Sewing/fashion gift to inspire a creative, crafty tween

November 16, 2024 8:00 AM

The giftee is a 12 year old who has amazing creativity and a very 3D orientated brain. She loves to repurpose random charity shop finds (or, grandma wardrobe finds) into new outfits and costumes with her sewing machine. Help her take this to the next level!

She already knows how to Google for (very basic) sewing patterns and use them. She can easily get visual inspiration from Pinterest or wherever else.

I gave her a book of kid level sewing projects last year - apparently she used it to learn techniques from, then ignored all the projects in favour of her own far more fun ideas (success!)

This year I'd like to get a bit more ambitious. Maybe I could get her a bigger book that would spark more ideas, maybe with more help on sewing techniques or on pattern drafting or costume design. I guess she could use some help connecting what she sees to practical patterning/sewing techniques that she could figure out.

But she is only 12 so while it can be a very big book, it probably can't be TOO dense.

Do you know of a book like this?

I'd also love suggestions for small tools or gizmos or consumables that might be good for extra creative sewing/fashion fun.

posted by quacks like a duck to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (16 answers total)

Time for this kid to get into wearables. Get her a micro-bit (and/or accessories kit as budget allows). Get her some conductive thread too. And some books. Most of them have arduino code, but you can put arduino code on a micro:bit. Perhaps a book as well.
posted by J.R. Hartley at 8:21 AM on November 16, 2024 [2 favorites]

(I promise this was my first thought before I even saw your username.)

I saw this Reel a few days ago of a woman showing off the most incredible duck vest I've ever seen.

You didn't say that your young friend crochets (the pattern is here if needed), but the general idea of a clothing item with a critter that you can make tiny clothing items for is so cute and fun that I bet a creative person could run wild with it as an idea starting point.

I mean come on.
posted by phunniemee at 8:31 AM on November 16, 2024

Best answer: DK has Sew your Own Wardrobe by Alison Smith that has a lots of technique but also a whole section on Customization. I wonder if she might like a magazine subscription?
posted by soelo at 10:31 AM on November 16, 2024 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Magazine subscription is a definite possibility!
posted by quacks like a duck at 10:39 AM on November 16, 2024

Is she the type that would have fun dressing up a garden statue in the yard? A statue or dress form might be fun for her to play with.

Is she into theater? If so a book on stagecraft design might be interesting.

This tailoring book by Bernadette Banner looks good
posted by Art_Pot at 10:54 AM on November 16, 2024

This is a BIG book but:
Fashion: a history from the 18th to the 20th century from the Kyoto Fashion Institute is full of inspiration.

Accessories: a sewing bird is useful for hand-sewing hems and waistbands; it holds one end of the fabric while you sew. Also useful for elasticated things where you need to stretch the elastic against the fabric as you stitch.

If she's into corsetry, the book to start with is Norah Waugh's Corsets and Crinolines.

Talk to her; she probably has sewing needs in mind. If there's a good local fabric shop near her, or a dedicated sewing shop, or a department store with a good sewing section, a gift certificate might be an idea.
posted by Pallas Athena at 11:26 AM on November 16, 2024

Best answer: I like Improv Sewing which has fun ideas and encourages freedom.
posted by SandiBeech at 11:40 AM on November 16, 2024 [1 favorite]

I just found The Improv Sewing people have a website that might help decide if it would appeal.
posted by SandiBeech at 11:45 AM on November 16, 2024

I have this which is very expensive, but there may be more budget friendly versions.
This is a book of sample swatches of basically all the types of fabric. It could also maybe be sourced used. It's kinda amazing.
posted by J.R. Hartley at 12:14 PM on November 16, 2024

Something I liked when I was a kid learning to sew was that I had access to all my mom's supplies (she was a couturier for a while) so there was a lot of fabric, buttons, zippers, notions to choose from. A lot of thrift stores will have packets of buttons and stuff, and fabric stores will have odds and ends on sale - going to a few diferent stores and making up a box of random supplies would make an excellent gift. The sewing supply collection I started when I was a kid is still with me today! Another idea would be a nice sewing basket that has compartments to store stuff in.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 3:09 PM on November 16, 2024 [2 favorites]

On the extras front, maybe a fun scrap pack or two (lace, sequins) from Fabscrap? https://shopfabscrap.org/collections/scrap-packs

Fabscrap is a nonprofit that resells excess fabric from clothing companies, to divert it from landfills.
posted by somedaycatlady at 5:17 PM on November 16, 2024 [1 favorite]

Check out Stitch Buffalo. If you go to this link and scroll down, you'll find craft bags, fabric and various other supplies to create textile art.
posted by Scout405 at 5:43 PM on November 16, 2024 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Pattern Magic: Stretch Fabrics by Tomoko Nakamichi! The whole Pattern Magic series is fabulous and playful with dense little lessons on altering basic pattern elements. The projects can be challenging. But trying them at half scale will teach her an incredible amount about how 2-D design translates into 3-D, how material characteristics affect the result, and how to play with basic design elements.

Other ideas: really nice fabric scissors, a good and large cutting mat, help making a duct-tape dummy dress form, fabric clips, a day trip to a regional fashion and design school, membership to a maker space, a drawing program or a pack of sketchbooks with some really nice markers.
posted by VelveteenBabbitt at 6:27 PM on November 16, 2024 [2 favorites]

Best answer: If you want reference stuff, I would get her
The Reader's Digest Guide to Sewing (later editions are called the New Complete Guide to Sewing)
and
Fit for Real People. (Palmer/Pletsch)

They're both all about construction and how to make fabric into the shapes you want and not so much about specific patterns. Buy them both used, which will give you some room in your budget for additional fun stuff like a tailor's ham or a walking foot for her machine.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 7:46 PM on November 16, 2024

I'm gonna go against the grain and suggest: a dress form. One that's adjustable that she can change as she does. It can be really helpful, even if you don't know how to drape, most people can pin in place and then stitch over the pins.
posted by Pretty Good Talker at 8:26 PM on November 16, 2024 [1 favorite]

Mod note: [Merry gifting, everyone! We've added this to our list of holiday gift posts on the sidebar and Best Of blog!!]
posted by taz (staff) at 10:47 PM on November 22, 2024