I really look forward to writing this list each year. Partly because I get to daydream about my favorite fabrics, notions and books without actually having to sew anything! But most of all I enjoy the detective work of thinking about who would like what, it makes me feel a little like a Christmas Elf! So if you're having trouble figuring out what to get the creative person in your life I hope I can help!  I really like all of the things I'm recommending and I think the quilter, sewer or embroiderer in your life will too!

For a New Seamstress

• A Copy of Zakka Sewing
• Several spools of 100% Cotton Thread in assorted colors
• Glasshead Pins
• Tape Measure with both inches and centimeters
  
• Universal Machine Needles
• 4" Gingher Embroidery Scissors

If anyone you know is getting a sewing machine for Christmas this assortment would be a wonderful gift. The Zakka sewing book has tons of inspirational, simple to make ideas for home accesories and all the high quality notions and tools will help make sure your new seamstress or seamster gets off to a great start. Little things like having sharp pins and nice scissors make a lot of difference when you're learning to sew!

For a Crafty Kid

• 2 Wool Felt Bundles, one "Dahlia" and one "Earth"
• A rainbow of assorted colors of Valdani Embroidery Thread
• The Cute Book
• A Bag of Sweet Dreams 100% Cotton Stuffing
• A pair of Snip-Its portable scissors
• Embroidery Needles

This is a great sewing and embroidery starter kit for kids. The needles have large eyes and are easy to use, the Snip-Its are portable and interesting to fold and unfold, and the 100% cotton stuffing is soft and natural. Best of all The Cute Book is fun and funny to read and offers great ideas that kids can easily make. The projects involve simple cutting, embroidery and sewing with easy to follow instructions. The bright felt and pretty embroidery thread will emable your young sewer bring all the creatures in the book to life!

For the Traditionalist

• 5 assorted 1/2-yards of Helena by Nancy Gere
• A Goat Leather Thimble
• Dear Jane by Brenda Papadakis
• A package of Gold n Glide quilting needles and a package of millers needles
• Assorted Spools of Hand Quilting Thread

If you know someone that loves to do everything by hand this collection of things would be a great gift. The Helena Fabrics define what I love about reproduction inspired fabrics; sophisticated, reminiscent and understated. The soft flexible Goat Leather Thimble is a welcome change from rigid metal ones and the Gold n' Glide needles have an almost magical slipperiness to them that makes hand sewing much smoother. The Hand Quilting Thread is a joy to work with and it comes in a beautiful assortment of colors to match any fabric. The Dear Jane book is a beautiful and instructive book that shows how to make every square of a wonderful 1863 quilt that will give your hand sewer endless inspiration.

For the Avid Modern Quilter

• 3 half yards (one in each color way) of Kobayashi flower squares
• 3 half yards of Kobayashi Chrysanthemums
• Spectrum Bundle in a complimentary color

The Kobayashi fabrics offer a fresh and colorful take on traditional Japanese flower motifs.  Our pink Spectrum Bundle compliments the pretty colors of the prints perfectly. Together this is enough fabric to make a thow sized quilt top.  They would also be a most welcome addition to any fabric lover's stash!

For the New Mom

• 3 one yard cuts of assorted Megumi Sakakibara fabrics
• Little Stitches for Little Ones by Amy Butler
• Umbrella Buttons
• "Handmade" Cothing Labels

The new Amy Butler book is a must for any new mom (or dad) who sews. It has patterns for everything from dresses to stuffed animals to diaper bags! It's cute, practical and as is always the case with Amy Butler patterns very well explained. The Megumi Sakabara fabric is whimsical and comes in lovely soft colors. With 3 yards your new parent could get started right away and make several of the projects in the book. With the sweet little buttons and clothing labels your new mom will be able to finish all of her projects with a special and personal touch.

For the Beginning Garment Sewer

• Amy Butler's Barcelona Skirt pattern

• 2 1/4 yards of one colorway in Meadow

• 1 1/2 yards Moda Muslin

• A 7" invisible zipper in ivory

• 1 spool of cotton thread in color 1140
• One pair of 8-inch Gingher Scissors for either right or left handed people

This is everything your gift getter will need to make the ultra wearable, totally simple to make Barcelona Skirt by Amy Butler. Since the shape of the skirt is so simple it's great to make it out of a really pretty fabric like the lovely detailed Meadow which comes in the three colors shown above. The skirt is fully lined and will whip up in a matter of hours even for a beginner!

For the Sartorialist Sewer

• 2 yards of Sakura fabric from Seven Islands in Chartreuse or Purple

This luminous fabric would make a perfect gift for the experienced seamstress who has everything. It has a light silk-like texture and would make a stunning skirt, short dress, or shirt. I've never seen fabric quite like it before and every time I pass it in the store I want to take it out and unroll it. Two yards would make a great gift under any garment sewer's tree.

For an All Around Creative Friend

• AHM Design Stitchable Journal

This is a wonderful gift for anyone who enjoys being creative. It is a bright little blank paged journal that comes with everything your gift getter will need to sew a customized needlepoint design on the cover. It really does have everything, from needle and thread to a pencil as well as informative instructions. This is an all around fun, useful and unique gift!

For the Embroiderer

• 1 yard of Essex Linen Cotton blend in Ivory
• 4-inch Ginger Embroidery Scissors
• A 4 1/2-inch Embroidery Hoop
• A water soluable Chaco Pen
• A rainbow assortment of Silk Embroidery Thread
• Embroidery Needles

I absolutely love to embroider! If you know anyone else like me this would be a fantastic gift. The scissors are a very useful size and the hoop is sturdy and high quality. The water soluable pen is one of the most usefull tools that I own.  The Essex linen and cotton blend is the perfect weight and texture for embroidery.  All of these things will last your embroiderer a long time and serve them well but the real icing on the cake here is the Silk Embroidery Thread. This luminous space dyed 100% silk thread comes in the most beautiful colors and has a subtle sheen that makes it awesome to work with. A bunch of these beauties would make any embroiderer very happy!