Tag Archives: mother’s day

Gift Ideas for Quilters

Featured

Posted on by

Finding the perfect gift for a quilter is always a challenge. Here are ideas for out-of-the-way gifts that will be sure to please the quilter that seems to have it all.

Gutermann 26 Spool Thread Box

For quilting purposes this collection of colors work great for sewing on binding. It’s also useful to have around when appliqueing or sewing button holes.

Gutermann Thread 547 Yards, White

A few spools of simple white thread can be a great gift for a quilter. It will take at least 3 of these 547 yard spools to complete a quilt. Makes a great add-on gift.

Fabric

Picking fabric as a gift can be difficult. If you have trouble with this, I recommend you buy contrasting fabric instead. Most quilters will have a collection of fabric they are itching to make into a quilt, but don’t have the right contrasting fabric to begin.

2-1/2in Strips Kona Solids Black 40Pcs

2-1/2in Strips Kona Solids White 40Pcs

When it comes to 2-1/2in strips (Jelly Rolls) I recommend you get 2 packs or 80 pieces. This will be enough to complete most quilts.

Charm Pack By Moda Fabrics; 42 – 5″ Quilt Squares, White

Charm Pack By Moda Fabrics; 42 – 5″ Quilt Squares, Black

 When it comes to 5in squares (Charm Packs) I recommend you get 4 packs or 168 pieces. This will be enough to complete most quilts.

Fiskars 14×14 Inch Self Healing Rotating Cutting Mat

Rotating mats make squaring up blocks fantastically easy and can save a great deal of time. It’s the kind of gift a quilter doesn’t normally think about, but will love you for it.

Fiskars 24X36 Inch Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat

A backup cutting mat is a good thing to have around. Depending on how often its used a normal cutting mat lasts as long as 1 year or as little as a few months. This extra-large cutting mat is the perfect size for a craft table.

Lifetime 4428 Height Adjustable Folding Utility Table, 48 by 24 Inches, White Granite

Some projects require a little extra room and this table is the perfect mix of size and portability. The height is perfect for sewing on and will adjust to full height if you prefer standing. The legs fold into the interior of the table and the folded size is about 24×24. It includes a handle to easily carry it around.

Titan Tools 11061 Mini Magnetic Parts Tray

Stepping on a stray pin is an awful feeling. Just by having one of these in a quilter’s work area lowers the anxiety in the room considerably. You can go to a craft store and purchase one for $10, but Amazon has a one that will only set you back about $6.

Include a Dritz Magnetic Pin Wand for any of those stray pins that get away.

 

Coloring Book of Quilt Blocks & Designs

Keep that creative spark alive with this quilter’s coloring book. This one is nice because it includes a sample block on one page and the full design on the other.

AccuQuilt GO! Mix & Match Starter Set

If your quilter is hoarding fabric the AccuQuilt GO! will be their best friend. It’s a simple task to take a basket full of large fabric scraps and cutting them into perfect 5×5 squares. I bought and recommend the starter set for the sheer volume of templates you get with it. You get 11 cutting templates and 2 cutting mats. Extra cutting mats and templates are available on Amazon or at your local Joann’s. 

If the $460 price tag is a bit steep there is a smaller starter that only includes 1 cutting template and 1 cutting mat for $250, here

ClosetMaid 1292 Cubeicals 12-Cube Organizer, Espresso

My sewing area has 2 of these next to each other to hold all of my fabric. You can cut rectangles of cardboard to wrap yardage of fabric around or for smaller pieces like charms you can buy fabric bins to go into the cubicles. Fits any 11¼in. x 11¼in. storage cube.

Oliso TG1050 1600 Watts Smart Iron

The Oliso TG1050 1600 Watts Smart Iron is my pick for best quilting iron. The feature that is most noticeable is the iTouch technology. When you’re done ironing just let go and it will lift off the table like magic. The less noticeable features that come in handy include a power cord that pivots 360°s and powerful continuous, horizontal and vertical bursts of steam. The auto shutoff will kick in around 15 minutes and you simply tap the handle to start the iron back up.  

 

Sewing Machine Gift Ideas

Posted on by

Buying a sewing machine for a quilter/sewist can be difficult. I recommend bringing them into the conversation to see if they have ideas about what they want. I’m recommending the 3 sewing machines I have used so far and will give the pros/cons of each.

Brother Jx2517

The Brother Jx2517 is a good starter sewing machine at a cost ranging from $50-$80. What makes this sewing machine good is it’s simple design. It doesn’t take much time to set up and get to sewing your first quilt. This also makes a great backup sewing machine if the one you are using breaks down.

Pros

  • Price ($50-$80)
  • Simple Design
  • Lightweight (12 lbs)
  • Uses Universal Pressure Feet and Needles (Low Shank)
  • Contains all the basic stitches you need for quilting

Cons

  • Only 17 stitches
  • Manual Tension Control
  • Can’t adjust stitch length or width
  • Feed Dogs don’t drop (Not good for Free Motion Quilting)
  • Only comes with 4 Pressure Feet
  • Doesn’t give error codes

Brother CS6000i

The Brother CS6000i is a great sewing machine for all skill levels. This is my first love, the sewing machine that started it all. The feature that makes this worth $150, nearly double the Jx2517, is the on board computer. A quick google search will find you the meaning of error codes and get you back to quilting in no time.

Pros

  • Error Codes help you diagnose problems
  • 60 Stitches that can be adjusted for length and width
  • Very Durable Motor (Can last for 10+ years)
  • Feed Dogs Drop (makes Free Motion Quilting possible)
  • Uses Universal Pressure Feet and Needles (Low Shank)
  • Comes with a wide table extension
  • Can end stitches with the needle down or up
  • Lightweight (13 lbs)
  • Includes 9 Pressure Feet

Cons

  • Costs $150 (Almost double the Brother Jx2517)
  • Free Motion Quilting is possible, but requires fine tuning trial and error
  • Small Throat Space (Difficult for larger projects)
  • Manual Tension Control

 Singer 8500Q Modern Quilter Quilting And Sewing Machine

The Singer 8500Q costs around $650-700. This is why I recommend you talk to the quilter/sewist about their preferences. Yes it is much more expensive than the other 2 sewing machines on this list, but for the added price you get all the bells and whistles you will most likely ever need.

Pros

  • Auto Tensioner (Makes Free Motion Quilting easier)
  • Large Throat Space (Great for quilts)
  • SwiftSmart Threading System with Automatic Needle Threader
  • Automatic Thread Trimmer cuts threads for you
  • Drop and Sew automatic bobbin thread pick-up
  • Automatic Presser Foot Pressure Control
  • Knee Lift raises the pressure foot to quickly pivot
  • Can end stitches with the needle down or up
  • Error Codes help you diagnose problems
  • 215 Stitches that can be adjusted for length and width
  • Great for Twin Needle stitching
  • Sturdy Frame keeps down vibration
  • 6 bright LED lights fully illuminate your workspace
  • Extra Large Extension Table
  • Can make circular stitches
  • Locking Stitch Button
  • Comes with 11 Pressure Feet including a 1/4 inch Quilting foot and Even Feed foot

Cons

  • Costs $650-$700
  • Very Heavy (27.4 lbs)
  • 22 inches  wide compared to 16 inches of Brother CS6000i
  • Screen displays 1 stitch design at a time so you have to use the separate stitch card to see them all

Gifts for Beginning Quilters

Posted on by

You have to start somewhere and what better way than to give the gift of quilting.

The purpose of this post is to give you a good idea what you need to start quilting/sewing.

Brother Jx2517

The Brother Jx2517 is a good starter sewing machine at a cost ranging from $50-$80. What makes this sewing machine good is it’s simple design. It doesn’t take much time to set up and get to sewing your first quilt.

Singer Transparent Plastic Bobbins, 12-Pack

Your sewing machine might come with a couple bobbins, but you will need more if you want to use different color thread.

Fiskars Rotary Cutting Set

This all-in-one set is perfect for cutting fabric and squaring up blocks. I recommend this set because of the great value. It includes a Fiskars 45mm Rotary Cutter ($8), Fiskars 18×24 Inch Self Healing Mat ($20) and a Fiskars 6×24 Inch Acrylic Ruler ($9).  You save about $10 by combining all these essentials in one set.

Fiskars 8 Inch Scissors

You may notice I recommend the Fiskars brand often. This isn’t a mistake, I recommend this brand highly for the simple fact that their products last.  I purchased these scissors 4 years ago and they still cut as smoothly as the day I opened the package.

Gutermann Thread 547 Yards

Cheap thread can snag and cause your sewing machine to seize up. Save yourself some frustration and pick up a couple spools of Gutermann Thread.  It costs a bit more than bargain thread, but the finished quilt will last much longer.

Moda Refresh Jelly Roll by Sandy Gervais

Jelly Rolls are a great way to make a quilt fast and hone your sewing skills (Jelly Roll Race Quilt). You can go to your local craft store and find jelly rolls for about $20. Moda brand jelly rolls will cost about $30. What you get for the higher price is a better quality of fabric. This will make your quilt last longer and prevent some of the problems that cheaper fabrics can cause.

Lifetime 4428 Height Adjustable Folding Utility Table, 48 by 24 Inches, White Granite

If you don’t have a dedicated space for quilting/sewing this table is a great thing to pick up. It collapses easily for storage and provides a stable surface for your sewing machine.

1/4 (Quarter Inch) Quilting Sewing Machine Presser Foot w/ Edge Guide

There are a plethora of sewing feet out there, but when it comes to quilting this 1/4 inch foot is perfect. Almost everything in quilting requires a 1/4 inch seam and this foot will help keep your stitches as straight as possible.

Notions (Useful Little Tools)

Dritz Size 1-3/4-Inch Quilting Quilter’s Pins, 500-Pack

Seam Rippers (Pack of 12)

Fiskars 4.5 Inch Short Cut Snip