a plastic one for several years for sentimental reasons. But neither was very practical.

Once our children came along, the wooden one proved too enticing for little hands. There was no way of locking it and it was too big to easily store on a shelf.

The solid plastic one had a plastic tray in the top that helped to organize a few items but the bottom half was always a tangled mess to sort through.

What I think would be much more practical are these stacked clear plastic storage bins with adjustable compartments. The clear sides make it easy to see at a glance what's inside and the adjustable dividers would make it easy to keep things organized.

Scissors

Trust me, nothing is more frustrating than trying to cut fabric with a dull pair of scissors or ones that aren't designed for cutting fabric. A pair of good quality scissors is essential!

You can't go wrong with a pair of Gingher dressmaking shears. They'll last a lifetime.

Heavy Duty Scissors

This falls under the category of nice to have. The Gingher's listed above will cut most clothing, quilting and home decor fabrics but if you think your beginner is going to quickly be moving on to cutting heavier materials, you might want to include this set of heavy duty tailor's scissors. In fact, I'm so impressed with the reviews that I've ordered a set for myself.

Needles

You may be tempted to think that since your sewist will be spending most of their time sewing by machine, that hand sewing needles are a thing of the past. Not so!

From hand basting to closing seams in lining; from sewing on buttons to adding decorative stitches, needles in a variety of sizes are a must in every sewing basket.

Thimbles

Again, you may think of this as an old fashioned item that wouldn't get used. But just as with needles, these will come in handy for a variety of tasks.

I've listed the ones that I use on a regular basis.

Pins and Clips

Pins and clips to hold fabric pieces together to prep them for sewing.

Seam Ripper

This is a tool that even the most advanced sewist finds herself using. Your beginner will become well acquainted with theirs.

There are all kinds to choose from.

And as one of my Facebook followers put it, buy more than one because they have a habit of disappearing just when you need it.

Sewing Gauges

Sewing gauges are useful little tools for measuring hems and pleats, marking buttonholes placement and checking for accurate seam allowances.

Measuring Tape

In order to get accurate measurements to determine sizing for clothing patterns, a cloth measuring tape is another sewing essential.

It's a good idea to buy one with inches and centimeters.

Beginner Sewing Books

There are all sorts of resources online available for beginners and advanced alike but having a physical book to browse through, mark up and make notes in the margins will stand any sewer in good stead.

 

MEET OUR SPONSORS who have generously donated fabulous prizes for the Big Christmas Giveaway!

DecoArt  winner will receive a prize package valued at $100!

Dixie Crystals/Imperial Sugar winner will receive a Keurig Coffee Maker valued at $100!

Oriental Trading winner will receive an OrientalTrading.com gift card valued at $200!

Cabot Cheese winner will receive a gift basket of Cabot products valued at $75!

Burlap Fabric winner will receive a prize pack of products valued at $50!

Zulay Kitchens winner will receive one Milk Frother and a Lemon Squeezer valued at $21

It’s Home To You winner will receive one wooden Santa sign valued at $65

12 Days of Holiday Ideas Event Sponsors 2019

 

 

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8 Comments

  • Marie
    November 13, 2019 5:18 pm

    Great list for beginner sewers but I’ve been sewing for years and still found something on the list that I’d love! I need those sewing clips! Pinned 🙂

  • Erlene
    November 13, 2019 4:24 am

    Great guide for the beginner sewer. I think I have everything on your list except for the clips. I may need to add those.

  • Maria
    November 12, 2019 11:02 pm

    All these ideas are super cute and I adore sewing

  • Simply Inspired Meals
    November 12, 2019 10:02 am

    Looks like a great list to get someone new to sewing up and running quickly.

  • Jenny
    November 12, 2019 7:03 am

    I don’t sew, but my mom does and these are some great gift ideas to get her, I don’t think she has sewing clips.

  • Pamela Smith
    November 11, 2019 8:57 pm

    I am not much of a sewer, but my daughter is, and this list is perfect! Especially the seam ripper. Not that I would know!

  • Beverly
    November 11, 2019 7:58 pm

    These are all wonderful ideas for someone new to sewing! I don’t sew, but I could use a few of these things, too!

  • Heather
    November 11, 2019 4:51 pm

    Such a fun gift guide! I don’t sew, but as a scrapbooker, I would love one of those storage containers for all my embellishments!

Comments are closed.