It’s that time of year! This year I’ve updated the list of gift guide for quilters – ideas for gifts you can either make for or give to your favorite Quilter and people who sew. This list of best gifts for quilters also includes a list projects you can make for your quilting friends as well as new books, tools and other unique gifts. (It’s also a handy post you can use as a good ‘hint hint’ if you’re the favorite quilter in someone else’s life. 😉 You’re welcome.)
Many of these items are things I’ve purchased with my own hard-earned cash or are items that were gifts I received from friends. This post also contains affiliate links (meaning I receive a small portion of the proceeds at no additional cost to you which helps support all of the free content year-round on this site) as well as recommendations of items that I have been given to sample by vendors. All opinions are my own and only my genuine favorites make this list.
Unique Gifts for Quilters and Sewing Lovers
There are SO many more fun and unique sewing-themed gift options this year! Here are a few of my favorites:
Maker Valley has a delightful selection of quilting and sewing themed t-shirts. They regularly have new sewing and quilting designs. I’ve bought multiple Maker Valley t-shirts and I think they just get better all the time. Use code SMART10 at check out for 10% off.
Maker Valley has expanded their offerings to also include quilt kits, pillowcase kits, stickers, collectible enamel sewing-themed pins.
Speaking of enamel pins – there are SO many cute sewing-themed ones out there! RicRac Sews has a bunch of cute ones too. And collecting enamel pins just keeps getting more popular. If you have a friend who collects pins, here are a bunch of ideas for handmade enamel pin display options. One of these would make a great gift to a pin-loving friend.
There are so many fun quilt-themed puzzles available right now. A great gift with a quilt ‘theme’ that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
Decorative Sewing Pins and Needle Minders
Decorative pins – both just for pretty eye candy or functional like alphabetized row markers are a perfect gift for any quilter. The Decorative Pin shop and Fiberlucious on Etsy have a huge variety including these pretty flower pins as well as the alphabet pins that come in a handy tin.
I have a set of numbered marking pins that I use ALL of the time for marking rows and keeping in order rows that need to be sewn together. You could make your own using this tutorial for making quilt row markers. Another option is Marilee’s Numbered Pins or the Dritz Numbered Marking Pins. (I just bought a set of these and I love them! Long and sharp!)
Needle Minders are both very cute AND functional as they’re magnetic and will keep track of your needle while you stitch. Bev from Flamingo Toes has an adorable selection of enamel needle minders here.
Another fun option is sewing themed jewelry and charms including these cute options from Charmed Collections. There’s also a wide selection of sewing-themed jewelry and novelty gifts on Etsy.
For an extra special sewing friend, check out these miniature Tiny Tin Sewing rooms, hand crafted by Sachiko Aldous. They are so adorable and they are all unique. She has a handful stocked in her Etsy Shop right now. Be advised: they often sell out quickly, but she does regularly restock. Check her Instagram for updates.
A couple years ago, Old Mountain Crafts in North Carolina sent me some of their laser-cut wood decorations and I put them together as gifts for Quilting friends. (And kept a few for my own tree.)
Handcrafted Quilting Tools
Modern American Vintage is a new company that makes the most beautiful hand-crafted quilting tools (seam ripper, hera markers, point turners and quilter’s clappers) from a variety of gorgeous wood options. They feel like butter in your hand when you use them. An heirloom-quality gift for sure.
If you’re looking for something different and useful, this is a great gift – especially for folks who are creative with their hands – Mom’s Stuff Salve. I have been using it for a few of years now – especially in the winter months. It’s a handmade concoction with 100% all-natural ingredients. It’s perfect for softening rough, calloused hands and feet, but it’s not greasy. A little goes a long way and the jars last a long time. I’ve bought multiple jars and given them as gifts.
Just Add Sunshine has a bunch of really cute, cheerful stickers.
Or check out these cute sewing and quilting themed socks!
If you’re looking for an amazing high-end gift the Bright 360 Lamp from Cricut is an amazing addition to any sewing or crafting space. You can read more about the Bright 360 Lamp here.
Fabric:
Fat Quarter Bundles and precuts make a great gift. There are lots of great online shops with an excellent selections and customer service.
These are a few of my favorites:
Sewtopia – specializes in modern quilting fabrics
Green Fairy Quilts – specializes in precuts
If you’re particular in your fabric tastes, you may want to be specific in your list to Santa (or Santa’s helper) to be sure you get exactly what you have your eye on. Or request a gift certificate!
Notions and Sewing Supplies
Finally, you can never go wrong with traditional quilting notions. Any of these would be great gifts for quilters. A few of my favorites include:
- Wonderclips (that come in a wide variety of options)
- Clover Fine Glasshead pins
(I LOVE these)
- Little House Glass Head pins are luxurious and come in a cute tin
- black Elan dressmaker scissors (very affordable and stay sharp. I LOVE mine)
- Olfa rotary cutter (I have 4 different kinds). My favorite is the Olfa Splash, but I also love the 60 mm extra large size for cutting lots of fabric layers at once as well as the 28 mm version for cutting applique pieces and around templates. Make sure it’s an OLFA though. They’re so much better than most rotary cutters.
- Flatter Smoothing Spray (available on Etsy or from Amitie Textiles in Australia)
- Rotary Cutter replacement blades are always in demand (just make sure you buy the right size for the rotary cutter you’re using.)
- I love these handy little Sewing Machine Cleaning brushes from Quilt In a Day.
A new pair of scissors is always a super handy gift, not to mention pretty, gift. (Speaking as a person who seems to have a lot of scissors.) Here are some of my favorite recommendations (L to R):
Heirloom Embroidery scissors are always a pretty gift. You can find all kind of shapes and sizes.
Omnigrid mini needlecraft scissors. These scissors are super sharp for their size. I keep mine with my english paper piecing projects because they’re not only good thread snippers, but they’re sharp enough to cut fabric when needed and they’re small enough I can take them on an airplane.
This year I’m gifting myself a new, pretty pair of Gingher shears. They’ve been on my want list for a while now. I love the pretty ceramic handles in the designer series. If you can’t find them in your favorite shop, you can find a large variety on Amazon.
Olfa Precision Scissors – these are hands down, some of my favorite scissors. The blades are small and sharp – cutting fabric easily, perfect for cutting intricate work – but the handles are large and comfortable enough for real fingers to get a good grip. I use these constantly.
These red polka dot scissors just too dang cute. They’re not super sharp for cutting fabric, but I love keeping them handy for paper and cutting in my sewing room. And because I just love their decorative nature. 😉 Available here and here.
Other useful tools (that would make great stocking stuffers)include:
A Hera marker– used for making a crease on fabric – perfect for marking quilting lines without having to use writing instruments
Another favorite seam ripper by Clover (can one really have too many seam rippers?)
Also useful – a new colorful cutting mats. This mini cutting mat would be a fun gift to give, or receive.
It would be fun to gift some of these notions in a cute jar like this one from The Polkadot Chair (which includes the cute free-printable Sewing gift tag.)
Mini Travel/Craft Iron
One of my favorite nifty, new tools is the Oliso Mini Craft Iron. Oliso sent me one to sample and I have loved it. I took it with me on a recent retreat and it was so handy to have close by. It comes with a silicone trivet for use as both travel/storage and as a sole plate for the iron to rest on in the face down position. It’s small and lightweight, and fits ergonomically in the palm of your hand, but has the weight of a heavy duty iron when pressing. Also a nice tip for detailed pressing and getting into those seams.
One feature that I like is that it stays hot and ready to press. No waiting for your iron to heat up when you need a quick seam press. (This is also something to be careful of if you’re prone to leave your iron turned on for extended time – you definitely don’t want to leave it plugged in for extended amounts of time.)
Some iron accessories that you could make include a personal, portable ironing table, or an iron travel caddy – useful for carrying your iron safely, even if it still needs to cool down.
Best Gifts for Quilters: Quilt Pattern Books
Quilt pattern books are always a great gift for a quilter. They not only come with a variety of patterns in one place, but often they are full of beautiful quilts and inspiring photography.
One of my favorite new quilting books this past year is Quilt Recipes by Jen Kingwell. You can preview more of the projects from Quilt Recipes here.
Below is a list of some of my favorite pattern books: These have some really fun projects for using your stash, FQ friendly, or small, handmade gifts and projects. Each book would make a great gift as they all have a variety of projects and patterns that would appeal to almost every quilter.
The Big Book of Little Quilts from That Patchwork Place – this 240 page book has 51 patterns for assorted mini quilt in a variety of styles (traditional, modern, etc) and skill levels.
Fresh Fat Quarter Quilts by Andy Knowlton is a book with 12 patterns designed specifically for using Fat Quarters. A great resource for ideas to bust through your stash. I have a quilt in the works from this book that I’m so excited about!
Patchwork USA by Heidi Staples has 24 adorable projects from zipper pouches, pillows, and bags as well as quilt. It’s full of gorgeous photography to fuel your creativity. It’s already a favorite of mine.
Perfectly Pretty Patchwork by Kristine Czepuryk is another one with a variety of sweet patchwork projects, big and small, with lots of details.
If you are looking for a book for quilt beginners, definitely check out Pat Sloan’s Teach Me to Make My First Quilt.
Books with small sewing projects: 50 Little Gifts, compiled by Susanne Woods, is a super fun collection of easy patchwork projects to make for yourself or as an adorable handmade gift.
Lori Holt’s book, Vintage Christmas. It’s another winner from Lori. Lori’s book’s are some of the best bang for your buck because they are chock full of ideas and multiple ways to use her amazing blocks and patterns. You can see some of my blocks here.
If you’re looking for a beautiful coffee table style book – not quilt patterns, but images of 230 modern quilts – check out Modern Quilts; Designs of the New Century put together by the Modern Quilt Guild.
Quilt Design Software
If your quilter (or you) enjoys designing their own quilts, Electric Quilt Design Software is hands down the best software available. EQ8 is more user-friendly and intuitive than ever. Plus there’s lots of free YouTube classes and tutorials to teach you how to use all of the EQ capabilities.
It’s also the best time of the year to shop anything from Electric Quilt – including their gorgeous Encyclopedia of Quilt Blocks Book and Block Base+ design software.
Online Classes!
I’m so glad that Craftsy is back! They have a huge selection of quilting classes available in every style and technique.
If you want to take a class with me 😀 you can find and preview my class Pre-cuts Shortcuts here!
Subscriptions: The gift that keeps on giving. Literally.
The Fat Quarter Shop has the monthly Sew Sampler subscription box that arrives on your doorstep with a new fabric collection, notions, tools, and patterns. It’s a winner every time!
Lady Belle Fabrics has a monthly Fat Quarter bundle subscription called Little Whispers. Each month a new bundle of 10 ‘low-volume’ prints are shipped on the 15th. It’s a great way to build a stash of these useful fabrics. Option to cancel at any time.
Amitie Textiles out of Australia (owned by Jen Kingwell) has two great subscription clubs: The Stash Club and The Liberty Lovers Club. The Stash Club is a fun way to build up a selection of bright prints and colors. I was subscribed and loved getting these bi-monthly bundles of fresh, modern prints to supplement my stash. The Liberty Lovers Club is also bi-monthly and a fun way to build a Liberty lawn collection a bit at a time.
Subscription fabric clubs or gift boxes continue to become ever more popular. There are few different companies that offer subscription gift boxes such as membership boxes are available from Cotton Cuts. Each company is slightly different – check them out to find the right fit for the person you’re giving too. It really is fun to look forward to a monthly surprise box full of goodies in your mailbox.
For anyone with a sewing machine with Embroidery capabilities, they may LOVE the Perfectly Pieced monthly subscription from M.E. Time Delivered. This subscription consists of digital downloads for foundation piecing perfect quilt blocks + digital machine quilting files + an additional fabric bundle option every month! You can read more about the Perfectly Pieced Subscription Club here.
Find the Perfect Sewing Machine
Sewing Machines have been a hot ticket item in recent years thanks to more people spending time at home. If you are looking for a good mid-level machine, I highly recommend the Baby Lock Jubilant. It’s lightweight and easily portable (making it a great travel machine) but is sturdy with a consistent stitch.
If you’re looking for a beginning machine and don’t want to spend a lot of money: a Baby Lock Zest is the perfect machine. It’s doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles, making it affordable, but still sturdy and reliable. A friend who teaches sewing classes at a college uses and recommends these machines for their beginning students.
If you’re ready to upgrade to a new machine, I recommend the Baby Lock Aria or the Crescendo. I’ve been sewing on the Baby Lock Crescendo for a few years now and it sews beautifully! It’s a bigger machine with lots of throat space for quilting and includes a dual-feed foot (an upgrade from a regular walking foot) and a free-motion foot.
I have a lot more information and recommendations in this post about How to Choose a Sewing Machine.
Whatever your machine needs are, I definitely suggest visiting a local sewing machine dealer, rather buying a machine from a big box store.
The local dealer will have a variety of levels of machines – from beginner to super-deluxe. They also offer free classes with a machine purchase so that you can learn how to use all the features on the machine. And if the machine you buy isn’t right, they are more likely to let you exchange. They’ll also take your machine later as a trade in when you’re ready for an upgrade, and they will also be much more helpful should you need any technical support or long-term maintenance.
Gift Certificates:
If you’re starting to feel overwhelmed by the number of choices, or just running out of time, get a gift certificate! You can get a gift certificate from your favorite local quilt shop or any of the online shops listed on my sidebar. –>
(Never feel like a Gift Certificate is a cop out! Gift certificates are my favorite because I love the process of getting to use it just as much as receiving it in the first place. It’s like getting a present twice!)
A gift certificate could also be used to take a class at a local shop or an online video class on sites such as Craftsy.
Design Walls and Design Boards
Another useful gift for a quilting friend are these super handy mini design boards. My friend Emily made me some and I’ve LOVED them. They’re perfect of laying out quilt blocks, auditioning fabric, or just keeping your pieces in place until you’re ready to sew. Lori Holt has a tutorial to make your own Design Board (mine don’t have the decorative border, which is fine with me) or this video tutorial if you like the extra visuals. You can also buy Lori’s Design Boards ready made here in multiple sizes.
Another idea is to make (or buy) a full design wall. I LOVE and use my design wall every day. It has grommets and hangs next to my sewing table, but is easy to take down when needed. I have the Fons and Porter Design Wall which you can find at Joann’s or Amazon.
You could also make one yourself! Suzy Quilts has a list of great ideas for making your own Design Wall.
Quilt Display Ladders
Another fun gift would be a Quilt Ladder for displaying quilts. There are lots of different quilt ladder styles and options on Etsy.
OR make your own! Here are a couple Quilt Ladder Tutorials: here and here.
And for the quilter who has everything:
Consider giving a donation in their name to other quilters who are working hard to provide the basics of life for their family, such as the women of One Common Thread Quilts. ❤
Handmade Gifts for Quilters or Friends Who Sew
As many of you are quilters yourselves, you know it’s a lot of fun to make a sweet little gift for other quilting friends. Here’s a variety of handmade gift ideas to make for people who sew. This list ranges from large and elaborate for that special someone to quick and simple that you can produce en masse. This list is geared specifically toward other sewists, but I have another list of Handmade Gift Ideas for anyone here.
What ever you make or find, I hope you enjoy the pleasure of giving!
Jocelyn
Wow! What a great list! Thanks for sharing all these wonderful ideas.
Mabel
Thank you for sharing a list of great ideas by wonderful and creative people like you!
Happy Thanksgiving ?
Beverly McCullough
This is amazing Amy! Thanks so much for including a couple of my tutorials!
Cathie
What a wonderful list! Enjoyed reading all the ideas and even found a few items for myself, of course! Thank you, Amy! Happy Thanksgiving!
lee
Thank you for taking the time to put this post together! Sew very helpful!
Deb
I love this post. My daughters wanted my Christmas wish list. I was able to create a list of quilting supplies that I’d love to have, with all budgets in mind. I also have picked several gifts to make for friends and family. I found some really pretty navy and gold small ceramic bowls at Hobby Lobby today. They were half price, making them only $2.50. They will make beautiful pin bowls! My husband is going to take on the challenge of a diy quilt ladder.
Amy
Awesome! I’m so glad it was helpful!
SANDRAHAMER
Amy Smart I just love all the things you’ve put together your my kind of quilt friend,everything is so pretty and that Babylock embroidery/sewing machine looks like a dream, IVEalways wanted one but of course the price has stopped me,and then I start thinking would I really use an embroidery machine that much,sometimes I would like to see a tutorial onall .the different ways to use them,other than clothing and towels and making labels to really make the cost worth my investment THANKYOU also would like a tutorial on the CIRCUT MACHINE .YOUR A BLESSING TO ALL OF US QUILT LADIES,WE JUST LOVE YOU,GOOD JOB AMY
Amy
Thank you so much, Sandra. I am going to do another tutorial on the Cricut machine soon and demonstrate how it can cut quilt blocks! Stay tuned!
Jennifer Agle
I absolutely love this comprehensive list of gifts for quilters!! Brilliant idea!! My mind is blown over the suggestion of numbered pins! I’ve been quilting for 20+ years, and have never seen these, or even thought something like this was available. I immediately ordered 2 sets for myself 🙂 Farewell to my tiny scraps of hand written post-it notes pinned to the left hand corner of my quilt rows! Hooray, you’re the best!
Kathy Z
Thanks for all the great ideas. Fantastic!
Cindy Berry
Wow – what great ideas and resources….. thanks for all you do for us novice quilters…. Have a wonderful holiday season.
Britt | Not Your Mom's Gifts
These gift ideas are so good! I love the idea of gifting online classes. Thanks for sharing these!!
Mary Cardon
Thanks again, Amy, for putting this list together and sharing it for all of us. It is very comprehensive!
Amy
You’re welcome!