Collette Costello

Tag: crafts

  • 10 Gifts for People Who Love Sewing (and Beginners Who Want to Learn)

    10 Gifts for People Who Love Sewing (and Beginners Who Want to Learn)

    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.

    This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    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.

    Start sewing, it’s free

  • Sewing Kits for Adults: Ready-to-Sew Kits, or Make Your Own for Free

    Sewing Kits for Adults: Ready-to-Sew Kits, or Make Your Own for Free

    For years I sold pre-cut sewing kits for adults: tote bags, coasters, skirts and headscarves, cut from my own vintage-inspired fabrics. Here’s what I learned about ready-to-sew kits, what to look for, and how to put together your own kit for free.

    Collette Costello's pre-cut sewing kits for adults on display in a shop
    Some of my pre-cut sewing kits

    What is a ready-to-sew kit?

    A ready-to-sew kit gives you everything for one make in a box: the fabric (often already cut to shape), thread, any extras like elastic, and instructions. You just open it and start sewing.

    That’s different from a beginner sewing kit, which is the box of tools you’ll use for every project. If that’s what you’re looking for, see what to put in a beginner sewing kit.

    Are ready-to-sew kits good for beginners?

    A kit is a great choice if you:

    • want to try sewing without choosing fabric yourself
    • are buying a gift for someone who’d love a calm, creative hobby
    • find cutting out the hardest part. Pre-cut kits skip it completely.

    The downsides:

    • You only learn one make.
    • Kits cost more than buying the pieces yourself.
    • Quality varies. Cheap kits can have thin fabric or vague instructions.
    • With pre-cut fabric, you don’t learn to cut out, which is a skill you’ll need later.

    What to look for in a sewing kit for adults

    • Clear instructions, ideally with step-by-step photos or a video.
    • Good fabric. A medium-weight cotton is the easiest to sew.
    • A make that suits your level. Bags, coasters, cushions and elasticated skirts are easiest. Leave zips and buttons for later.
    • Everything included. Check whether thread and elastic are in the box.
    • Something you’ll actually use. A useful make is the best motivation to finish.

    Where to buy ready-to-sew kits

    These are my favourite UK shops for sewing kits for adults. Many come with fabric and a pattern, and some include pre-cut fabric so you can start sewing straight away.

    Sewing kits with fabric and pattern

    Dressmaking kits for beginners

    Ready-to-sew clothes kits make it easy to make dresses, blouses and trousers. These come with a dressmaking pattern and matching fabric and thread.

    Craft shops like Hobbycraft and department stores like John Lewis sell sewing kits too, and you’ll find lots of independent makers selling kits on Etsy. Read the reviews and check exactly what’s in the box before you buy.

    Make your own sewing kit for free

    You don’t need to buy a kit to get started. My free printable patterns and sewing cards give you everything except the fabric. Print the pattern, cut it from a cotton you love, and follow the card. Every make takes 2 hours or less.

    Not sure which fabric to buy? Read where to buy sewing fabric in the UK, and for more patterns see my free sewing patterns for beginners.

    A homemade kit makes a lovely gift

    Put together a kit for someone you love: print a pattern, add a piece of fabric, a spool of thread and a few pins, and tie it all up with ribbon. It’s a thoughtful present for anyone who’s always said they’d like to learn to sew.

    Learn to sew with Nanna Betty

    Nanna Betty Sewing School teaches you 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.

    Start sewing, it’s free