12yo gift: sewing 'kit' - what to get?

[Violet Crown]

Wee Girl has a birthday coming up. She has taken to hand sewing, with the help of her older sister and a beginner's kit. She wants to learn more advanced hand sewing: big sister has a sewing machine that she's used occasionally but prefers sewing by hand.

My own sewing skills extend to re-attaching buttons. She's been looking at advertisements for sewing kits, but they're for single projects and seem very basic. I'd like to put together a "kit" for her, but don't know where to start. Is there a book of hand sewing projects? Teaching videos? What would you put together for a nice birthday gift? Bonus if I can order stuff without venturing much into Corona-world.

[Lori D.]

I'm not much of a sewer, but I really appreciate having a sewing basket  to hold all the odds and ends.

So maybe a larger sewing basket + kit of supplies? I'd make sure to include a pair of high-quality FABRIC scissors; tape measure; a thimble; and a seam ripper/stitch picker. 😉 

Or, what about a smaller sewing basket with basic supplies, plus: a book such as: Hand Sewing Magic -- book with techniques and projects (or other project book: Crafty Little Things to Sew; or, Sew It Yourself Accessories) -- and a fat quarter of fabric for making projects.

Edited June 28, 2020 by Lori D.

[happi duck]

I think felt stuff is so cute!!  With a quick search there were lots of books and the one below caught my eye.  I'd choose a book and then buy tons of colors of felt and needed notions.

https://www.amazon.com/My-Felt-Doll-Wonderful-Whimsical/dp/1446305767/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=Felt+sewing+book&qid=1593309177&sr=8-7

 

[PeterPan]

46 minutes ago, Violet Crown said:

prefers sewing by hand.

Hand applique might appeal to her. It can be really traditional, like in quilts, but it can be on pillows, table runners, etc. or even go very modern on clothing. I'm looking on amazon for some books and this upcoming book popped up https://www.amazon.com/Hand-Sewing-Something-Quilting-Appliqué/dp/164403025X/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=hand+applique&qid=1593309442&sr=8-5

Has she already done something like https://www.amazon.com/Hand-Sewing-Magic-Stitching-Master-Troubleshooting/dp/1589239687/ref=sr_1_29?dchild=1&keywords=hand+sewing&qid=1593309557&sr=8-29 

I think once you find the right book(s), the rest of the supplies will be obvious. I'd at least get her her own sewing box, needles, scissors of various sizes, etc. Scissors are the bomb for any close/detailed work, and if you look at Joanns you'll find the most amazing ones. Small ones that come in various types, like spring/squeeze snips, offset to get really close, etc. 

If you think she might like hand piecing https://www.amazon.com/Quilting-Go-English-Paper-Piecing/dp/605919222X/ref=sr_1_3?crid=38R2NQPFTPSHI&dchild=1&keywords=hand+piecing+quilt+books&qid=1593309743&sprefix=hand+piecing+%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Hexies-Pieced-Hexagon-Projects/dp/1940552303/ref=sr_1_11?crid=38R2NQPFTPSHI&dchild=1&keywords=hand+piecing+quilt+books&qid=1593309743&sprefix=hand+piecing+%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-11

https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Appliqué-Creative-Hand-Stitching-Techniques/dp/1617458236/ref=sr_1_12?crid=38R2NQPFTPSHI&dchild=1&keywords=hand+piecing+quilt+books&qid=1593309743&sprefix=hand+piecing+%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-12

Some historical costumers do all their piecing by hand, so that's another direction to take it.

Edited June 28, 2020 by PeterPan

[wathe]

This is an older book:  Sewing Tiny Toys.  I really like it.  Projects range from very simple (star-fish beanie toy) to complex (jointed traditional teddy bear).  All the projects are very small but satisfying (the finished teddy bear is about 3"tall) and perfect for hand sewing.  There is a section devoted to designing your own patterns for 3-D objects/stuffies - I designed and made a passable tiny stegosaurus 🙂 .

Edited June 28, 2020 by wathe

[Ausmumof3]

Does she like embroidery?  There are some lovely books with guides to different stitches and then you would want a range of good quality coloured threads and a couple of different types of needles, and some hoops.  You can also get some really nice fancy scissors, or if not just a good sharp thread snipper helps.  If she’s doing more practical sewing she’s going to want a quick unpick and pin cushion.  You can get fabric cutting mats that have measurements on them for quilting type applications.

during non Covid times you can often get stuff from op shops.

[prairiewindmomma]

Etsy has some really lovely and comprehensive kits. My 11yo thinks Sashiko and embroidery are cool...but wants pre-printed templates and directions....a bit more handholding, iykwim.

[Ottakee]

If you can afford it, a rotary cutter and mat are very nice....but they are very sharp and you can easily cut yourself. One went missing in a move and I sure miss it for mask making.

[Melissa in Australia]

gold dipped thread scissors shaped like a bird . I got all my bio kids some for their sewing boxes when they were younger . they absolutely loved them and they all still have them 

[Violet Crown]

Thanks for all these fantastic suggestions! I'm going to spend some time looking through them and show a few of them to Big Sister (who has a keen intuition about what Wee Girl would like). No-friend birthdays in Coronatide are tough, and I'd really like this to be as special as possible.

[kbutton]

12 hours ago, prairiewindmomma said:

Etsy has some really lovely and comprehensive kits. My 11yo thinks Sashiko and embroidery are cool...but wants pre-printed templates and directions....a bit more handholding, iykwim.

The other advantage of a kit is that they are not so open-ended. I love to browse ideas or browse books to learn, but then I have to decide and then select and prep materials. Sometimes it's nice to have a kit that does all of that for you. 

Individual tools are often not that expensive, and sometimes they are better quality than a prepared kit, though not always. My mom bought me some spare tools a few months ago, and I love the thread snippers in this set. The other tools work well also. https://www.hobbylobby.com/Fabric-Sewing/Sewing-Quilting-Notions/Sewing-Tools/Basic-Sewing-Tools/p/51985

Good scissors really do make a project go better. Some inexpensive scissors do a great job, but they might not last as long. You don't have to go professional and able to be re-sharpened right out of the gate. 🙂 If you can get only one set of scissors, something mid-size that can cut small items and larger items both is a good place to start, and then you can expand from there. If the hand-sewing is going to be small things, stay on the smallish size for scissors. 

I've ordered things from Hobby Lobby and https://www.123stitch.com/. Neither are particularly fast, lol! 

[Violet Crown]

On 6/28/2020 at 6:34 AM, Florimell said:

My favorite hand sewing book is Big Little Felt Universe. It includes full-size patterns that you trace and the instructions are excellent. DD10 has been making projects from there for a while, and they all turn out well. The author has a second book that DD10 just got for her birthday, and she is busy making a whole fleet of felt dinosaurs.

When I showed these suggestions to her big sister, she immediately seized on Big Little Felt Universe as what Wee Girl desperately wants. We've ordered it and will go get supplies at JoAnn's (or Amazon), using the helpful posts in this thread as reference for good quality supplies. 

She's also getting "coupons" for room decoration items (new blinds, throw rug, desk, a few other items) that she would like now that she's aged out of "nursery with toys" decor, since we can't shop for all of these in time for her birthday, what with the tightening restrictions.

Thanks again, everyone! I love the Hive and its wisdom.

[brehon]

On 6/28/2020 at 9:44 AM, Violet Crown said:

Thanks for all these fantastic suggestions! I'm going to spend some time looking through them and show a few of them to Big Sister (who has a keen intuition about what Wee Girl would like). No-friend birthdays in Coronatide are tough, and I'd really like this to be as special as possible.

Indeed they are. Two of mine have had such birthdays so far with a third this weekend (eldest boy). <sigh>
 

I’m very happy Big Sister helped choose the perfect gift for Wee Girl. How lovely!