Sometimes we spin our minds trying to come up with a cool gift for a costuming/sewing friend. Aside from the “generic” gift cards to the fabric store (online or in town), an actual box of a neat, useful tool or notion is just the thing for the pretty paper.
I’ve searched around and compiled a list for the 2018 holiday season of items that just might make the day of you or your friend who loves historical fashion, creating period garments, or simply likes sewing and crafting.
Hope you find some good ideas here!
Disclaimer: Links to Amazon are connected to my affiliate account meaning I get a few cents from Amazon – at no cost to you – if you happen to make purchases from the link.)
The House of Worth: The Birth of Haute Couture – Want to give a gorgeous picture book? Maybe one for your friend and one for yourself. 😉 This one will have you drooling.
Thread Magic – I was recently told that my beloved Thread Heaven thread conditioner was discontinued. I cried a little. So on the hunt for a comparable product I found Thread Magic. Similar clear block to run your thread over before hand sewing. Brilliant.
Wonder Clips – Sewers today are swearing by these clips to hold all sorts of trim and fabric layers together. It’s no wonder because you don’t have to pin into anything. Perfect for thick layer projects or curves that are just awkward to use pins there.
Heat Erasable Fabric Marking Pens– The miracle of using a simple pen then have it disappear with your iron! These are pretty darn cool with special ink that goes away with heat. It started with Frixon brand gel pens and now other options are becoming available. One tip: don’t use when you’ll be wearing your garment in cold (aka freezing) weather or the marks may show up and tell people if you really did sew that seam straight or not. 😉
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice: A Book-to-Table Classic – I saw this book in a wonderful little bookshop in the Utah mountains and wanted it immediately. A little bit of Bennets, a little bit of tea goodie recipes, and all Jane Austen goodness. By Martha Stewart… of course. (There’s also A Christmas Carol one if Dickens is more your friend’s thing.)
Velvet Pin Cushion – for that fancy item that brings a smile to your face when you sew. Beautiful yet seemingly impractical with the velvet and rhinestones, but what a joy to use and keep your pins and needles sharp!
Hemostat Forceps – An odd tool for your sewing box, I know. But one of my students, a nurse, in my Victorian Corset Class told me about using her hemostats for inserting boning in those tight channels of her corset. So I decided to get a pair and try them. Oh my gosh! Game changer.
The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Dressmaking – If you missed out on the shouts of joy in late 2017 when this book hit costumers’ bookshelves, I highly recommend you take a second look and consider adding it to yours. You can read my review of this handy reference and sewing book. Then grab your copy.
The Sewciety Subscription Box – This is fun new offering for our sewing community – a monthly subscription box of goodies such as notions, patterns and fabric. All different each month! Read about my experience with receiving this special new box then order for yourself or a friend.
Travel Sewing Kit – Now this is both a fun and practical gift for those who sew. I may need to replace that tiny 2″ plastic travel kit with this one! Loads of thread colors and needle sizes for most any repair. (I once had to restitch my luggage handle back on while ON vacation… this kit would have made it much easier.)
Color Wheel – I got this color wheel in a dyeing class I took at Costume College this year. So helpful! I’m new to dyeing but will use this wheel often for color mixing.
Gingher Stork Embroidery Scissors – These little beauties were a gift to myself several years ago and I love them! I save them for hand sewing projects only. Gingher quality and reliable. I’ve even used them to snip little bits of fabric while working on my project because I was too lazy to get my fabric scissors and they cut beautifully.
Janome Portable Sewing Machine – My friend, Vanessa, recommended this little machine for traveling and quick uses. And it’s only five pounds!! Janome is a well-known class of machines you can count on.
Magnetic Pin Bowl – My magnet gets loads of use in my sewing room, from catching pins as I sew and alto gathering up those that fly around the room accidentally or the dish being dropped. (Who’s been there, right?!) I found this magnetic bowl at a local fabric shop and LOVE it. But I think my 2 year-old daughter uses it more to help me collect pins. 😉 This bowl by Lori Hold of Bee in my Bonnet was designed for Riley Blake Designs and many more bowl designs are available if you don’t like cherries.
Vintage Costume Inspirations – A fun book I came across recently, perfect for when you want to branch out (or off) the historical costume path. Over 100 mid-20th century costume/fancy dress ideas for your next party. A brilliant little way to get that friend of yours more interested in dressing up. 😉
Happy gift shopping!