Halloween is officially past us and the holidays are fast approaching.
It’s officially time to start thinking about the gift giving season where we all feel like we are banging our heads against the wall trying to come up with gift ideas that our loved ones will actually want and use.
If you have a favorite quilter in your life and don’t know what they might need, or you ARE the quilter and are constantly being asked what you’d like this season, we’ve put together this full list of ideal gifts for quilters that we KNOW they (or you) will love.
Go figure, I started putting this list together and found that I couldn’t stop coming up with ideas, I will include links to everything so you know where to find it to learn more!
So whether you are shopping for yourself, or someone else, here’s to the holidays and filling out every sewing room with brand new toys!
What do you give a sewer
What do you even give a sewer or a quilter?
Trust me. There is plenty! So many different small tools, knick knacks, fabric, things the quilter always wanted but never could pull the trigger to purchase for themselves.
The list goes on and on, so today we are going to go over a ton of different style gifts you can give a quilter:
- Things that a quilter needs and has to replenish regularly – definitely practical, but always appreciated. Why go out and buy them ourselves when we can stay home and quilt?
- Handmade tools to upgrade things they already have, or just give them a second one, who is going to turn down another quilting ruler?
- Best gift certificates for the last minute gift or person who isn’t sure what the quilter already owns
- Subscriptions you can get for them – why not let someone else pick the gifts?
- Sewing notions galore – they are totally necessary (but cheap!) gifts your quilter will use constantly
- Different types of fabric packaged in perfect gift giving bundles – it’s fabric, no matter what you pick, they’ll love it and find a reason to use it.
- Unique gifts for quilters who love to sport their quilting swag on the streets
- And a special section for gifts under $25 perfect for stocking stuffers (although many outside this section are as well)
Spreading gifts across all of these categories, it would be quite easy to fill out an entire holiday season for a quilter with just this list alone!
So if you have a spouse that’s a quilter, or you are the quilter looking to give a list to the people shopping for you, be sure to print this list out for them, and your shopping list/wish list is complete!
What does every quilter need
Sewing machine cleaning kit
An easy to put off item that can quickly become an essential in the sewing room, a sewing machine cleaning kit is not necessarily fun and exciting like fabric, however it extends the life of your sewing machine and keeps it in tip top shape.
The first time you actually take your sewing machine apart and find all of the lint built up inside, you’ll appreciate the tools and brushes included in this cleaning kit.
Disposable quilting tools replenished
There can be many different items your quilter uses regularly that have to be replenished that they just don’t want to shell the money out for. Gifting these items may not seem exciting to you, but the quilter not having to pay for them can be the best part!
Even if your quilter doesn’t yet use these they could also make their own great gifts as well. Here are a few of my common disposable quilting tools to give you some ideas:
Printable foundation paper for foundation paper piecing
Pads of foundation templates like these Flying Geese, Courthouse Steps, or Log Cabins
Seam allowance strips
These seam allowance strips are a great way to automate your seam allowance and could be an actual gift all on their own. Check out our tutorial on how to use these seam allowance strips here.
Fabric
We have a whole section of this article specifically for fabric gifts coming up, but as a whole, it makes the short list of “what does every quilter need”. You can never go wrong with gifting a collection of fabric, or a gift card for fabric, and it can often be their favorite gift of the entire holiday season.
Batting
Every quilter always uses batting, and because its never actually seen, its an expense a quilter doesn’t necessarily WANT to make. Unfortunately, 9 times out of 10 you can’t make a quilt without it.
Quilter’s Dream cotton is my all time favorite, and if your quilter generally sticks to smaller throw size quilts, going out to buy a queen or king size batting will allow them to get two to four different quilts out of the one pack.
Although a lesser thought of gift idea, it will be immediately appreciated in January when they finish their next quilt top and don’t have to go get batting for it.
See Quilter’s Dream batting on Amazon here.
Replacement blades for rotary cutter
Always a necessity but another easy one to put off replacing. As long as the rotary cutter still cuts, it is common to delay buying replacement rotary blades. We’d rather spend the money on fabric, not blades. The second that blade gets changed out and it cuts the fabric like butter, they’ll be kicking themselves for not replacing it sooner.
Slipping in replacement blades for their rotary cutter would be a much appreciated (and probably immediately used) gift making their fabric cutting much smoother and quicker. Just be sure to check the size you need first!
Check out my go-to brand Olfa here.
Handmade gifts for quilters
Wooden seam ripper/stiletto/threader
I would be surprised to find a single quilter that does not already have a seam ripper. This one is usually on the short list of things you need to start up in the hobby.
That being said, it’s likely your quilter has not replaced their seam ripper since they started quilting and will be excited for the upgrade. These hand turned handles for this seam ripper, stiletto, threader combo tool would be an amazing upgrade to the plastic versions you find in the box stores.
And since a quilter’s relationship with a seam ripper is typically the love-hate kind, having a beautiful tool to use may actually make them excited to use it instead of the normal frustration.
Tailor’s Clapper
Tailor’s Clappers have become more and more popular in the quilting community over the last few years. When you iron a seam and place the clapper on top, the weight of the clapper as the fabric cools leaves a super flat seam.
This one is typically a “nice-to-have” not a “need-to-have” so it’s likely to be one that your quilter may not yet own. You can find many awesome handmade ones on Etsy that would be a perfect gift this holiday season.
Suzy Quilts has a great article on tailors clappers here that you can check out for more details on how to use this awesome tool.
Ruler holder
Rulers: always useful, but always in the way! Instead of throwing your rulers in a drawer on top of each other so you are constantly searching through the pile, these ruler holders are the perfect solution.
Storing those rulers vertically is one of the best ways to keep them out of the way and easy to find at a moments notice.
Quilt hangers
You put all of this work into making this quilt, maybe it even entered a competition at a fair. Instead of burying it in a pile of folded quilts at the back of a linen closet, ask for these handmade quilt hangers this holiday and display that quilt proudly!
There are a couple different styles to choose from, but these three are my favorite styles you can find on Etsy:
Seam presser
Sometimes you just don’t want to get up to go to the ironing board. This hand turned wooden seam presser looks beautiful and serves a purpose.
Save your fingers AND keep pretty tools in your sewing room? Yes. Please.
Gift certificates for Quilters
Etsy
Etsy is the place for all things specialty, custom, or random haha. All of the handmade items on this list above are from Etsy, simply because its the best place to find quality but unique (and useful) items. My favorite word to use about Etsy is genuine. If your quilter is all about the prettiest handmade tools, an Etsy gift card is a perfect gift.
It’s also a great place to start if you have been searching high and low for a discontinued yardage for an unfinished project. Many of the fabric shops on Etsy are able to hold on to those bolts longer than bigger stores so it’s always a great place to start. Check out my list of best Etsy fabric stores here to start browsing!
Fat Quarter Shop
Maybe you want to gift your quilter fabric, but you aren’t sure what they’ll like. Or maybe they have a big project coming up and you want to help them with the cost as part of a birthday or Christmas gift.
Fat Quarter Shop is my number one place online for any and all fabric needs. The widest fabric selection I’ve found with the most recent fabric collections available. If you want to gift the highest quality name brand fabrics, Fat Quarter Shop is the gift certificate to get.
Joann’s
Does your quilter dabble in more than one craft? Maybe they like to hand stitch, cross stitch, knit, crochet, embroider, or something else.
If you want a gift certificate that will allow them to do any of those crafts, not just quilting, a gift card to Joann’s is what you are looking for. All the fabric options you could need, plus plenty of other crafting options your gift-ee might want.
Local Quilt Shop (LQS)
When all else fails, or time is incredibly short, you can never go wrong with a gift card to the local quilt shop. More often than not, your LQS will have a mixture of fabric themes in it as well as 90% of the things on this list so they are guaranteed to find something.
If you don’t want to potentially buy something they already have, or have time to order some of the more specialty things on this list, the LQS gift card is always a winner.
Subscriptions for Quilters
Sew Sampler Box
Fat Quarter Shop hosts a great subscription box, the Sew Sampler box, that contains monthly quilting goodies that ship to your house every month.
Each box has a theme and comes with a small precut collection of fabric, multiple sewing notions, an exclusive pattern you can only get through the subscription, and extra bonus items each month!
If you aren’t sure what to get a quilter this holiday season, getting a couple months of the sew sampler box is a fantastic gift they’ll remember straight through the spring.
Quilters Candy Membership
The Quilter’s Candy membership offers its members access to rare and exclusive quilt patterns each month. The membership includes access to a free community that you can use to share projects, ask questions, and get support as you make projects.
The membership also includes drawing and giveaways periodically for its members just for sharing your projects.
Quilty Box
The Quilty Box is one of most well known subscriptions you can get as a quilter. This one is very similar to the sew sampler, however you begin the subscription with a quiz that will help define your quilting style to help designate your perfect box.
With each box, you’ll receive fabric bundles, notions, thread, and at least 2 patterns to try out. Out to make your quilting life easier and more fun, check out the Quilty Box here.
Murder Mystery Quilt Box
What’s the only way to make quilting more exciting? Add a murder mystery!
For a cute fun twist on a block of the month club, the murder mystery quilt box is sure to be a subscription your quilter will love! Each month comes with a story and a quilt block pattern. To advance in the story and solve the murder, you have to finish each block.
The finished quilt gives you the final clue to the murderer! A year long program that will constantly keep you guessing, this unconventional quilting gift is sure to be a new annual favorite.
See the Murder Mystery Quilt Box here.
Sewing Notions
Bias tape maker
When you are working on a quilt that has a scalloped or curvy edge to it, the normal binding methods just won’t cut it. You’ll need to make bias binding to smoothly work around those curves so your binding stretches with it.
Cut the time it takes to make your bias binding in half with these nifty tools that you’ll be using over and over again.
Needle Minders
If you’ve ever accidentally dropped a needle when hand stitching your bindings this next one is for you.
Needle minders have a magnet on them to sandwich your quilt and stay in place while you are handstitching your bindings. When you need a break from binding, the magnetic needle minder will magnetically hold on to your needle so it never gets lost on the floor or in your furniture. Fat Quarter Shop has tons of different themes so you’ll always be able to find the perfect one.
Add a quarter ruler
An add a quarter ruler is an essential if you like to paper piece your quilt blocks. Not sure how you might use this ruler? You can see all the details in our foundation paper piecing tutorial here!
Featuring a lip on the ruler that hooks on to your folded back foundation paper, an add-a-quarter ruler will save you tons of time in your paper piecing. No longer do you have to perfectly line up your normal quilt ruler, just hook, cut, and move on to the next segment. You can find these awesome rulers here.
Wool mat
Wool mats are fantastic because they are incredibly insulators. Repelling the iron’s heat, they can literally iron both sides of your fabric at the same time.
These great mats are also handy to keep right next to the sewing machine so you can easily iron small seems without getting up to go to the ironing board every 3.5 minutes. You can find great wool mats for sale on Amazon here.
Scissor IDs
For the quilter that has a million pairs of scissors, it’s common to have different purposes for each pair. One pair for fabric, one for paper, another for batting the list goes on and on.
If your favorite quilter is particular about what pair of scissors can be used for what, these scissor ID’s can be incredibly helpful to make sure their favorite fabric pair isn’t used to open up an Amazon box during the holiday season (effectively starting WWIII).
Extra wide Ironing Board
When you are constantly ironing large yardages of fabric like most quilters do, having an extra wide ironing board for quilting can easily cut your time ironing in half. The more ironing surface area you have, the more fabric can be ironed quicker.
There are ways to both DIY a wide ironing board or find one online. Check out our tutorial to DIY your own, as well as our 3 favorite Amazon options here.
Fabric gifts
Precut fabrics
This one is always a perfect gift, no matter the quilter, no matter the age, no matter the sewing room. No quilter will ever turn down pretty fabrics.
Fat quarter bundles start as low as $30 and can get you a collection of coordinating fabrics that can easily be used together in a quilt. In fact, it’s one of my favorite ways to choose fabric colors for a quilt!
If you have a quilter in your life that needs a gift, head to Fat Quarter Shop and check out their fat quarter bundles. Choose your favorite and gift it to them this holiday, the best part? You can give them the same gift every year in different patterns, and they’ll still love it just as much!
Color cards for solids
You have the perfect patterned fabrics, now to find the perfect coordinating solids. Having a color card for your favorite line of solids is the perfect way to always get your colors correct.
Having these small swatches of fabric in person, you can put together your color schemes with ease and order your fabric online with confidence that it will always be the color you need. You can find color cards for your go to solids brand here!
Mini bolt packs
This one is at the top of my Christmas list, mini bolt packs made for fat quarters! If you have yardage just sitting in piles, or folded in drawers and you want to organize them, these mini bolt packs are the perfect solution!
Wrap your smaller lengths of fabric on these bolt cards and file them on a shelf just like a mini version of the fabric stores. A fantastic way to keep everything organized so you always know what fabrics you have. Bonus points, include bolt clips for a full kit so the fabric never falls off.
Collectable precut fabrics
Many quilters love to collect different collections of fabric and display them in their sewing room. Some actually collect them by purchasing the smallest precuts called mini charm packs and display them instead of use them.
These 2.5” by 2.5” precut fabric packs include small swatches of each fabric included in the collection. If your quilter finds it difficult to actually use their favorite fabrics because they just don’t want to lose them, this is a great option to be able to keep your favorite collections whole and actually use the full yardage at the same time.
Unique gifts for quilters and sewers
Project Bag
Themed project bags! If you like to go to craft nights, bring sewing projects on vacation, or just want to keep your sewing area more organized, these project bags are a great option.
Keep everything you need in one little sleeve, and you can easily contain the chaos of crafting while being able to take it on the go at a moments notice.
Quilt Block Earrings
I just love these quilt block earrings! If you love to wear themed earrings, these ones are PERFECT for a craft night, QuiltCon, or random Sunday afternoon 😛
A fun gift that is definitely more novelty than practical, these super cute earrings might just be the perfect gift for you.
Quilty Sweatshirt
Quilting is often considered a winter hobby, the weather is cold, and it’s natural to want to stay inside and sew.
And when it’s cold outside, the second thing you are going to grab (after a cup of coffee of course) is a warm sweatshirt, before heading to the sewing room.
This super cute quilting themed sweatshirt is a great gift for any quilter in your life, and will likely earn its own corner in the sewing room its first week.
Quilt Themed Stationary
For the quilter that loves sending thank you notes, birthday cards, or letters just because, this patchwork inspired stationary kit is the perfect unique gift for this holiday season.
Wall decor for their quilting area
A quilting area is never complete without some quilty themed wall decor, and it just so happens that the holidays give you the perfect excuse to gift some!
Check out a few of my favorites from Etsy
Cutter quilt squares
Believe it or not, there is a place in the quilting room for even the saddest looking quilts. The ones with cuts, batting showing, and missing fabrics.
These antique and tattered quilts can often be reused in fun quilty crafts to give a country antique character. Christmas stockings, zipper bags, and more, just because the quilt is old doesn’t mean its useless. Cutter quilt squares can be found for sale here.
Not sure what a quilter might use these quilt scraps for? Check out our tutorial for Farmhouse Christmas Stockings using a cutter quilt to get some ideas!
Gifts under $25
Spool Huggers
If you sew with different colors often, don’t have a great thread storage system, or just simply have cats, grabbing a pack of spool huggers will change your quilting forever.
These handy tools wrap around your half used spools of thread and hug them to keep the thread from unraveling while not in use. If your cats like to wreak havoc on your thread and make a huge mess, these spool minders will save the day!
After getting a pack of spool huggers, you’ll wonder how you ever quilted without them.
Seam allowance ruler
When you make a quilt, keeping a 1/4” seam allowance is important for consistency across your quilt. The more you stray from that 1/4” the harder it will be to assemble later.
Pair this seam allowance ruler with some seam allowance guides and you have a great stocking stuffer under $25 to automate a 1/4” seam allowance so you never have to think about it.
Interested in learning more about how this ruler works? Check out our tips, tricks and tutorials for checking and maintaining your seam allowance here!
Stash ‘n Store
So many tools, so little time, and space! A Stash ’n Store is a great crafters solution to keeping everything you need at arms length, while also keeping it looking pretty and organized, especially in smaller spaces.
A Stash ’n Store has compartments to keep your tools vertical, but with enough space between them that you aren’t searching for the item in a pile of tools every time. You can shop all the different colors here!
Mini iron
Quilters often make very small seams that take more time to walk to the ironing board to press than it takes to physically sew the seam.
Pair this mini iron with a Wool pressing mat and keep it next to your sewing machine and you can now press your pieces right there keeping you from having to get up so often. It’s small size also makes it a fantastic choice if you like to take your quilting on the go to craft nights, quilting classes, or bring on vacation.
Silicone iron rest
Silicone ironing rests are fantastic for protecting your surfaces from the heat of an iron. Many even have raised dots on them to elevate your iron as it is cooling so the air circulation can help cool it quicker.
A silicone ironing rest allows you to store your hot iron horizontally so there is less chance it drops or burns someone if it is bumped into during use. See more details here.
A new quilt pattern
And last but not least, every quilter no matter who they are can always use a new quilt pattern.
And the best part is, there are so many to choose from that you are unlikely to gift them one that they already own so it’s a perfect gift every time.
And you’re in luck! Through the holiday season until January 1st, 2022 our most popular quilt pattern Modern Windows is 15% off!
Modern Windows is our version of a cathedral window quilt, except all machine pieced, and machine quilted. No hand sewing here, unless you really wanted to.
It even includes instructions for including batting where this pattern typically bypasses it all together.
Use it as a stocking stuffer on its own, or pair it with the fabric yardage and you’ve got a perfectly quilty gift ready for assembly.
The pattern is 15% off, no code needed, so head on over to our Quilt Shop and grab a copy for your quilting loved one, and make this gift giving season a breeze!
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