What gifts should you give someone new to sewing?
Do you have a loved one who wants to start sewing but doesn’t know where to begin?
Here are a few gift ideas to get her started!
Equipment to get you started
If you’d like to make a lovely gift for someone who’s planning to tame their sewing machine, why not assemble a few essential items in a small basket or pouch?
When you’re just starting out, there’s a lot to buy, and you don’t necessarily know which brand or type of pin to buy. That’s why we include a good pair of fabric scissors, glass-headed pins, a quality quick-cutter, tailor’s chalk, fabric clips… in the gift package.
With a larger budget, it’s also possible to buy a rotary cutter, a cutting mat and a patchwork ruler, all three of which are very practical for transferring and cutting fabric.
You can also add handmade gifts if you have the time, like a pin cushion, very easy to make with fabric scraps and kapok, stuffing or small fabric scraps. Or small pouches to hold scissors, boxes of pins and chalk.
Sewing kits for beginners
When you start sewing, it’s sometimes difficult to know which fabric to buy for which project, where to get patterns adapted to your level, how to choose your thread and how to match it with the color of your garment…
Offering a kit with all the necessary supplies is a good way of dealing with these questions, and allows the person to get started without having to make several trips to the haberdashery.
You could, for example, offer Lise Tailor’s Lisette kit for sewing a pretty viscose skirt.
If you’d rather avoid clothes, the Super Chouette website offers a kit for making a quilted bag, accessible to those new to sewing.
The Com’1 Idée placemat is also a good idea for taming your sewing machine and learning how to waterproof fabric.
Patterns to get you started
If you’re looking for a less expensive gift than a kit, you can simply buy a pattern (pouch or PDF to print at home) which will cost between 3 and 20 euros.
Our Simplo fanny pack is very easy to sew and makes a great economical gift for a beginner.
When buying patterns, be sure to check that the model is marked “beginner”.
If you’re unfamiliar with the person’s tastes, most of the sites selling models offer to buy gift cards in personalized amounts. This will allow them to choose according to their preferences.
A pretty fabric coupon
When you’re sewing your first garments or accessories, you’re often afraid to invest in pretty fabric. So this can make a great gift to motivate someone who’s still lacking confidence when it comes to sitting down at their sewing machine.
A liberty, woollen or viscose coupon will provide inspiration for beginners! And if you’re not sure, why not offer a gift card directly to the haberdashery of your choice?
Telephone sewing assistance
If you feel like adding a more personalized gift, you can make a voucher for “sewing assistance” over the phone to help the future seamstress with the problems we all encounter when starting out.
A misunderstanding about a detail on a pattern, thread jamming, adjustments to be made on the sewing machine, questions about cutting fabric… You can offer to answer any questions the customer may have, within specified times and within reason, of course!
If you prefer this option, you can also offer an hour or two of your time to show her the basics of sewing: basic stitches on the sewing machine, cutting fabric…
Sewing courses
And if you prefer to leave this last point to the professionals, then find out if there are any sewing classes in your town and offer her one or more hours to learn the basics. There’s no better way to get started with confidence!
What gifts would you give to someone just starting out? What would you like to have been given?
