My wife’s birthday is coming up. In the past few months she’s gotten really into quilting-- she’s done several large projects and quilts almost every day. I’m looking for recommendations on quilting books, supplies, etc. that would make nice gifts. Thanks!
A rotary cutter and self-healing mat
A quilting ruler
non-rusting pins
a gift certificate to a fabric store
quilting hoops if she’s quilting by hand
a walking foot for her sewing machine
Gift certificat for her favorite quilt store.
Does she have a rotary cutter? If not, that might be a good suggestion.
If she has a rotary cutter, does she have a LARGE cutting pad? If not, that might be a good suggestion–note when I say Large, I’m thinking 2ft by 3 ft or larger–not really sure how big they make them, but a really big one can be handy.
Large (but not as large as the cutting pad large) see-through ruler with markings on it?
Needles, pins, etc.
I’m pretty sure she has all of that stuff already. A fabric store gift certificate is a great idea though!
What about books? I was browsing around on Amazon and there seem to be a lot of comprehensive quilting reference books. That seems like a cool idea, but I don’t want to insult her by getting something that’s too beginner-ish.
Don’t worry about getting something too beginner-ish. It takes awhile to get good at quilting, and unless she’s been taking classes, there’s probably some stuff she doesn’t know. Better Homes & Gardens has some nice books. I think they’re about $40.
You can’t wrap it up and tie it with a bow, but a subscription to American Patchwork & Quilting would be good. Site here. Each issue has photos and instructions for quilts at different skill levels. And each issue has the basics for cutting and finishing. As many times as I’ve bound a quilt, I still have to look at the instructions for turning corners.
The last time I was at the quilt store, I eyed all the nice scissors in different sizes. I’m using dime store scissors and they suck.
Are you up for going to her favorite quilt store and choosing a kit? The sales people should be able to help you with picking one that’s good for a newbie. The kits come with fabric and instructions.
I second the suggestion for a really big cutting mat and an assortment of rulers. Find out what size rotary cutter she uses and buy her some replacement blades. They don’t last long. Thread in neutral colors would be good too – all purpose thread and quilting thread.
Where does she do her quilting? Does she need a table of her own? My husband hates it when there’s a quilt on the dining room table, but it’s all I’ve got.
She actually bought an unfinished table and chair set, stained them, and set up a work area in the family room. When she gets into a hobby, she goes all out. 
I like the magazine subscription idea, thanks!
Just as a point of reference for your dream sewing room, rotary mats can be had as large as 4x8 feet, but 2x3 is a handy size for at home. Any smaller, and it’s cut a bit, move fabric, cut a bit, move fabric… which gets really tedious really fast.
Atlanta Thread & Supply is about the only place I’ve found that has the mega-mats. They also have regular-sized mats at prices substantially less than fabric stores and far, far less than quilting stores. Check 'em out - they have free shipping deals now and then. (I have no connection to them other than being a happy customer for the past ten or so years.) Their focus is commercial production/tailoring shops, but they’ll sell you one mat just as happily as they’d sell one hundred.
Quilting stuff can seem like it’s made of cubic dollars sometimes, so if you have the time in advance and know exactly what you’re looking for, it’s well worth shopping around. Jo-Ann Fabrics (and most other chain consumer-oriented fabric shops) sends out mailers roughly once a month with 40% off coupons, so they’re well worth signing up for.
An extension table for the sewing machine is useful - it makes wrestling several square yards of fabric through the machine a bit easier.
An iron and ironing board for the sewing room is another of those things you may not have thought of. Not an absolute necessity at first, but if you’re looking to do precision work, you have to start with flat and smooth fabric.
Beyond all that, gift certificates really are a good way to go unless you’re absolutely positive of what’s desired - depends on how good they are at dropping hints. “If only I had those eight-inch Gingher shears…” 
Squee! What fun. Does she have a particular style of quilt that she enjoys? That would be the only way to be sure that she would like a book or packet of fabric. It’s so personal.
I second the magazine subscription as there’s sure to be something she likes. Even scissors are so personal; “eight-inch Gingher” could mean a few things so if you go that route be sure you know exactly which ones!
Make sure she knows about quilterscache.com. I’ve made more quilts using patterns that I found there than I have from all the books and magazines.
Does she have a digital camera so you can share photos of her stuff?
Mrs. longhair quilts as a hobby. We have enough fabric around here to gift wrap the house. One accessory she uses constantly is a small. tabletop model ironing board and a small iron. I think that together they were under fifty bucks.
Oh lordy yes. I taught myself how to quilt by looking at Marcia’s pages.
Amy Butler fat quarters.
That is heaven.
(Well, if my husband were going to surprise me, thats what I’d want anyhow.)
I always like gift certificates! Or fancy rulers–if she only has one ruler, you can get her more. Standard is 6 1/2 x 24"–if she doesn’t have that one, get that. A 6" square is great, or a 12" square, or a little one for tiny jobs, or a triangle, or the flying goose kind, or square in a square, or best of all a lazy Susan cutting mat!
My favorite magazine is Quilter’s Newsletter Monthly. It has interesting historical articles, profiles, and a nice variety of patterns; I like it much better than any others I’ve found.
I wouldn’t get her a book of patterns unless she’s pointed it out. It’s nice to have a big quilting tome for reference (mine is the Ultimate Quilter’s Guide, or some such thing), though.
If you know what kind of fabric she likes, you could buy her a nice package of fat quarters or a big batik panel or something; for example, there are wonderful yummy hand-dyed fabrics out there that make great gifts.
As a quilter I can tell you that you can never, ever have enough fabric.
I like the McCalls quilting magazine better than Quilter’s Newsletter - more nice patterns and fewer news items - unless you think she’d be fascinated by the new quilters initiative in Yusbekistan or the like.
If you’re a big spender you can send her on a quilt cruise or take her to one of the huge quilt shows - Houston Texas and Padukah Kentucky both have annual events.
A gift that keeps on giving is enrolling her in a block of the month club. That’s usually through a local quilt store.
That’s for sure! Every time we go to the quilt store together and look through the pattern books, we gravitate toward way different stuff.
She does have a bunch of digital photos of what she’s made. I can try and get them posted someplace if you guys would like to see.
I was thinking about fabric. Instead of going to a fabric store, check out the clothing at a thrift store. I bet you will find some unusual fabrics that could be turned into unique quilt squares.
Yes please! May I brag about my mom? You can’t tell from these but she has the tiniest hand-quilting stitches. She uses like a size ten needle and has to use a hemostat to pull it through, the stitches are so close. :eek: She and I are keeping the traditional geometric pattern vibe going.
earth tones
turquoise hexagons
pansy fabric
Indiana Puzzle
foliage
Those are great! The “earth tones” one especially is very much my wife’s style. I’ll have to share these links with her!
gigi, your mom’s quilts are beautiful! She really has an eye for color.
AutumnAlmanac, yes, please. Photobucket is free and easy to use. Maybe she could post her photos there.