By Julie on June 27th, 2023 This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
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OK – I know this is going to sound like a first world problem, but one of the more stressful parts of Christmas is not only coming up with gift ideas for other people, but also coming up with gift ideas for yourself. Inevitably, husbands, parents, children, Secret Santas, etc… ask what you want for Christmas, and they expect YOU to come up with an idea. I run into the same issue on my birthday every year. And then I wised up. Why not ask for a gift that supports your passion for machine embroidery? Whether you are a total beginner, hobbyist or run an embroidery business, there are loads of great gift ideas for machine embroidery enthusiasts.
Here you will find some ideas to add to your own birthday and Christmas wish lists, so when people ask what you want, you can be ready! And, why not? You help them out while getting something you actually like and use. It’s taken me awhile, but, finally, I have learned that when I provide input into my Christmas gifts, I tend to like them better.
Christmas Gift Ideas for the Machine Embroidery Neophyte
An embroidery machine
Let’s start with you beginners. If you are still on the fence as to whether you want to actually do machine embroidery, the first thing you probably need is an embroidery machine. Fortunately, embroidery machines can be obtained for less money than you think. And many home embroidery machines can be Amazon Primed right to your front door.
The first thing you need to decide is whether you want an embroidery / sewing combination machine or strictly an embroidery machine. If space is a consideration and/or you don’t already have a sewing machine, I would definitely recommend a machine that can both sew and embroider. One of the most inexpensive options for a embroidery / sewing combination machine is the Brother SE 600. It’s a little bit more expensive than its strictly embroidery machine counterpart, but essential if you need a machine that both sews and embroiders.
For the total newbie (like someone who’s afraid to get their embroidery machine out of the box), perhaps a lesson or two are in order. There are several video and web-based courses that can help the timid embroiderer get started. Check out my course offerings, including my signature course perfect for newbies: Master the Machine: Learn to Embroider Like a Boss.
What about a machine embroidery starter kit? If you are really new to machine embroidery, it would be lovely to have all the supplies you need in one pretty box. This lovely box of embroidery goodies, including thread, stabilizer and even an instructional CD would be super helpful for someone just getting started.
If you are just starting out with machine embroidery you may be a little shaky about what stabilizer, needle and topper you should use when embroidering on different materials. Let the Embroiderer’s Compass navigate you through these overwhelming number of options. You just rotate the dial over to your specific conditions, and what you need is revealed. It is a super simple but handy device, and it will help boost your confidence in working with a variety of materials.
Placement aids
One of the most frustrating parts of machine embroidery is properly placing your embroidery in the desired spot. DIME has several tools that can help with placement. Check out their alignment laser and their perfect placement kits.
Gift Ideas for the Machine Embroidery Hobbyist
Embroidery thread
Once you get started using your embroidery machine, you will surely need embroidery thread. And the more thread colors you own, the better! Getting a variety pack of embroidery thread is a real treat. Or, you can either ask for specific thread colors based on what you need. Keep in mind though, if your machine is really picky about specific thread brands, be sure to note this on your holiday wish list.
Why am I drooling at the site of this box? I was stunned to find this was only $42.99.
Metallic thread not your thing? What about glow-in-the-dark embroidery thread? There are tons of fun projects to make for kids using glow-in-the-dark embroidery thread. And, to make it a bit more fun, stitch out some designs in a crazy array of glow-in-the-dark thread colors.
A subscription to an embroidery club or a magazine is the gift that keeps on giving throughout the year. For $43, you can join John Deere’s Embroidery Legacy Club and get five embroidery design downloads per month!
You may also consider a subscription to one of the popular trade magazines such as the Designs in Machine Embroidery Publications or Creative Machine Embroidery. Each month these magazines come with free embroidery designs. You can either buy individual issues or get a subscription.
A gift card for embroidery designs
There are LOADS of amazing embroidery designs on ETSY. Give a machine embroidery geek an ETSY gift card and she’ll be embroidery design heaven.
Books
Books are great gift ideas for machine embroidery enthusiasts. And, there are a few classics that you should ask for if they’re not already on your shelf. If you are interested in learning to digitize, I would wholeheartedly recommend Digitizing Made Easy by John Deere. I’m also a big fan of Machine Embroidery on Difficult Materials by Deborah Jones for when I’m trying to embroider on a fabric that’s a little bit scary.
Gift Ideas for Machine Embroidery Business Owners (or Someone Thinking About Starting an Embroidery Business)
If you are in the business of selling embroidered items, ask for a gift that will make your life easier and/or help you grow your business.
Business Guidance
Why not take a course to help you get started with your embroidery business? Check out this very reasonably priced course that will help you figure out how to charge for your work and turn a profit with your embroidery business.
This little Zebra label printer is a game changer when you are making and shipping out orders. When shipping out my own orders, I used to print the shipping label on paper, then fold and tape it to the envelope, and it took WAY too much time. Now I print all my address labels on my little Zebra label printer and it’s so much quicker. Even the little noise it makes brings me joy.
Labels
If you are selling your handmade work, you should be promoting your brand. One of the best ways to get your name out there is to incorporate a label in all of your products. Ordering custom labels for the machine embroidery business owner is a great way to get started.
So… now go update your wish list!
I hope you found my machine embroidery lover gift suggestions to be helpful. If you love machine embroidery as much as me, maybe these gift ideas will motivate you to stay off of Santa’s naughty list….
“I recently took one of Julie Griffey’s, The Machine Embroidery Geek, machine embroidery classes. Instructions were clear with good examples of the step-by-step progress to complete the project. The tips she provided kept me from making some frustrating errors. I enjoyed the class and came away with an awesome and fun handmade craft.”
Novelty threads
Novelty threads
