Since it’s gift-giving season, I wanted to provide you with a sewing gift guide for your budding sewist! There are many great products on the market right now, but these are my favorites for young beginners especially. We use most of these tools in the studio as well, so if your daughter is a student at Thimble Bee’s Sewing School, she will already be familiar with most of the items below.
I can’t say enough about this machine. In my opinion, it’s the BEST machine on the market right now for beginners. It comes loaded with features and is priced at just $145 on Amazon. A few of my favorite features are the quick set bobbin, speed control, needle up/down button, walking foot, and expandable sewing table.
If you wish to create a sewing nook for your daughter the Micke desk from IKEA is a great choice. IKEA is my go-to store for sewing nook goods. Their MICKE furniture line is the perfect fit, especially if you have limited space. They even offer a few options to customize the desk. I like having a drawer or two for storage and a few shelves if possible. The MICKE desk pictured above is a great deal too, just $79.99.
A high-quality iron is a must-have tool when it comes to sewing. (Please make sure your child is always being supervised when using an iron.) Speak with anyone in the “sewing world” and most will agree that Oliso products are by far the best on the market. Aside from its quality, the reason I LOVE this iron is the Smart Touch technology. The Scotchgard will lift when you touch the iron and lower when you release preventing scorching and burns.
For an added layer of safety, it’s not a bad idea to have one of these on hand. I’ve only been able to find “one size fits all”, so they may be a little baggy for most children. However, it will eliminate any chance of burning little fingertips. If I run across a child/teen’s size, I will update this post with the new link.
Gingher 8″ Featherweight Dressmaking Shears
You will also want to invest in a quality pair of dressmaking shears. For young sewists, my favorite model is Gingher’s Featherweight Dressmaking Shears. They weigh in at only 2 ounces, so they’re lightweight and perfect for small hands. A great buy for $14.98 on Amazon.
I started using Tulips in the studio this past August and they’ve been a favorite among our students. They come in bright colors, so they’re cute and functional. Each pack comes with a metal chain. We purchased some of the Command brand adhesive clips and attached one to the side of each machine. Then we were able to hang the Tulips on the hook for easy access. These are so much fun to use and affordable ($9.99 on Amazon).
Manipulating straight pins can be very challenging for beginners, not to mention they can be a little dangerous if not used properly. My suggestion is to use Evergreen Craft Clips. Super easy to use, just pinch to open, put in place, and release to close. Another studio favorite!
You will to have plenty of Universal needles or Sharps sewing machine needles on hand. This package fits Brother machines and comes with a variety of needle sizes. It’s a good habit to change the needle each time you begin a new project.
Sounds crazy, I know. But, you will want to provide a roll of masking tape for your young sewist. Washi tape comes in bright colors and works well too. Tapes are great to use to mark the seam allowance on the base plate of the sewing machine. This makes it easier on the eyes when aligning the raw edge of fabric with the seam allowance marking. $4.30 on Amazon
The following notions are necessities for any sewing kit:
Clover Hot Ruler Press Perfect – Amazon $19.95
Coats and Clark All-Purpose Thread
Even though this model is considered a large seam ripper, it’s still one of my favorites for young beginners. The fat handle and rubberized texture makes it easy for little hands to grip. These are super sharp, so please make sure to supervise your child during use.
Rotary Sets for young children, as rotary cutters are very sharp. However, for an older teen or adult, these tools make straight cutting a cinch. Plus the quilting ruler is great for marking seam allowances and cutting lines. A great deal for $22 on Amazon.
Sewing School by: Amie Petronis
This is such a great resource full of adorable projects. Easy to follow instructions for young readers. On Amazon for $10.17
Sew Zoey Box Set – Amazon Prime $22.56
We would LOVE to have your little sewist join us at the studio. We offer weekly classes, monthly workshops, and seasonal camps for children 7-16. Thimble Bee’s Sewing School Gift Certificates are available in amounts of $25.
I hope you find this guide helpful in your search for the perfect gift for your favorite sewist! Do you have a favorite sewing-related gift idea? Mention it in the comments below!
