Looking for a present for someone who loves sewing, or who’s always said they’d like to learn? As a sewing teacher, these are the gifts I’d be thrilled to unwrap, from little stocking fillers to something special.
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1. Good fabric scissors
A sharp pair of dressmaking scissors is the gift every sewer appreciates. I recommend the Milward dressmaking scissors gift set, which comes with thread snips too. Add a ribbon to the handle with a note: “for fabric only”!
2. A sewing book
For a beginner, The Great British Sewing Bee: Back to Basics is a lovely start, especially for fans of the show. For someone getting to know their machine, try Simple Machine Sewing. Here are more of the best sewing books for beginners.
3. A thread collection
Good thread makes sewing so much easier. A Gütermann thread pack gives them a rainbow of colours in one go.
4. A homemade learn-to-sew kit
My favourite gift for a beginner, and it costs very little. Print one of my free sewing patterns, add a piece of pretty cotton fabric, a spool of thread and a few pins, and tie it up with ribbon. Here’s more on sewing kits for adults.
5. A sewing box full of essentials
Fill a sewing box, or a pretty biscuit tin, with the 10 sewing tools every beginner needs: tape measure, pins, a pin cushion, tailor’s chalk, needles and a seam ripper.
6. A beginner sewing machine
The big one! A simple mechanical machine is all a beginner needs. Here’s my best sewing machine for beginners UK guide to help you choose.
7. Beautiful fabric
A metre of something special, or a gift card for their favourite fabric shop. Here’s where to buy sewing fabric in the UK.
8. A handmade tote bag
If you sew yourself, make them a tote bag with their name or initials on it. Here’s how to make a personalised tote bag.
9. A sewing class
An experience they’ll remember. Here’s how to choose between sewing classes near you or learning to sew online.
10. Your time
The best gift of all. My Nanna Betty taught me to sew on cosy Sunday afternoons, and those memories are more precious to me than anything I’ve ever been given. Offer an afternoon of sewing together, with tea and cake.
Little stocking fillers
- Thread snips
- A pretty pin cushion or magnetic pin dish
- Tailor’s chalk in white and one colour
- A bodkin for threading elastic
- A soft tape measure
Learn to sew with Nanna Betty
Know someone who’d love to learn? Nanna Betty Sewing School teaches one skill at a time, with simple sewing cards and short videos for your phone. Every make takes 2 hours or less, and it’s all free.
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