christmas gift ideas for your crafty sewist friend

Sewists: please block your ears.

Everyone else: let’s face it, you need a sewist in your life because:
1. They’re amazingly talented and inspiring;
2. They occasionally make you things and sometimes they even fit;
3. If you ask and beg and plead enough, they do eventually fix your clothes or sew buttons back on for you.

OK sewists, tune in again.

‘Tis the season to show that special sewist in your life a little Christmas love. Here’s my gift-guide on what to buy your crafty companion (and I won’t tell if a few of these bits and bobs pop up on your Christmas wishlist, too)!

Cheap but definitely cheerful…

LABELS Labels are the best! They’re the final addition to all my me-mades and really make garments feel polished and professional. Part of the fun is picking the label to match the piece, which is to say, a sewist can never have too many labels!

My favourite ready-made labels are from Brisbane-based KATM. They have a great selection, including some collaborations with local artists like these feel-good ones from KATM X Claire Ritchie or some sneaky sweary labels that feel like a little personal joke on the inside of your clothes.

If you’re up for designing some custom labels, Dutch Label Shop is unbeatable for quality and price, although the shipping can be a little slow at times, so chop chop!My sewing labels

PRETTY PINS I’ve got some Clover flower head pins on my wishlist because if you’re going to pin, then you may as well do it with the prettiest and sharpest pins out there. Every sewist keeps their pins too long and they go blunt. We’re all in denial because when there’s fabric and trimmings and patterns to buy, who thinks of new pins!?

CLOVER ROLL & PRESS TOOL It’s the tool I never knew I needed but now couldn’t live without! If your special sewist still isn’t overly convinced that pressing seams is a thing, then maybe you could wrap up and gift them this column (they’ll really appreciate it).

BIAS TAPE MAKER Turn any of your fabric into bias binding with this neat little tool. Full disclosure: I’ve never used one! I stubbornly refuse to make my own binding; life’s too short when there’s enough pretty stuff out there, but go you good things that make your own!

HOT HEMMER Unless your crafty companion is into handkerchief hems (in which case, amen, bring back the noughties!) then help them avoid wonky hems with this clever device that helps you measure and press all at once.

Something a little more...

SCISSORS Sharp scissors make sewing a dream, but this is a high-risk high-reward option – picking scissors is like choosing jewellery; it’s so personal!

For years, I made do with my regular sewing scissors ($20-ish at a chain store) and I thought my sewing life was going alright. Little did I know. Two years ago, my lovely nana bought me a pair of Gingher 8 inch dressmaker shears (for cutting fabric) AND tiny Gingher embroidery snips (for cutting loose threads) and WOW life has never been so good! Trust me, you need two pairs of scissors, at least!

If you want to show you really know your stuff, you could also get your crafty companion a pair of tiny tackle scissors. They’re not so aesthetically pleasing, but the two lovely ladies at the Love to Sew podcast swear by them, so you’d get props for having gone so deep into sewing sub-culture/your dad’s tackle box.

AN OVERLOCKER This is big. Really big. It’s a sewing machine just for finishing seams professionally or sewing stretchy knit fabrics. You’d get them an overlocker IN ADDITION to the sewing machine they already own, so you’d want to make sure they’re into it. I just had my regular Brother sewing machine for a decade before I finally decided I was ready to jump in and commit. Make sure they’ve got the space and also the patience to learn how to thread it; they’re fiddly beasts!My sewing machine and overlocker

CLASSES I’ve done a few sewing-related classes over the years and they’re the best way to level up by learning from people who really know the craft. Tessuti does classes in Sydney including an introduction for beginners, or a pattern modification course.

I loved doing a workshop with The Pattern Making Class in Melbourne; the owners Scott and Glen are wizard professional pattern makers who teach you how to spot all the drag lines in a garment and tiny fitting issues so that you get a really nice fit on your makes.

VOUCHERS I love fabric. You know I love fabric. But do you know what I love even more? Fabric vouchers. Because when I have a voucher to one of my favourite stores, it would be rude not to go in. It would be rude not to spend hours browsing and dreaming and feeling and draping. Vouchers are a guilt-free enabler for the special sewist in your life.

What else is on your sewing Santa list? Send it my way at @sewinthewild.