My start at this addiction also had to do with Christmas in mind. I have 2 daughters (they are 13 years apart in age) that are really close and also great with a sewing machine (didn't want to call them "sewers" - that word can be used in more than one way). I taught the older one to sew when she was 7 years old - she was the fussiest clothes shopper - taught her to sew her own clothes rather than take her shopping for them. Anyway - big idea for Christmas was a mother/daughter bonding time. Went to our LQS and signed us up for a class. I bought a cutting mat, rotary cutter, ruler and included a coupon for their choice of fabric in the package. The class was every Saturday for 6 weeks and before it was over we were all hooked.