Ideas for Christmas gifts for an avid quilter
 

My better half has a bunch of quilting stuff including a massive machine that takes up an entire wall and two or more other machines. I'm not looking to spend a bundle because we both would rather buy our own toys. Just a special little quilting gizmo.

How about some suggestions.

ROK

How about those little lights that attache to machines and bend?

How about an elegant seam ripper? We lave local crafty guys that make beaded and carved-wood ones. Or a special thimble holder? I have one that looks like a fancy metal Victorian-style box. Or a gift certificate to a fabric store...better yet, a trip to the store followed by dinner.

If she has a long arm and 2 other machines, it's going to be hard to guess what she DOESN"T have, but here's something fun and useful, and she probably doesn't have one:
http://www.amazon.com/Solid-Replica-...ds=bird+sewing
It's called a 'sewing bird' and it's great for when you need a 3rd hand, like if you need to rip out a long line of stitches. The whole business clamps to a table, and mouth of the bird is another clamp that holds the fabric.
I use mine all the time (lots of ripping ;-)

How about an hour at a good massage therapist? We have a lady come to our retreats that does chair massages and it really does make you feel like a whole new person the next day.

As an avid quilter I would like nothing better than a gift card to my favorite fabric store. Bet she would also.

How about a stack of blender fabrics in her favorite colors. Can't have too many of those.

I would love a massage and dinner and/or a gift card to her favorite fabric store. I am hoping for the gift card.

How about a longarm centering tape if she doesn't have one? It comes with neat sliding arrows for centering designs, etc. Google "Longarm Centering Tape" and a bunch of web sites will come up. I got mine through eBay.

I would love the gift card to purchase fabric!!

Mini vacuum attachments so she can dust/maintain her machines. They are available at Lowes in the shop vac aisle. They have an adapter to fit your regular vacuum hose. I have found a whole bunch of other household uses for mine.

Yup, me too. Gift card to shop and figure out what I want next.

Gift cards are always my choice - unless she tells you what she wants it is hard to buy what she wants or doesn't already have.

Can't have too many needle threaders! Even with those machines she must hand sew some parts of the project. What does she have on the walls in her sewing area? Maybe a pin board for ideas/inspiration ? Replacement blades for her rotary cutter (check the diameter!). A cute scissors for clipping threads. A book about old quilts. A cute fat quarter of novelty fabric. A new ruler, in a size she doesn't have. (I'm hoping my husband is reading this too lol!)

I recently bought the Mighty Bright seam ripper at JoAnn's and love it. It is a seam ripper with a light and magnifying glass attached. I think it was only $9.99 retail, less with my 40% off coupon. I also have a lighted rotary cutter which a friend bought me, and I love that, too. Clover makes it. A longarm centering tape is also a great gift, as previously mentioned. If you don't know what that is, it is a pink vinyl tape measure with the zero in the center, and inches measured out from there in both directions. It has velcro on each end to attach to the frame of her "massive machine which takes up an entire wall", and is used suspended overtop the quilt. If she has one and is not currently using it, it may be dangling from the velcro on one end of the frame, like mine is, lol. Have fun surprising her! You're getting some great ideas from these ladies.

I think this is in reference to a Bendable Bright Light, and they are great. I have used one on a sewing machine, and highly recommend them. They cost approximately $50.

There's also EQ7, which is a computer program for designing quilts. And there's a ruler called Quilter's Slidelock (quiltersslidelock.com) which is used when cutting fabric with a rotary cutter. It keeps you from accidentally cutting yourself with the rotary cutter, which happens surprisingly often and can be a very bad cut!. It also makes your cuts more accurate because the ruler locks down (no slipping) and the fabric is also locked down (no moving).

A gift card is always great. Blades for a rotary cutter are always a great gift.

Gift certificate to her favorite quilt shop.

I like the idea of going shopping with dinner after - with a 'take as long as you want - I'm in no hurry at all' comment as I went into the shop!

How about a Christmas stocking filled with small items - seam ripper, machine needles, fat quarters, thread, rotary cutter blades - and include a gift card to her favorite quilt shop and one to her favorite restaurant in the stocking? I would be in heaven with a gift like that!

How about a year's online subscription to QNNTV.com? I think it is $24 but sometimes they run a $12 special. There are special show for longarm quilters and lots of other quilting resources. If she likes TV quilt shows, she might enjoy this.

I have one of these...it's for chain sewing. It makes it soooooo much easier! Five times as faster! And so inexpensive.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/17337904?a...l5=pla&veh=sem

I'm with Pat - a gift card to a quilt shop is on my list :)

Now, that I could go for!

I have one of these very expensive lights and it moves with the vibration of the machine when sewing at more than just slow speed. I have used it on a machine in a cabinet and one on a very well secured counter with the same results. I do not recommend it!!!!

Tartan, could you link that stilletto idea to us by any chance? Is the "stilletto" at full skewer length?
Just wondering, and thanks, what a great idea.

I don't have a link but if you plan to do this, go to the grocery store SOON to buy them as they are available now but weren't in the summer when I wanted to buy some...think TURKEY. These are the metal skewers that are about 5 inches long and are used to lace up turkeys. I put beads on mine and secured them with stainless steel wire much like they wrap jewelry stones on earrings, bracelets, etc.

if you use one of the suggestions here, and your significant other can't use it or doesn't need it, the item can be returned. just make sure what the return policy is. i think buying SOMETHING is thoughtful, even though it might be not be something the quilter needs. it shows that you have an interest in the quilter, are paying attention to what the quilter does and are encouraging the quilter to make some stuff.

How about one of those gel mats to go in front of her longarm? They are kind of pricey but my feet and legs ache after a long quilting day! (I'm on concrete with laminate)

Ask her.My family this year have asked and are sending them by post because they know living on my own it is lovely to get a surprise parcel . No idea what or who has purchased. I'm getting very excited I feel like a child waiting for a knock. I'm the unmarked member of the family and the rest all go to in laws
For Christmas makes life easier and visit each in my own time before Easter.

I second the idea of a massage to get the kinks out of the neck, shoulders, and back.