With loads of help from my sewing friends over on Facebook (encouraged by a small reward), I have compiled a lovely BIG LIST of stocking fillers for sewists.
Super-useful sewing tools
Thimbles make great stocking fillers, but people tend to be super choosy about which kind they like to use so it would pay to do some detective work before you buy. Finger protectors that you probably can’t go wrong with are stick-on thimble pads or thimble dots like Bohin Poke A Dots.
Let machine quilting gloves take the strain when you are quilting – Machingers are a good brand, but make sure you get the right hand size.
Create perfect cushion corners and sharp points on shirt collars every time with a bamboo point turner.
Bias binding makers are really useful tools, allowing you to make yards of binding without singeing your fingers. I like the Clover 18mm version – which creates binding with a completed width of 9mm – great for quilters. Dressmakers might prefer a smaller size.
With their bright colours and myriad uses, Clover Wonder clips would be a welcome addition to any sewists stocking. – these come in different sizes, and very desirable in different colours. The ‘in my dreams’ option is this 50 pack, but there are smaller packs for smaller budgets too.
Conditioning your sewing thread with beeswax will avoid tangles when hand sewing and make it easier to thread needles. A little block of beeswax makes a great gift – Merchant and Mills is a desirable brand.
No sewist has enough bobbins, and a pack of empty bobbins is always welcome. When you are buying, check that you are getting the right bobbins for the right brand of machine.
Glue pens should be part of any self-respecting stitcher’s kit. My recommendation is the awesome Sewline glue pen (maybe with a pack of refills if you are feeling generous).
Sewers never have enough fabric markers. Popular brands are Frixion erasable pens (these are the ones you want), Bohin Chalk Pencils, Clover water erasable marker pens and Clover Chaco pens.
Fabric, trims and other pretties
Clip purses are such fun to make – why not inspire your sewing friend with a sew-in or glue-in purse frame – Bag Clasps have a great selection.
Some of my contributors were very excited by the idea of pre-made Liberty bias binding – the wonderful Clothkits has a great selection.
It’s tricky to get much fabric into a stocking (unless you are going for a Santa Sack version). There are some options for determined people though: Moda’s mini charm squares packs, Moda Scrap Packs, Oakshott’s Colourshott sample packs, M is for Make’s Fat Quarter scrap rolls, Tweed fabric bundles from Beyond Measure and Celtic Fusion Fabrics fabric smallies, a wool felt scrap pack, or pre-cut Liberty hexies are all good choices.
Kam snap kits are a really fun gift for people who make lots of purses, bags, home accessories and kids clothes, and would appreciate these really fun and simple to apply snap fasteners. Ebay is a great place to buy them. And whilst we are on the subject of snap fasteners – Vario Poppa Pliers are also a possibility for dressmakers, home accessory stitchers and bag makers.
Buttons, trims, ribbons and lace are always appreciated, although I think you have to be clear you know your recipient’s taste, of course. Great places to look for these are My Fabric House (especially if cute/kawaii is what you are after), Cloud Craft (a really well chosen range which isn’t overwhelming), Ray Stitch have a great range of buttons and gorgeous trims and Bedecked and V V Rouleaux are also full of treasures.
If you have a super-wide stocking, what about stuffing in some sewing patterns? Dragonfly Fabrics have one of the best selections around – this Grainline Portside Travel Set pattern would be welcomed by most stitchers I am sure.
Measuring
This one is definitely at the ‘in my dreams’ end of the wish list.. but how wonderful is this leather wrist ruler available at Beyond Measure?
Quilting rulers are always much appreciated, why not improve your favourite stitcher’s tool kit with a metric version? They are super useful for patterns written in cm… and double up as useful DIY tools!
Tape measures are hugely popular on our wish lists – a lot of people seem to lose them when they become cat toys! – especially cute ones, like these adorable versions from Black Sheep Wools, but cheap ones are good too!
Pins and needles
Machine needles are always gratefully received (we use SO many!). A mixed set of sizes, especially Schmetz Microtex or in Organ titanium would suit everyone.
Magnetic needle minders make practical and pretty gifts. There are lots of sellers on Etsy who have handmade versions available, and I love this amazing selection at Geckorouge.
Hand sewing needles are also right up there on our wishlists – especially the highly desirable special needles that make our sewing lives so much easier. I have written before about my fondess for Foxglove Cottage needles, but other popular, trendy brands include Hiroshima (here’s a fab assorted set), John James in their sweet pebble storage cases, Black Gold needles and Bohin needles also have a great repuation. And for the hard-of-seeing (like me!) how about an automatic needle threader?
There’s so many to choose from that I am not going to link to these – but lots of my sewing friends suggested simple magnetic pin cushions and wrist pin cushions as much wanted stocking fillers. You will find some beautiful handmade versions on Folksy and on Etsy.
A card or tin of pins is also always appreciated, but please stick with the most expensive you can find – stitchers are definitely pin snobs! Clover flower head pins, Clover silk pins, IBC silk pins, appliqué pins and Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Pins are all highly recommended.
Fabric and thread cutting
Threads snips are just fabulous – great for just trimming the ends of excess threads, and using them for this task means that your precious scissors get less wear.
Rotary cutter blades are a great choice for quilters because it’s yet one more thing that we use LOADS of. I would guess that the most used size would be the 45mm version, and they are mostly interchangeable between brands (but if in doubt, do check to see what brand of rotary cutter your favourite quilter has) and if you can afford a ten pack, then please, go for it!
Scissors featured really heavily on everyone’s wishlist. There was a huge enthusiasm for a pair of fabric scissors which emit an alarm sound if anyone attempts to use them on anything other than fabric… But as these haven’t been invented yet, we’ll have to go with the more realistic options. Embroidery scissors where a popular choice, and who wouldn’t want an awesome pair of these Unicorn scissors?
There was also enthusiasm for scallop edge scissors, duckbill scissors for appliqué and pinking shears – but these are more specialist, so it might be wise to check that this is the sort of thing that would appeal.
Threads
Happy is the stitcher who receives Aurifil threads in their Christmas stocking… If you are not sure about colours (although you couldn’t go wrong with an ‘in my dreams’ gift set), then the best way to go is to buy neutrals – Duck Egg Threads have a great selection, if you don’t want to feel too overwhelmed by the options. For something a bit different, how about some shiny Aurifil Brillo, or if your stitching friend enjoys hand quilting or hand stitching, then Aurifil 12wt is a great gift, and for English Paper Piecing enthusiasts, some super fine Aurifil 80wt cotton would be a wonderful choice.
Embroidery threads make a cheap and lovely stocking filler. Anchor stranded cotton and DMC stranded cotton are great options (all the colours are beautiful, but Cloud Craft have some beautifully curated sets), Sublime Stitching threads are also great for people who love hand embroidery. For Perlé threads, Presencia is a coveted brand – again neutral shades are great for quilters, and hand stitchers I am sure would like a rainbow of colours!
More ‘in my dreams’ options
And if you are feeling generous – how about a gift voucher for your favourite stitcher’s favourite online fabric shop or a voucher for a sewing class (check for locally available classes)? Or a fabric subcription box? Or a fabric stash monthly club?
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are to my sponsors (see list in sidebar for information) – their support for me helps to pay me to write my blog – please think of supporting me by visiting them! Most of the other links are to shops I use regularly and can recommend.