Gifts for Sewers, Sewists, and Sewing Enthusiasts

Check out these gift ideas for people who sew.

Hey y’all – I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving (we did). I don’t know about you, but every year on Thanksgiving, our family starts asking for our gift lists for Christmas. And every year, I’m unprepared. So while I was making my wish list, I thought I’d share my suggestions for gifts for sewers. This includes what I’m asking for as well as my favorite tools, books, splurge items and even fabric I’m lusting after. So, get ready to add things to your wish list, put them in your cart, or send this whole post to anyone buying gifts for you!

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. All affiliate links are identified with (affiliate link) after the link or a commissions earned statement above the link(s).

Tools and Notions

At the top of my list is this Simplex Expanding Gauge (affiliate link). How genius is this for buttonhole markings? I want it in my stocking.

I also recommend this bodkin (affiliate link), which is the thing attached to the elastic and is used to pull elastic through a casing.

Also, if you don’t have a tube turner, I don’t know what took me so long to get one. There are a few types that I review here.

For twin needle stitching, I will only use Klasse Twin Ballpoint Needles (affililate link), I keep 2 packages on hand at all times.

And since I’m a little obsessed with handmade bias tape, I love these Clover Bias Tape Makers (affililate link).

Are you more of a utilitarian gifter? Any sewing recipient will get a ton of use from these stocking stuffers:

Cordless Electric Scissors (affililate link)– have you gotten to play with a pair of these yet? So awesome.
Bias Tape Makers (affililate link)– a set of sizes to cover most needs
Wonder Clips (affililate link)– a colorful must-have for sewing vinyl, leather, oilcloth, or just thick layers
Brass Seam Ripper (affililate link)– give those occasions a little more pizazz
Chalk Cartridge Set (affililate link)– with a color for every fabric
Kai Dressmaking Shears (affililate link)– these cut like through butter and are very reasonably priced

Books

Here are many of my favorite books for sewing and pattern making.

Winifred Aldrich’s books Metric Pattern Cutting for Children’s Wear and Babywear, Metric Pattern Cutting for Women’s Wear, and Metric Pattern Cutting for Menswear (affililate links) are the some of the easiest drafting books to read. I just need the menswear one to complete my collection.

Sometimes you just need a general sewing reference. I own an older edition of The New Complete Guide to Sewing (affililate link) – so old the binding is falling off. This new version also has home dec sewing, which I don’t think mine includes, so bonus!

Once you sew your patterns, you’ll want a great book on fitting to get them just right. Joi Mahon released Create the Perfect Fit (affiliate link) this year, and it’s a great (and different) approach to fitting. You can read my complete review of the book here.

And just for fun? Keep track of all your design ideas in a Pocket Fashion Sketchpad. This book has body forms already drawn in for you to draw on top of, and the special ink they used means that when you scan or copy your drawings, their lines disappear leaving only yours to look at.

Fun Sewing Themed Gifts

These next ones are so fun… Instead of gifts to be used for sewing, these are sewing-themed tidbits for other areas in life:

The Sewing Box Jigsaw Puzzle (affililate link)– even though it looks like a colorfully organized sewing drawer, this one is for a whole different kind of piecing together
Sewing Machine Cookie Cutter (affililate link)– really, how can we not have this one in our collections?
Crafty Words Poster Print (affililate link)– love this colorful art!
Sewing Project Journal (affililate link)– track details about projects; would be cool to have to reference
Vintage Machine Poster Print (affililate link)– printed on an upcycled dictionary page
Needle and Dread (affililate link)– one in a series of mystery novels featuring sewing enthusiast characters
Vintage McCall’s Pattern Notebooks (affililate link)– blank notebooks with awesome covers
Sewing Image Stationery (affililate link)– fly your colors in your correspondence 🙂

Sewing Themed Toys

For the next generation of sewists, a few excellent starting materials:

Sewing School book (affililate link)– an inspiring guide with creative projects
My First Sewing Kit (affililate link)– great for travel or home, this one looks so fun!
Tiny Stitches Kit (affililate link)– learn to embroider, with projects and supplies

Splurge Items

Maybe you need a new machine? If so, make sure to check out my explanation of machine types and recommendations.