gift guide: gifts for the seamstress who has everything
Last year’s gift guide, the ultimate beginner’s sewing kit, was tailored toward a beginner sewer, someone who is just starting to collect supplies. This year, I thought I’d bring it up a notch and share some of my favorite specialty tools and supplies that are a little bit less standard. This list is pulled from my personal favorite supplies – so I suppose I am truly the seamstress who has everything – and if I didn’t love it, it wouldn’t be on this list.
So if you’re looking for something special or new for the seamstress in your life, hopefully these supplies and trinkets will give you a good start. And yes, there is some overlap between the two guides – some of my ultimate favorites deserve repetition.
nifty gadgets
I’ll say it again and again, but I use my Turn-It-All turning tool for everything. I use it for narwhal tusks, dress straps, alpaca legs, drawstrings… things that I would have never been able to deal with before the Turn-it-all came into my life. I swear, I’m not their spokesperson, I just love whoever invented this.
Another nifty tool that I use all the time is my scalpel-style seam ripper. It has an extremely sharp blade, so it’s definitely not a kid-friendly tool, but it does an excellent job of quickly ripping through threads when you’ve made a big mistake.
The Clover Wonder Clips are like binder clips that are specially made for sewing and quilting. They’re great for thicker fabrics or multiple layers that can’t be easily pinned.
Turn-It-All, $9; Havel’s Ultra Pro Seam Ripper, $8; Clover Wonder Clips, $13
splurge
Maybe your favorite seamstress has all of the necessary tools, but she’s ready for the next level of supplies. To me, one of the best ways to improve your sewing supply stash is to invest in quality cutting tools. This means Gingher. These shears are the best shears, these snips are the best snips, and this rotary cutter is the best rotary cutter. I really don’t think they can be beat.
Gingher Rotary Cutter, $36; Gingher Craft Scissors, $15; Gingher 8-Inch Dressmaker’s Shears, $25
sewing machine feet
If you know enough about your seamstress’s sewing machine to pick out a specialty foot, they make a great bonus accessory. Most machines come with a good assortment of feet, but two non-standard feet that I use all the time are my walking foot and my invisible zipper foot. The walking foot is most commonly used for quilting, since it helps keep multiple layers of fabric from bunching, but it’s also useful for long seams like on curtains or other home dec projects. I use it all the time. The invisible zipper foot is, of course, for installing invisible zippers so that they are truly invisible.
Singer Even Feed / Walking Foot, $12; Singer Invisible Zipper Foot, $6
organization & storage
A good thread rack is key for organized sewing. For a dust-free option, I managed to snag a vintage thread box (exactly the same as the one shown) for $1 at a thrift store. I love it, especially with the inner bobbin storage. Various Etsy sellers have quite a few of this exact box in both this green and a golden color.
And if you don’t have a Grabbit magnetic pincushion yet, you are seriously missing out.
Grabbit magnetic pincushion, price varies; Vintage Thread Box, $14; June Tailor Mini Mega-Rack ll, $12
accessorize
Maybe you aren’t quite sure what supplies your seamstress could use, but you do know that she loves to sew. Well, I’d say a dressform necklace is an obvious choice! And here are a few more etsy picks.
Chevron Dressform Necklace, lasercut wood, $12; Hedgehog Pincushion, $15; Handmade Little Scissors Necklace, $15
Most of the links above are Amazon referral links, which means I get a small commission if you buy from my link. I own every one of the supplies referenced* and they are my go-to crafting supplies, so I promise they will be well-received gifts! Even though Amazon Prime is always a great option, many of these items can be bought at JoAnn’s with a coupon if you’re looking to get a better deal.
*exception: i do not own these exact models of the walking foot and invisible zipper foot, nor do I own the etsy items listed.
I have that exact green thread box. I never think of it as vintage, just very OLD!!
Haha! I was so excited when I found it! I think it’s so cute. :) I’m happy that we have matching thread boxes!
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But are there any of these things that YOU don’t have?? ; -)