Are you in the market for a new sewing machine? Or maybe you’re thinking about it?
Perhaps you have a decent machine but it isn’t capable of doing all the wonderful things that you would like it to do?
I was on amazon earlier *because Christmas shopping while sitting on my couch in my jammies, ya know?* and searched sewing machines to see what the going price was for a friend who is looking to upgrade.
I was blown away by some of the deals that are out right now!
Disclaimer: all pricing information is at the time of this post being published and therefore will likely change. Good luck to you finding a good deal like these!
I love love love love my sewing machine. She and I are like two peas in a pod and get along wonderfully. I got lucky with a really great deal at just the right time.
If you’re in the market for a new machine, I hope you find your other half in this list!
Janome 3160QDC
This is the exact machine that I sew on. She is an absolute dream. And a heck of a good deal right now too!
There is also the slightly newer model machine the 4120QDC That has a few more bells and whistles than my machine for just a few more dollars than the 3160QDC
I mean, y’all know how I feel about my machine. It certainly isn’t any secret that I keep 🙂 I LOVE Janome and if they ever want to take me on as a spokesperson, I’ll jump on it faster than ants on a picnic! – But until then, I’m happy to continue to sing their praises anyways because these are truly great machines!
SINGER Quantum Stylist 9960
This is a really nice machine! And it is on sale for nearly 50% off right now. If you’re just starting quilting and looking for a good sturdy model to get you through the next years of your quilting journey, this is a really good deal. PLUS it comes with over 200 programmable stitches and so many accessories and additional sewing feet!
Juki TL2000QI
This machine is FAST. Like wow, hold on tight, fast. It doesn’t have as many fancy add ons as the janome machines, but the juki is a really solid well built machine that you won’t be sorry you purchased. I knew a few people who own them and love them dearly.!
Sewing Tables
I have always admired these…The extension of the table for smooth and effortless quilting is just AMAZING. Your quilt just glides over the table fully supported like a dream.
I might just be tempted to buy one for myself… I’m such a good shopper for me!! 😀
And look! This one even has drawers!… because you know… tools and mom’s secret stash of a few dark chocolate squares. (I’ll gladly share with you but don’t tell anyone else, ok? Especially my kids. As long as there is a fully stocked supply of Dark Chocolate in the house, I hold the power.)
All these items being on sale so much makes me so happy! Let me know if you spice up your sewing room with any of these shiny new and beautiful items!
And if you need any motivation to just bite the bullet and upgrade your sewing rooms… check out this quick video on shopping math. (ignore the graphics and just listen to the voice of reason that my husband and I are still at opposite sides on. :’)
Drawing a blank when it comes to something fun and creative for the quilter in your life? Or maybe you’re gathering ideas for your own wish list? You’re in luck! I’ve scoured the internet top to bottom! Take my advice… these 20 Amazing gifts for quilters are going to rock those cute little socks right off your feet! 🙂
First off, these aren’t your typical “go-to” gifts. When I shop, I shop out of the box and unexpected because I love the surprise of “OMG. how did you know?!”
Also, A lot of this list comes from Amazon because… I (big puffy) heart Amazon, ok? Prime membership has paid for itself a hundred times over in our house. When you have young kids or just don’t want to leave your sewing machine… ahem, I mean your kids are sleeping or whatever. Amazon will bring it to your door. The fed-ex man knows more about me than he should, but because it makes my life easier… I don’t even care.
Let’s go shopping together, shall we?
20 Amazing Gifts for Quilters
1. I absolutely would be over the moon to find any of these socks in my stocking this year. Just look at them! The retro sewing machines are my favorite. I’m such a sucker for novelty socks.
2. I might have a total girl crush on this girl right here because everything she makes is pure magic in the quilting world. Emily Dennis doesn’t even know I’m alive, but I’ve been admiring her quilts for a long time now. I am the proud owner of this book myself and I have to tell you that I give it a full 5 stars as far as the patterns and the communication goes. I also give it 5 stars for the layout of the book and overall design. It is modern perfection. And if I ever get to meet this lovely girl in person, I want to hug her. She is pretty awesome. Check out her website (Quilty Love) and order her book, Modern Quilts Block by Block. You will not be sorry!
3. Novelty Pin Cushions are a great choice if you’re looking for something that the quilter will use every single day. I never get tired of fun little personal touches in my sewing room 🙂
4. A quilt planner is an awesome way to keep up with your to-sew list as well as jot down deadlines! There are several different price points… you can judge how avid the quilter is and make the decision from there.
5. I’m an organizing nerd. I make lists for everything. A friend got me hooked on these pens and I don’t even want to write with anything else ever again. These pens are like my ink-mate. We’re besties. You can find the Pentel Energel Pens in every color on Amazon. The purple is my personal favorite.
7. This coffee mug is the perfect way to say “I understand you and accept you as you are”. I like that.
8. One of my favorite gifts that I’ve received was a gift card for $15 (enough to buy a yard or so of really good fabric) and an IOU ice cream date from a dear friend to catch up. You don’t have to spend a ton of money to make a meaningful gift. A coffee date and hug are good too!
9. Another book that I have really enjoyed paging through and learning from is from Tula Pink – 100 Modern Blocks. If you’re into modern quilting/sewing… you’ve seen her fabric designs everywhere. Her bold prints in fun colors are what we modern quilters dream of! This book has small blocks and small easily doable sewing projects to take on one at a time.
10. Heres a fun fact… when handling a lot of fabric, your hands can get dry and sore. A small price to pay for such lovely quilts… but we shouldn’t have to suffer, right? If you haven’t tried this lovely french lotion brand, you have no idea what you’re missing out on. I assure you that you won’t look back once you do though. It is luxurious and pampering to the max! It is the good stuff (as my grandmother would say) A little bit will last a really long time.
11. Craftsy subscription/blueprint – This site is pure gold for us crafters and quilters. So.much.to.learn! I’m constantly making a mental list of every class I would love to take on craftsy! You can Gift Any Craftsy Class by buying a gift certificate and then let the recipient choose the class that interests them most.
12. This one is definitely on the higher end of the gift costs, but if your quilter does not have one of these, you will be their hero. I spent a long time on my hands and knees laying out my quilts on the floor because it was the biggest space we had… then the dog would lay on it or the kids would run over it before I could get the layout finalized… that’s when I looked for something better and came across this. It is not permanent, which is really nice for quilters with a limited space. This Quilt Display frame is amazing.
Your fabric pieces actually stick to the felt of the design wall, freeing up your floor and relieving your aching knees and back trying to lean over and design horizontally. Virtacle is totally to way to go!
13. QuiltyBox is a fun company that is a monthly club. This is a monthly subscription box that arrives at your/their door with a different collection of supplies including fabric, patterns, notions, etc each month. Shipping is free in the US. It’s a total surprise because every single month is different!
14. Are you a book hoarder like me too? Either of these books is a really fun addition to your quilting collection! Full of great ideas and a useful home for your beloved scrap pile! If you need advice on how to organize your scrap pile, check out this post. There are some good tips on products for cheap sewing room storage in this post too!
15. Wear your passions! Look at these Quilter Shirts! I LOVE them!
There is nothing like sitting around, doing your favorite thing while wearing your favorite thing.
When I found Maker Valley… I wanted to buy absolutely everything they have. I would wear these every day. No questions asked or explanation needed. Maker Valley has been making quilting-themed apparel (there is even a few sweatshirts!) for a couple of years now. They often come out with new sewing/quilting/knitting designs, so you’re sure to find something directly tied to your personality and style. You can buy these (and TONS more designs by visiting their website)
16. I love to support other artists… etsy is full of both small time and big time artsits just trying to make a living doing what they love.
There are countless options on Etsy. I always love to support fellow crafters when I can. This needle ring is to die for. Oh, it makes me so happy!
17. Tea and quilting go together for me… I love them both. Maybe its the calming aspect of each one? These are my pics for the perfect tea gift.
18. Perhaps just a night (or even 20 minutes) alone is gift enough depending on the quilter. My kids are a little older now but when they were younger… I longed for a 10 minute shower. A bath would have been heavenly and these bath bombs are the perfect accompaniment to sink into bliss.
19. Thread Cutter Ring – You and your hubby can have matching ones because they make them for cutting fishing line as well! I saw these guys at the Houston Quilt Show a few years ago and he had a swarm around his booth every time I walked by. It started in the fishing industry and made its way over to the crafting industry.
20. I discovered Uncommon goods several years ago and have always gone back to them when I need something really special. This Wanderlust Cross stitch map is perfect for the creative traveler!
19. Lighting is key when you’re working on the same project for hours and hours at a time! I am not blessed with the right amount of lighting in my sewing room. I usually make due with what I have, but I got a little light next to my sewing machine just to use at night and I almost use it daily now because of the difference it made in my being able to really see what I sew!
21. It has to be said… if you’re really stuck on what to give the quilter in your life… gift cards really do guarantee that they will have something they love 🙂
It also has to be said that something handmade with love is far more valuable than anything that can be purchased in a store. Who will understand the time and thoughtfulness that goes into a handmade gift better than another creative?
If you’re looking for a great little handmade gift, you’re in the right place! How cute and fun are these wine bottle bags? I’ve linked to several Wine Bottle Bag DIY Tutorial posts from some of my favorite other bloggers… you’re sure to find one that is just right for your tastes and skill level! Have fun!
The best part?
You can customize these any way you like. I plan on making grownup neighbor gifts this year 🙂 A bottle of wine for mom and dad, a plate of cookies for the kids with some hot chocolate mix… the makings of a fun family evening!
You can make these in less than 10 minutes!
Yep! And I’ve found the best tutorials to share with you so that you can make your own little wine bottle gift bag!
Things you’ll need…
Two bottles of wine (1 for gifting, one for drinking)
Your favorite fabrics!
That’s it… make these beautiful gift bags and enjoy!
This one has such a cozy/wintery feel to it. It’s perfect for a true beginner because there is no lining fabric. Easy-peasy, a few stitches and you’re done! Check out the tutorial at FleeceFun.com here
Slightly more advanced but still beginner friendly is this adorable bag! (This is the tutorial I used for the pretty purple bag that is in my pictures.) Pair your outer fabric with a contrasting lining, and you have a super classy gift! Check out the tutorial at Smashedpeasandcarrots.com here.
This next tutorial I really liked because the bag looks sharper with a rounded bottom to match the wine bottle. Her bag also fits a little more snug around the wine bottle. I could absolutely see this being classy enough to give as a company/work gift. Check out the tutorial at TheStitchingScientist.com here.
And finally… if you’re in a pinch or want to host an easy girl’s night in craft night (totally recommend!) this no-sew wine bottle bag is too cute not to share in this list. Check out the tutorial at SomethingTurquoise.com here.
What is your favorite pattern? Let me know if you decide to make one today and comment below! I love to see what you’re working on in your sewing rooms 🙂 Happy festive drinking… I mean… um… Happy Sewing!
Hey hey hey! I have something fun for you today! I designed some Crafty Christmas Gift tags! These are perfect for quilters and all those little homemade little goodies that you’ve been working on in your sewing spaces as the holidays get closer!
I’ve been working my tail off on a few gifts, myself. Every year I start with high ambitions and a clear calendar and then by December 5th I realize my to-do list is a mile long and ‘oh, no… I’ve done it again!’ (does anyone want to take a guess at today’s date? lol… oops I did it again)
But hopefully, you’re ahead of me and are already wrapping your lovely handmade crafty DIY gift goodies! You just need that tiny little extra bit to finish it off… the perfect gift tag!
I’m super excited to pull these out this year and dress them up with a little twine… I still crack myself up with the Honest (sassy) gift tags that I designed earlier this year (Hint: Go check them out! You can download them here for free!). Is that weird that I find myself funny??
Anyways, the freebie version been such a huge hit that I decided to whip up some Christmas themed tags for the fun of it!
I created 12 different designs that you can print and use again and again with all your crafty gifts!
You have your Holly-Jolly-Christmas-Fun tags, and then you have a few that are just a little sassy!
… because honestly, aren’t we all just a little bit sassy? 😉
I say embrace it and have fun with it!
You can download these tags by clicking here to visit my shop!
Use Code: HOLLY for 25% off your order.
*ahem* Did you see that? Don’t forget to USE THE CODE! 🙂
Merry Christmas my sewing and quilting friends!
What I think really kicks these tags up just a smidge are these versatile tags that I found on Amazon. You can get them in a lot of different sizes and colors. I use them all year long on gifts for friends, teachers, labels for baskets around the house, etc. etc. etc. Easily adds that handmade touch and no fuss.
I’d love to see how you use your Christmas gift tags! Do me a favor and tag me (@Iseestarsquilting or #Iseestarsquilting) or send me a quick picture! Hope you have a Merry Christmas and soak up some good memories!
You can check out some more ideas for Quilty Christmas decor in this post! You won’t believe how simple this decoration is with glass Christmas ornaments.
I had the pleasure of making another sweet baby quilt recently! And I’m sharing the sweet baby quilt pattern with you! It is super simple. You’re going to love it!
I just fell in love with everything from the fabric to the quilting while making this one. It was simple and perfect, just like the little baby that this quilt will be going to live with soon.
Just look at this darling flamingo pattern! – A random find while I was shopping for something else… Subtle and so sweet. It was just the very beginnings of this pretty little quilt!
I paired it with several other aqua and speckled prints. A little grey, a little black and white polka dot, and some graphic black and white.
You can see my choice in quilting style in the picture below. I kept it straight and simple to accentuate the geometric shapes. (I also haven’t trimmed off my thread yet because I got excited and it was sunny outside… yeah, ignore those little eyesores, won’t you?)
If you haven’t guessed… Hi, my name is Christen, and I’m obsessed with stars. I don’t know what to say, they just show up everywhere in my designs. I don’t seek them when I’m designing, it is just what comes out of my soul 🙂 So they star pattern was a fun discovery to mix in around the flamingo pattern.
I think my one of my most favorite parts of this quilt is the fabric choice on the binding. Is there anything more lovely than a perfectly stripey binding?
And one more picture because I’m kind of obsessed with the stripes right now…
I decided to share the easy pattern with you because I fully believe we all deserve one of these in our arsenal of patterns!
You can download my FREE Pattern HERE:
…And one last photo! Because you should never just settle for a boring back to your quilt… Make it fun! Make it unexpected!
Hey! I just recently wrote a post about how to wash your quilts and stop the fabric colors from bleeding. If you’re making quilts to give away, its a total must read! Help! How to stop the Bleeding in your quilt fabric.
You may have found this page because, in a moment of pure panic, you turned to google because your lovely beautiful quilt is bleeding fabric dye where it shouldn’t. How do you stop a bleeding quilt? — It is all going to be ok!
I might live under a rock at times… I think all mommas sometimes do, right? If you do too, then I’m about to blow your mind. Have you heard of these Shout Color Catchers? When I came across these…. ooooh… the light rays shined!
They’re going to be your new best friend!
I’m always up for something that makes my job easier…
I’ve been making more and more quilts over the years for other people; I want them to maintain the best color quality possible, so they look just like the day they were created for years to come. Do I always prewash my fabrics to prevent color dye from spreading?…. um… so, about that…
Honestly moment…
No, usually, I get excited about a project and jump in with a pair of scissors and rotary blades flying and get started right away! I don’t always pre-wash my fabric… ok ok… most of the time I don’t even think about prewashing it. Does this make me a bad quilter? Not when I have a little secret up my sleeve.
I’ve been using the Shout Color Catcher on my Quilts and …wow
So these shout color catchers… They are single-use sheets that go in with your non-sorted laundry that claim to “absorb and trap loose dyes in your wash water, protecting clothes against color bleeds and helping preserve original colors” (a quote from the Shout Color Catchers website).
Before I gift a quilt…
I wash every single quilt before I give it to its final recipient. Always. I need to know what it is going to do in the wash…I want the quilt to be used and loved over and over again! I want to make sure it can withstand many washes over the years.
I’ve never had one have any big surprises and completely fall apart or anything, so call me crazy for still thinking it still could happen one day. I would rather have it happen in my washing machine than someone else’s.
These babies are my secret weapon.
I usually throw one of these color catchers in with any quilt I’m washing for the first time as an insurance policy.
I’ll even wash it again with another color catcher if its a really bold bright quilt. Double Insurance Policy. (*It’s like the equivalent of a pinky promise between me and my quilts*)
I’ve even used the shout color catcher to clean up a quilt that bled a little when I forgot to put in the color catcher sheet. Does anyone else have those sleep-deprived brain moments?
So have I convinced you that these need to sit on your laundry shelf yet?
You can find them in the laundry aisle of your grocery store, or you can prime order them from Amazon (woot-woot!), and they are worth every single penny when it comes to quilting!
