Top Ten Gift Ideas for Stitchers: What to Get Those Who Love Cross Stitching, Needlework, and More

Stuck on what to get your stitching friend or loved one this holiday season? Fret no more, a stitcher is here to tell you what we want.

Lights

Stitchers could always use a natural light so that we can sort our threads and stitch in what would be sunlight to make sure we don't mess up the colors. Lights vary from cheap to expensive, but the most important thing is that they're pure, natural light. Some lights even clip on a floor stand.

Magnifiers

Some magnifiers are long and get placed on the pattern. Some are hung around your neck with a cord, some clip to floor stands, but they're all nice for making sure we see our pattern correctly, particularly when doing cross stitch.

Floor Stands

Some floor stands hold hoops, some hold frames. Find out what your stitcher uses and get them a nice floor stand so that they don't have to hold their needlework while they stitch.

Nice Scissors

There is a wide variety of scissors out there for stitchers, but we'd really like a nice, durable pair for just our needlework. Look around and see if you can find a nice pair at a stitching store or in a catalog.

Judy's Boo Boo Stick

If we make a mistake and end up having to pull out some stitches, the Boo Boo stick is a sanity saver. You can get them on the net or at stitching stores. They have 2 sides, each for pulling out different types of threads. I think it should be called the Boo Boo Eraser, myself.

DMC StitchBow

DMC has come out with the StitchBow System, which is vastly superior, in my not-so-humble opinion, to the floss cards we used to have to wind floss onto. It's so easy to load the bobbins and DMC has a wide variety of storage systems to hold our bobbins in place. Not only do they have boxes that hold a certain number of bobbins, but they also have sleeves that fit in 3 ring binders and hold them and protect them individually, and travelling with your needlework has never been easier. Just slide the bobbins you need into a sleeve, put it in a travel bag, and go!

DMC Needlework Travel Bag

DMC has a travel bag and a mini travel bag for your needlework so that you can stitch on the go. I used to have the needlework travel bag and used it constantly. It has storage not only for your stitchbow bobbins, but also for your needles, other threads, pattern, scissors, and just about anything else you could need to take your project with you. That reminds me...I should add another one to my Christmas list.

Thread Kits from DMC

DMC, to promote their new or favorite thread lines, has collections. They promote their new colors with a collection, and you can usually get that collection up to a few years afterwards. They also have a favorites now, with all of the colors we use most commonly. Check out their new linen threads and the new fluorescent and metallic thread colors. Stitchers LOVE new thread colors, particularly if we can find a pattern to use them with.

Silk Threads Sets

Usually, at larger hobby stores, you can find a collection of silk threads in a carrying case. Silk threads hold their shine more than cotton threads, and are more sturdy. They come in a variety of colors and are a treat to stitch with.

Kreinik metallic threads

Kreinik holds the market on mass-produced metallic threads for stitchers. Not only can you pick up colors individually, but you can also sometimes find sets that contain one color in several different widths and variations. I got the golds several years ago and they were wonderful to stitch with.

Specialty fabric

You can never have too much fabric. If you're looking for Aida, which is a cross stitch only fabric, you can pick it up in just about any color of the rainbow even from your local craft store. In most instances it comes in boxes or tubes, and the most common names are Charles Craft or DMC. Sometimes, more advanced stitchers stitch on evenweave or linen, which looks more like 'normal' fabric.

If you're going with Aida, the most common size is 14 count. If you're going with even weave or linen, the most common size for cross stitch is 28 count, because you stitch over 2 threads. You can get away with other sizes for the even weave as well, it isn't difficult to figure out how many threads you need for other sizes.

I hope your stitcher has a great Christmas, and I hope you got some great ideas for what stitchers are pining for. Happy shopping!