I'm not a quilter, but my mom loves quilting. I'd like to give her a homemade/handmade gift for Christmas and I wonder if any quilters have suggestions. I really know nothing about quilting so I don't know if a pin cushion would be useful? Or a craft apron with pockets? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks so much!
Sarah

Pin cushions are handy. I have some that someone made for me that are from a large plastic soda bottle cap (like the ones on those large Aquafina water bottles). They drilled holes in the cap and put in a small piece of elastic before they filled up the cap with batting material and covered it in fabric- so it works kind of like a ring. I only have one, but I wish I had 6 of them. I use different pins for sewing garments than I do for quilting and I would like to have them all sorted in little ring cushions because it is so handy to have it on your hand. There are other ones out there that you can wear on your wrist. You could look at those for some unique design ideas. No matter what you make your mom, I'm sure she will love it.

Hi and welcome from Mass. Pin cushions are a must. And that apron sounds nice. I hope you take up quilting. This is a great place to start. You can get so much help here. And you and your Mom will have some more to share.

I am a pincushion FREAK. I can't get enough of them & neither can my mom. I like to "change" my room around and bring out a pincushion I haven't used in a while to get that new look since it's one of just a few accessories I have in there.

Sondray just put in a link to a teacup pin cushion tutorial and it is SO adorable. Babeegirl mentioned picking up a couple tea cups at goodwill and I'm going to a second hand store also with an agenda. No teacup is safe from my clutch. LOL. Any quilter I know will be thrilled with this gift. Best of luck to you.

Welcome Sarah! I love these pin cushion/thread catchers and think they're a great gift. I don't fill the bag with sand, I stuff it with fiberfill.

http://www.kquilts-studio.com/pincus...her_tutori.htm

Do you sew at all? How about a table apron? Something to hang over the edge of the table holding the sewing machine with little pockets for things like seam ripper, snip scissors, extra bobbins or feet and room for thread bits. I have no pattern, but would like to have what I've just described.

Barbara, I knew I'd seen a pattern for something like that so I did some searching. Is this what you had in mind?

http://www.sewing.org/html/sewing_room_accessories.html

That is so cool TS. I saw a lady in an RV park that had one and I always wanted to make one. Thanks for the link.

Pin cushions are a great idea. I have them at the ironing board, cutting surface, and the sewing machines.

Thank you !! I want to make one like this for my ironing board as well as for my machines.