Thursday, October 18, 2007

HEY!!! Sewers and seamstresses!!

I'm looking to put together a sort of Christmas stocking for my sister-in-law this holiday season. She sews. Any suggestions on cool gadgets to put into said stocking?

17 comments:

Amy Lane said...

Okay, most of these are for quilters, but these were on my dream list when I was quilting:

a rotary cutter and cutting mat (various sizes, too),
a bundle of fat quarters,
if you're ambitious (and she doesn't have an extensive craft library) there are some book out there called "Fat Quarter Friendly"--how to get a whole quilt top from a bundle of fat qs.
A teeny tiny iron (for corners--big irons don't go...)
a box of bobbins compatible w/her machine (you can never have enough),
one of those 'taggers'--it shoots little plastic thingies in through your project to 'pin' it together.
regular pins

And I"m done...it's been so long since I've sewn! (approximately 4 years, if that means anything to you!!!)

Fancy Pants said...

You can never have enough pins - flat head, straight, and safety - as a sewer/seamstress. You could make her a little felted pincushion. Some small, sharp scissors and neutral-colored (white, beige, black, and navy) all-purpose thread always comes in handy. If she sews garments and home decor stuff, a ironing ham or log (they are seriously called that) is nice to have.

Sheepish Annie said...

I'd like some pattern weights if I ever got back into sewing. They are so much better for holding the pattern onto the fabric than pins. I also love the idea of the little iron from Clover from pressing seams. I'm also a huge fan of the magnetic pin holders. Me and the regular pincushions have never gotten along that well!

Anonymous said...

Little seam rippers no matter how many you have you can't find one when you need it. The same goes for gauges-the six inch ruler thingy.

Crazy Colorado Knitter said...

A *nice* seam ripper with a chain or ribbon. A ball-point bodkin (for turning stuff inside out, etc.), and shoot... one of those pointy things... a stiletto so that you can press down on the fabric close to the needle without sewing your fingers to the project.

Anonymous said...

How about something to keep bobbins in? (A little container about 3"x4" with a clear lid.) Since I've started sewing lately, I find that really could use that. I've also had use for the teeny tiny iron Amy Lane mention. Oh, and long pins with pearlized heads.

Denise said...

A few ideas....

• Tailor's chalk, either as pencils or blocks.

• A nice thimble (not the silly collectible sort, but actually useful sort).

• Tiny sharp scissors or 'shears'.

• A wrist pincushion.

• A magnetic pin holder (goes onto the sewing machine).

Unknown said...

ok - i just thought you were asking about waste pipes, ya know, the ones the alligators live in. LOL

omigosh i'm tired

Stell said...

tape measures, you can never have to many, either a tape one or a roll up one. pins, yes long fine quality ones or long with glass (not plastic heads), funky magnifying glasses, cool zebra or bright orange ones!
snips, quality sewing snips,

Anonymous said...

Warning: magnetic pin holders should NOT be put on a machine that uses any computer-type stuff (which is just about any reasonably contemporary sewing machine). Rotary cutters now have blades that will give a scalloped edge. There is also a special cutter for doing faux chenille (sew bunches of parallel seams through several layers of fabic that will ravel on the cut edges, the cutter goes between bottom layer, so it does not get cut and slices up the other layers between the seams...wash and it comes out looking like chenille with the colors of your choice. Nice for a vest or whatever) And there are never enough pins or tape measures or bobbin boxes. Also, there is now a clear nylon thread fine enough to use in sewing - a real joy when sewing on scout badges with all colors of edges, strong for purses or bags that will get rough use. After I saw the price of those weights, I went to Home Depot and got a bunch of big flat washers and some suitable glue. Three or four washers makes a good weight and is bunches cheaper - not so pretty, but I can afford lots more of them. Deborah aka borahlaw AT yahoo DOT com

Anonymous said...

Hi. I,m now on ravelry as

DeborahinAZ

I tried to search for samuriknitter and Samuriknitter and it denied your existance!!

I always read your blog. Deb (borahlaw)

Louiz said...

Best thing I ever saw was a thingy from clover that let you make bias binding (or tape) really easily. Or chalks... it's been a while since I've done any sewing but chalks and the bias binding thingy are the only things I can think of right now!

roxie said...

I have a thingy like a long (18 inches) plastic sewing needle with a blunt end, a flexy stem, and a big eye. It works wonders for turning tubes and inserting elastic into casings. And the real seamstresses I know use colored embroidery floss to make tailor tacks.

an said...

I sortof sew, and if I sewed more, I'd totally be super happy with any of those. Also, does she have a favourite fabric shop? Gift cards are always fun.

meg(aphone) said...

scissors!! I am always losing mine.

Laural said...

A nice pair of Gingher scissors. They are the best scissors in the universe. Even just a pair of the small ones (bonus points if they have the lovely printed handles) are great to use for snipping threads.

Catie said...

My mom was always complaining about her sissors because they got dull fast (dad and I would use them for other uses). Fat quarters are nice, and my mom uses the bias tape maker thing so much she has two different sizes.