Perfect Gift Ideas for Quilters - Basic Supply Needs

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Sometimes, shopping for a quilter can be a challenge. Generally, we all have tastes and preferences for fabric which can make it hard for non-quilters, and other quilters for that matter, to know what to give as a gift. I have long been a fan of Craftsy for classes, but have only recently started becoming familiar with their large assortment of supplies.

For us quilters, there are some basic supplies that we always need. It's sort of like tires for the car. They are necessary, but not necessarily fun to purchase. Not as much fun as shopping for fabric anyway!

I did a little browsing earlier this week and made a list of supplies that almost any quilter would be happy to receive. If you think your special quilter (or you!) would like to purchase any of these, all you need to do is click on the picture and it will take you straight to that product.

 

Thread - I cannot say enough good things about Aurifil thread. While thread can be a very specific thing, all quilters need a good assortment of neutral colors and Aurifil's 50 weight cotton thread is the perfect choice. This assortment would be better than a box of candy for any quilter. And Craftsy's prices for Aurifil thread are the best I have seen, even when they aren't on sale.




Machine Needles - A good quilter will change their machine needle after every project. A fresh, sharp needle can make a big difference in stitch quality. I generally use more of the 80/12 and 90/14 size and love the Schmetz Sharps.




Glass Head Pins - These pins are the best for quilting. They are fine so as not to cause distortion or bulk and stay very sharp. This is another supply that it is good to have extras. Because these pins are fine, they can bend easily causing the supply to dwindle over time.

 

Seam Ripper - This is one of those supplies that likes to disappear mysteriously from the sewing room, which means that multiples are a very good thing. I prefer a seam ripper with a good handle. Some have very wimpy handles that are hard to hold in any steady manner. These have a solid handle that is easy to hold and don't tire your hand as much if you happen to have a lot of stitches to pick out (which I hope you never do!)




Clover Water Soluble Pen - I use these pens all the time for marking free motion designs or other important points on my quilts. The marks disappear when sprayed with water. I have never had an issue with the marks not coming out. It is very frustrating to be in the middle of marking a project and have one of these run out. Extras are a very good thing.

Chalk Marker - I don't have a lot of experience with these but after watching Lori Kennedy use these in her Divide & Conquer free motion quilting class, I decided to add them to my collection of must have supplies. Light colors are for dark fabric; dark colors for light fabric. It is good to have an assortment.



Hera marker - This tool is great for marking your quilt when you really don't want to use either chalk or a water soluble pen. Really, a quilter only needs one of these but they are relatively small and easily lost in a busy sewing room, so it would be good to have a back up on hand.

Other supplies that are great basics for a quilter are cutting mats, rulers, and batting. These are supplies that most quilters are a little more particular about but if you have that intimate quilting relationship, these would be great options, too.

There are a couple of other extra special things coming from Craftsy that I would like to share with you as well...

Here is wishing you a calm and peaceful holiday season. Isn't it great that we can enjoy doing much of our shopping from the comfort of our home? I love not having to fight the crowds.