Quilter's Gift Guide - 2019

Are you looking for great gift ideas for a quilter?  I am always on the look out for notions that are not only creative and clever but that are also useful or solve a problem.  Here is a list of my top picks for 2019.  Some are new and some a little older but all would be welcome gifts for a quilter.  You can find these at your local quilt store, the linked websites or on-line sellers like Amazon.

Keep reading because at the end of the list is a special gift tip from a grandma (me) for a child in your life.  ​​

My Top Sixteen Notions Gift Picks for Quilters
1. Karen Kay Buckley"s Perfect Scissors
2. Binding Babies & Flower Spindle
3. Stiletto & Pressing Tool - By Annie
4. The Strip Stick
5. Puffin & Company Scissor Sitter and Micro Magnetic Needle Threader
6. Wonderclips
7. Pleasant Home Magnetic Travel Pin Tin 
8. True Grips, Grippy Coating, Grip Strips
9. Sand Paper Board - Sue Daley
10. Martelli Pin Point Tweezers
11. Quilters Select Rulers with non-slip coating
12. Quilters Reference Tool - C & T Publishing 
13. Rotating Cutting Mat by Sue Daley
14. Stash and Store or Quilter's Reference Tool
​15. Silicone Iron Rest
16. Skillbuilder Packet

1. Perfect Scissors - Karen Buckley

These amazing scissors became my instant favorite after Karen gave me some at a Bernina Ambassador reunion. 

​I like how these scissors have cushioned handles and the blades are sharp to the very tip. The micro serrated edges help to prevent fabric from fraying and they cut through several layers easily. They are easy to use for right or left handed quilters.
https://www.karenkaybuckley.com/store.php

2. Binding Babies and Flower Spindle by Shari Butler 

​This is a  unique, decorative, and clever way to store and sew on bindings. The binding slips into the slot and wraps around the body. The Binding Babies® are placed on the flower stand and keep binding tidy as it is sewn on. 

The babies are available in a variety of designs. Shari's babies have a vintage look and a modern twist. 
https://doohikeydesigns.com/collections/binding-babies

3. Stiletto & Pressing Tool - By Annie 

I am not sure how I ever survived without this tool.  The stiletto point enables holding pieces in place easily and is especially helpful when piecing or attaching bindings. Keeping the tip of the stiletto in place on the fabric until the needle almost reaches the point works much better than fingers! 

The other end of the tool is angled at just the right degree to make a surface for pressing seams open. 
​
​https://www.byannie.com/byannie-stiletto-pressing-tool

4. The Strip Stick - ​Babb Enterprises

This tool is named for pressing seams when strip quilting but also makes ironing seams a snap without distorting previously pressed seams. It also prevents seam pressing lines on the front of the quilt.

The strip Stick reminds me of the sleeve roll I use for sewing and tailoring but on a smaller scale. 
http://thestripstick.com

5. Puffin and Company Scissor Sitter and Magnetic Needle Threader 

These accessories are unique, beautiful, and useful!  They are hand crafted from copper, brass and nickel. ​
​http://www.puffinco.com/

6. Wonderclips by Clover

​An absolute necessity and definitely a wonder. No more injuries from pins while sewing bindings and they are great for securing bulky seams for sewing. I used Wonder Clips when I re-upholstered my sofa.

Clips come in multiple sizes. It's not possible to have too many!  
​​

7. Pleasant Home Magnetic Travel Pin Tin from Riley Blake 

​Fun way to store pins, small scissor, or needles.  Could even store  a small travel sewing kit.  

8. Two products to solve the slipping problem!

Odif Grippy Non-slip Coating creates a non-slip surface on rulers, templates, and stencils. 

True Grip Non-slip Adhesive Rings are applied to the back of any ruler to increase safety and cutting accuracy by preventing slipping. 
​https://truecut.graceframe.com/cart/true-grips.html

9. Sand Paper Board by Sue Daley

A great tool to stop fabric from moving when tracing applique shapes or marking lines on pieces. The sandpaper grips the fabric allowing quick and easy tracing.

https://www.suedaleydesigns.com

10. Martelli Pin Point Tweezers 

Super fine points that are great for manipulating individual threads, seam edges and other tiny components.

​https://www.martellinotions.com/pin-point-tweezers.html

11. Quilters Select Rulers with non-slip coating by Quilters Select

​A great solution for the sliding rulers problem. These rulers feature easy-to-read lines for marking and measuring fabric, as well as multiple angles. Each ruler has a unique non-slip coating that makes for more accurate cutting! Available in multiple sizes. 

http://store.thequiltshow.com/category-s/340.htm

12.Quilters Reference Tool C&T Publishing

I keep this tool at my finger tips!  The Quilter's Reference Tool gives fast answers to dozens of quilting questions. It is full of great short-cuts and does a lot of math for you for upsizing and downsizing blocks and quilts. 

​This is a must-have answer book for quilters everywhere.

​

13. Rotating Cutting Mat by Sue Daley

This 10" Rotating cutting mat is great for everyone especially those of us who are not ambidextrous!  

It is helpful for glueing English Paper Piecing  shapes and is nice for trimming up blocks and half square triangles,

https://www.suedaleydesigns.com/

.14. Stash and Store by It's Sew Emma

​No more searching for tools near the sewing or cutting station.

This is the perfect device to keep quilting and sewing  notions within arm's reach and ready to go! It easily stores marking tools, scissors, stilettos, rulers, and small rotary cutters, in an easy-to-grab upright position.

​https://www.itssewemma.com/

15. Silicone Iron Rest by The Gypsy Quilter 

​This iron rest makes a great place to rest the iron for short periods of time. It is made with silicone so it resists heat. The raised round dots also help the iron to cool down faster. 

​No more knocking the iron over while adjusting the quilt!

​https://www.gypsyquilter.com/

16. Bonus - Skillbuilder Package by RGA Design LLC 

Skillbuilder Package is the perfect gift for the quilter who wants to begin machine quilting or improve skills.  Skillbuilder Companion Book, Skillbuilder 1 and Skillbuilder 2 practice panels are a great way to learn to finish quilts. 



https://www.rgadesignquilts.com/

Special Gift Tip for a Child in Your Life

​We discovered Find Me Friends Playful Puppies and Magical Unicorns. They are a talking and interactive play game set. One child holds the Mommy as she counts out loud (1,2,3...) while the other kids hide the babies (or hide with the babies). When they are hidden, the babies call out clues every 30 seconds to help you find them. 

We have several sets at our house and the grandchildren ages 4 to 11 hide them all over our house.

When our grand kids aren't playing Hide 'N Seek, they are cuddling and snuggling the puppies and unicorns. Our little ones push the button over and over to hear the cute voices.

​You would think three animals would be enough but not when you have a party or several children playing. We need the add on twin puppy and unicorn sets at our house! They are available both on playfindmefriends.com and Amazon.

We gave our youngest grandson Playful Puppies for his two year old birthday, We knew he was a little young to get the Hide 'N Seek part but we thought he would still like them. Check out the candid video below to see how he played with them.  (Aren't smart phones wonderful?!)