It’s probably a little too close to Christmas for this, but you can always add a few extra stocking stuffers 🙂
A couple of years ago Ash got me a whole sewing care package for Christmas and it was AWESOME. That stuff lasted me almost the whole year! So I thought I’d share some of those things, along with some other ideas!
1. Thread
You can never go wrong with thread. You don’t have to get anything fancy; just basic spools of basic colors. White and Black are used a LOT in my sewing room, and you can usually get those at places like Target or Walmart! Ash got me a whole array of white, black, red, yellow, green and blue.
2. Scissors, Seam Rippers, or Measuring Tape
These things go missing in my office ALL THE TIME. So I like having extra around when my seam ripper decides to disappear – I can open my desk drawer and grab a backup.
While some crafters may be picky about their favourite scissors, it never hurts to have another pair around – you don’t have to break the bank on this, you can get a small pair of scissors or even some cheap crafting scissors, because we like have lots of different kinds for different projects. Seam rippers and measuring tape (above) are not at all expensive, and always needed.
3. Craft Foam
It never hurts to have extra craft foam laying around, and you can get a whole pack of different colours for pretty cheap at any hobby/craft store.
4. Pins, Sewing Needles, Etc
For sewing needles, you don’t have to get anything fancy – in sewing or craft stores you can usually find a package of “assorted” needles, like pictured. These can come in very handy! Some seamstresses don’t use pins, so you may want to find out if they do before you buy – but I go through these straight pins like crazy! I generally have to buy a new pack at least once a year, as pins break or bend or get lost. I prefer the kind with the colourful ball on the end like pictured 🙂
Also Pin cushions! You can never have too many pin cushions and you can get some pretty cute ones – or really handy ones like the kind that are attached to a bracelet, so it’s always “on us” while working.
5. Dye
Having some basic colours of RIT Dye or DYLON Dye is always handy. There’s fancier stuff out there that some crafters may prefer, but you never know when you just need a little bit of dye for one tiny piece of a project. Get some basics like Black, Red, Blue, etc. I prefer the liquid version in the bottles (pictured) because I can use as much as I want/need.
6. Stain Remover
I always try to keep RIT dye remover on hand, because oftentimes when I need it, I need it right away! So having extra is always appreciated.
Grandma’s Stain Remover is my FAV Stain Remover. I carry it in my repair kit to cons, as well as having it at home!
7. Emergency Sewing Kits
These come in all shapes and sizes, but a costumer can never have too many of these. I usually have one in my costume bin, one in my repair kit, and one in makeup kit!
8. Hairspray, Bobbie Pins, Hair Clips, etc
Hair/Wig care items get used up frequently or get lost, like bobbie pins. I’m constantly having to replenish these, so getting a nice new card of bobbie pins or hair clips would be awesome! You may want to find out what kind of hairspray your giftee prefers before buying, but you can never go wrong with wig detangling spray – available at any wig or hair care store.
9. Storage
I love storage baskets and bins! I’d be happy to receive either cute basket ones to put in my sewing room and store stuff in, or practical plastic ones! I use the big gallon ones for transported costumes and the smaller ones for storing costumes and fabric!
Really any kind of item that helps with organization is appreciated – desk drawer organizers, bead organizers, those little plastic containers with all the different drawers, etc. I love it all.
10. A crafter’s apron
While I have pictured a very basic, utilitarian tool apron from a hardware store, it does show you the basic idea. Having a place to keep your scissors, seam ripper, etc in one easy place while working is fantastic, and you can find really cute ones and/or ones more geared towards crafting/sewing all over the internet. I actually don’t have one of these, but keep meaning to make myself one because it would be so handy.
Also, you can get a really basic “all over” (one that actually covers you up) apron as well – I use it when dyeing or working on anything messy, so they can get kinda dirty looking after a while, and a clean new one is always nice!
11. Elastic
There is no such thing as having too much elastic. You don’t even have to be picky about the specifics. I have a whole bin of pieces of various kinds and sizes of elastic that I keep on hand in case I need a little piece here or there. So having a couple of nice, new packs of basic elastic is fantastic! (Really anything that saves your giftee from yet ANOTHER trip to the fabric store just for a basic they’ve run out of is fantastic.)
12. Velcro
Goes right along with elastic. You can never have too much. Sew-on, sticky-back, heat-bond, industrial, black, or white, it doesn’t matter. If it’s velcro, I’ll need it at some point!
13. Glues or Tapes
While there are specific glues your giftee may want or need, you can never go wrong with some basic duct tape or crafting glue. Glue sticks for glue guns are great, too.
14. Fabric, Ribbon, Trims
If you’re up to it, we ALWAYS love to get any kind of fabric or ribbon you’ve picked out. Anything you think is pretty or that might inspire us! We’ll figure out someway to use it, I promise.
If you want to get something a bit more basic, cotton in basic colours is ALWAYS useful, as well as plain ribbon in basic colours.
15. Sew-on Snaps or Hook-and-eyes
I use these things like crazy! You can get different sizes and colours, but having basic ones on hand is great.
16. Fabric chalk or pens
You can get fabric chalk like above, or water-soluble pens, both are great (though I prefer chalk), and both have a tendency to disappear a lot (whenever I’m looking for it, usually).
17. Lint Roller
Gotta get all those threads and fuzzies off when you’re finally done with your project. The mini ones are great for carrying in a repair kit.
18. Gift Cards
Of course. I ask for gift cards every christmas, and use them to coast through making costumes throughout the year! Fabric store gift cards, wig gift cards, craft stores, etc. All will be needed and used!