Gifts for a quilter
December 7, 2015 9:33 AM Subscribe
My mom is a quilter, so I'd like to get her something that she wouldn't necessarily get for herself as a christmas gift.
The cool thing is that she's coming to visit for the holiday, but the complicating factor is that she will be flying and then cruising back home (it's even a quilting themed cruise). She's got the 3 thousand dollar sewing machine, and probably every other essential, so I am just hoping there's some new-fangled gadget that makes a modern quilter's life easy that an old-school quilter won't have already gotten for herself.
The cool thing is that she's coming to visit for the holiday, but the complicating factor is that she will be flying and then cruising back home (it's even a quilting themed cruise). She's got the 3 thousand dollar sewing machine, and probably every other essential, so I am just hoping there's some new-fangled gadget that makes a modern quilter's life easy that an old-school quilter won't have already gotten for herself.
Honestly, if she has a $3K machine, she probably has all the gadgets already. Sorry. :-/
Maybe a Kevlar glove to use with her rotary cutter? If she doesn't use one already, she definitely should (ask me how I know).
There was a really similar thread last year that might help.
posted by pie ninja at 9:46 AM on December 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Maybe a Kevlar glove to use with her rotary cutter? If she doesn't use one already, she definitely should (ask me how I know).
There was a really similar thread last year that might help.
posted by pie ninja at 9:46 AM on December 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Maybe one of those design boards? Like this. Or maybe you could send her on a quilting retreat?
posted by halfsquaretriangle at 9:50 AM on December 7, 2015
posted by halfsquaretriangle at 9:50 AM on December 7, 2015
We got my quilting mother in law one of these as a stocking stuffer. Great for just playing around with designs and colors!
posted by damayanti at 10:12 AM on December 7, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by damayanti at 10:12 AM on December 7, 2015 [4 favorites]
What's your budget?
There are some really nice and very expensive fabrics that she might not want to splurge on herself. Like Liberty of London, which can be $25-$45 a yard. Or would she be interested in designing her own fabric at a place like Spoonflower?
posted by kate blank at 10:17 AM on December 7, 2015
There are some really nice and very expensive fabrics that she might not want to splurge on herself. Like Liberty of London, which can be $25-$45 a yard. Or would she be interested in designing her own fabric at a place like Spoonflower?
posted by kate blank at 10:17 AM on December 7, 2015
Rotary blade sharpener, maybe? Rotary blades aren't cheap, so not having to replace them as often would be nice. They're not exactly brand new, but they're not that common either, so she might not have one.
posted by jacquilynne at 10:27 AM on December 7, 2015
posted by jacquilynne at 10:27 AM on December 7, 2015
There is so much amazing fabric on Etsy - much of it imported and impossible to find in brick and mortar in the US. One way to go might be to get her an Etsy gift card and let her go to town buying fabric when she gets home. If you know her prefered esthetic you can also search "fat quarter" or "fat quarter bundle" and pick her up a bit of beautiful fabric that you select yourself.
However, you might also look at these two books: The Farmer's Wife (1920s) and The Farmer's Wife (1930s). These are books of letters from The Farmer's Wife magazine, plus quilt blocks inspired by the letters. The books are small, but beautiful, and include pattern CDs.
In terms of gadgets - does she have a bias tape machine?
posted by anastasiav at 10:42 AM on December 7, 2015
However, you might also look at these two books: The Farmer's Wife (1920s) and The Farmer's Wife (1930s). These are books of letters from The Farmer's Wife magazine, plus quilt blocks inspired by the letters. The books are small, but beautiful, and include pattern CDs.
In terms of gadgets - does she have a bias tape machine?
posted by anastasiav at 10:42 AM on December 7, 2015
You could go with the "consumables" angle--plastic film for making templates, flower head pins, etc. It always seems like a splurge to me to buy fancy pins, but when people give them to me I'm thrilled. If you have a local quilting shop, the people who work there are often very knowledgeable and so calling them and asking what's new and cool will probably result in some nifty ideas.
I also agree with some new and expensive fabric. For example, Oakshott makes gorgeous shot cottons that are $$$ but so pretty in a quilt. (Shot cottons have one color in the warp and a different color in the weft so that they are "solid" but have more depth of color than regular solid colors and look different from different angles. They are gorgeous).
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 10:42 AM on December 7, 2015
I also agree with some new and expensive fabric. For example, Oakshott makes gorgeous shot cottons that are $$$ but so pretty in a quilt. (Shot cottons have one color in the warp and a different color in the weft so that they are "solid" but have more depth of color than regular solid colors and look different from different angles. They are gorgeous).
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 10:42 AM on December 7, 2015
This previous thread suggested Craftsy classes.
posted by aimedwander at 11:01 AM on December 7, 2015
posted by aimedwander at 11:01 AM on December 7, 2015
There's no such thing as having too many pairs of really really good scissors; I like Ginghers myself. Perhaps some thread clippers, or that spiffy seam ripper with some extra blades? those would probably come in handy on the cruise. Small scissors are always handy, and always getting misplaced - the Gingher lion's tail embroidery scissors are so so nice.
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 1:03 PM on December 7, 2015
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 1:03 PM on December 7, 2015
Best answer: A Set of Really Nice Threads.
On a forum I frequent I've noticed that a lot of quilters, even the people with upper-end machines and all the things, don't explore even a few of the many options for thread. The stuff available at Joann ranges from good enough to downright punishment, and is usually the most expensive per yard. Better quality threads are such a pleasure to use.
Quality brands I personally vouch for: Aurifil, Superior, Presencia, Madeira (poly). They should all run without trouble in any machine. Aurifil is my favorite, as it is finer (thinner, 2 strands instead of 3) than other 50wt threads. Neutrals for piecing are always nice to have.
Quick thread primer:
Cotton is the best all-around choice for quilters. Any other type is less of a sure thing, but higher end poly (not craft store, but quilt shop level) is nice too. Silk is for invisible applique.
For cotton threads, the higher the #wt, the finer the thread
60wt or higher for piecing or applique
50wt for piecing, quilting and general use
40wt quilting and decorative
30wt and lower are specialty use
posted by monopas at 1:23 PM on December 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
On a forum I frequent I've noticed that a lot of quilters, even the people with upper-end machines and all the things, don't explore even a few of the many options for thread. The stuff available at Joann ranges from good enough to downright punishment, and is usually the most expensive per yard. Better quality threads are such a pleasure to use.
Quality brands I personally vouch for: Aurifil, Superior, Presencia, Madeira (poly). They should all run without trouble in any machine. Aurifil is my favorite, as it is finer (thinner, 2 strands instead of 3) than other 50wt threads. Neutrals for piecing are always nice to have.
Quick thread primer:
Cotton is the best all-around choice for quilters. Any other type is less of a sure thing, but higher end poly (not craft store, but quilt shop level) is nice too. Silk is for invisible applique.
For cotton threads, the higher the #wt, the finer the thread
60wt or higher for piecing or applique
50wt for piecing, quilting and general use
40wt quilting and decorative
30wt and lower are specialty use
posted by monopas at 1:23 PM on December 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: You may enjoy checking out Missouri Star Quilt Co. and looking at some of the notions and books they have to offer.
Full disclosure: my mother was born and raised in that tiny town and I am happy to see this company breathing life back into it.
posted by SLC Mom at 1:24 PM on December 7, 2015
Full disclosure: my mother was born and raised in that tiny town and I am happy to see this company breathing life back into it.
posted by SLC Mom at 1:24 PM on December 7, 2015
Seconding spoonflower. My mom is a big quilter, and she's passed the gene on to me. I'm her youngest son by many years, and none of my brothers or sisters ever got into quilting, so this is definitely our special bond. She used to love turning doodles of mine into designs, but in recent years her eyesight has gotten so bad that it's a burden. She recently asked me to turn an old sketch of mine into an embroidered pattern for her to use in a quilt, but I'm no good at embroidery. Instead, I used spoonflower and made her several yards of fabric using the sketch as a pattern. It was really cool, I will definitely use them again.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 2:03 PM on December 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 2:03 PM on December 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
One thing I've learned about the hobby fanatics in my life is that they know what they want and what they'll never use on sight and that I'm a terrible judge of what gift will fall on which side of the spectrum. I would suggest a gift certificate to her favorite niche quilting store in her area. She may be more likely to find something cool she doesn't have there than at a big chain hobby store.
posted by cecic at 3:44 PM on December 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by cecic at 3:44 PM on December 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
My mom goes to "quilt retreats" and quilt shows a few times a year - maybe you can help her find one and offer to pay for at least part of it.
But seriously, buying stuff for hardcore quilters is like buying running shoes for a marathoner. If your mom has a favorite quilt store, a gift certificate would be fabulous. My mom spent her last birthday in a class at her favorite store and her husband had flowers sent to the class and asked the instructor/owner to have everyone sing Happy Birthday.
Another thing I did with my mom was make a "surprise quilt." When I visited for Christmas, we bought some fabric together and each secretly made eight blocks out of the fabric. After that, she sent me her blocks and I added some sashing and a backing and we took it to her friend for machine quilting. If you're at all a sewer or interested in the geometry of quilts, this is a great bonding experience.
posted by bendy at 9:24 PM on December 7, 2015
But seriously, buying stuff for hardcore quilters is like buying running shoes for a marathoner. If your mom has a favorite quilt store, a gift certificate would be fabulous. My mom spent her last birthday in a class at her favorite store and her husband had flowers sent to the class and asked the instructor/owner to have everyone sing Happy Birthday.
Another thing I did with my mom was make a "surprise quilt." When I visited for Christmas, we bought some fabric together and each secretly made eight blocks out of the fabric. After that, she sent me her blocks and I added some sashing and a backing and we took it to her friend for machine quilting. If you're at all a sewer or interested in the geometry of quilts, this is a great bonding experience.
posted by bendy at 9:24 PM on December 7, 2015
My mom is a quilter... items she has requested:
- Nice scissors (Kai if I remember right)
- Giftcard to local fabric shop
- OttLite (true color lamp)
- subscription to quilting magazine
- nice fatigue mat for standing
I have gotten her spoonflower card but it took her a long time to use. Etsy was a little more flexible.
posted by typecloud at 5:51 AM on December 8, 2015
- Nice scissors (Kai if I remember right)
- Giftcard to local fabric shop
- OttLite (true color lamp)
- subscription to quilting magazine
- nice fatigue mat for standing
I have gotten her spoonflower card but it took her a long time to use. Etsy was a little more flexible.
posted by typecloud at 5:51 AM on December 8, 2015
Also noting the fact that it can be harder to buy for hobbies than other interests. If she also loves tea, people may forget that because she's the "quilter". If it was me, maybe some nice reading material for the cruise/flight home. Or ask those that have done cruises before what might be useful.
posted by typecloud at 5:52 AM on December 8, 2015
posted by typecloud at 5:52 AM on December 8, 2015
Best answer: Funding (in part or whole) a trip to a quilt show is actually a really nice idea, especially if it's something local where you could spend the day with her.
posted by typecloud at 5:54 AM on December 8, 2015
posted by typecloud at 5:54 AM on December 8, 2015
Does she have a computer that she's comfortable using? Does she have Electric Quilt? It seems like it'd be a pretty awesome thing to have.
posted by that girl at 10:45 AM on December 8, 2015
posted by that girl at 10:45 AM on December 8, 2015
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(I hope you get some good suggestions, because I'm stumped this year.)
posted by mudpuppie at 9:42 AM on December 7, 2015