The end-of-year celebrations are almost here! Saint Nicholas is baking his speculoos, your mum is looking for Christmas dinner recipes, and you're running out of ideas for festive gifts?
Don't panic! I've got ideas for you, your wife, your grandma, your sister, your cousin… Do they all sew, or would they like to learn? Then look no further! I've enjoyed putting together the best gifts to give or treat yourself to, so there's no disappointment at midnight under the Christmas tree when the presents are unwrapped!
I've been in the sewing and creative crafts world for years now, and every festive season I'm asked: "What would you like?" Even after all these years, I still find plenty to keep me busy 😂 and add to my collection of equipment that makes sewing easier. So let's explore some thoughtful gift choices that will bring real joy!
1. Quality sewing equipment
When you're starting out, or even when you're more experienced, it can be hard to commit a certain budget to equipment. Will you enjoy using it? Will it be useful? And sometimes you regret not buying that beautiful pair of scissors that caught your eye!
So why not ask for quality sewing equipment for Christmas?
In this category, I'm thinking of:
- A buttonhole ruler for intermediate and advanced sewists. It's a game changer when you're sewing button plackets and working out the spacing between buttons. I wouldn't be without mine!
- A buttonhole cutter. Once you've used your buttonhole ruler and stitched beautiful buttonholes, you need to open them! With a buttonhole cutter, you can say goodbye to seam-ripper mishaps. After finishing a shirt, that's priceless!
- Fray-prevention glue, the perfect addition to a buttonhole ruler and cutter for beautifully finished buttonholes!
- Snap-setting pliers for sewists of every level. It's a tool you might hesitate to buy, but it makes life easier. I have a pair for plastic snaps and a universal pair that really helps me fit snaps. Goodbye to the hammer and its mishaps!
- A hole punch: yes, that familiar tool for punching belt holes, but it's also incredibly handy for making holes before fitting eyelets, snaps and rivets… A good investment for intermediate to advanced sewists.
- A good pair of scissors for sewists of every level.
A good pair of dressmaking scissors is a real must-have for any keen sewist. I'm very demanding about cutting, because it's essential to the success of your sewing projects. For me, good scissors need quality blades, a comfortable handle and, above all, blades that can be sharpened.
At the shop, we've found a brand that offers excellent value for money.
You'll even find left-handed scissors and pinking shears!
Beyond dressmaking scissors, I also recommend buying embroidery scissors. Their designs are lovely, but they're especially useful for detailed cutting. I use them every day for trimming seam allowances, clipping and snipping threads. For me, they're a sewing-box essential!
Budget:
Buttonhole ruler: €29, Buttonhole cutter: from €12.50, Glue: €6.40
Snap-setting pliers: from €19.50, Hole punch: €21
Dressmaking scissors: €25 to €40; embroidery scissors: from €4
2. Storage tools
It's lovely to have plenty of equipment, but at some point you need somewhere to put it, or your sewing room or dining table will become a complete jumble.
A sewing box immediately comes to mind! I love the idea because you can easily carry your small supplies from your sewing space to the sofa, to hand-sew hems or attach buttons while sitting comfortably.
Another useful tool is a bobbin organiser. Once you start sewing a little, a lot, passionately… you collect plenty of threads and plenty of bobbins that get tangled. A bobbin organiser might not be a glamorous gift, but it's very practical!
To avoid losing pins and risking sore feet or injured pets, I recommend a small magnetic pincushion or traditional pincushion: so handy! I always have two, one on the worktable and one beside the machine, so I can put pins away wherever I'm working.
Sewing-box budget: from €24
Budget for a bobbin organiser and pincushion: from €5
Please note that sewing boxes are available only in our physical shops.
3. A sewing pattern, or several
At C'est du Joly, you know we love introducing you to sewing pattern brands, and trying them out too 😂!
Giving one or more patterns is another excellent idea for beginners and experienced sewists alike. Just make sure you know the recipient's clothing tastes and sewing level.
There's no point buying an expert-level pattern for a beginner, especially if they don't like the style.
I've put together a small selection of patterns that I think make lovely gifts this festive season, without taking too much of a risk:
Accessories:
- Bags from Atelier Jumadi, including my favourite, the Carlos bag! You'll also find the Jackie backpack, the Bernie messenger bag, the belt bag and half-moon bag, the heart-shaped pouch and the Pablo bucket bag… So many lovely designs!
- The Voyage and Eugène bags from Ikatee, as well as the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen accessories released this year, which are really lovely!
- Patterns by Coralie Bijasson, Iam patterns and Cha Coud: passionate designers offering stylish patterns with clear instructions. We use these brands a lot in our classes and love them.
Their new patterns are excellent too!
At Coralie Bijasson, you'll find Sanaz and Erell.
At Iam patterns, denim enthusiasts will find the I am Iconic collection.
At Cha Coud, the autumn collection is wonderful. I've already made Anaïs and Inès, and I've got my eye on the Jolène jacket 😂
We stock plenty of other equally wonderful brands with fantastic designers too: DP studio, Atelier Bernie, Named Clothing, Tosca Minni, Studio Schnittreif, Mimoï, Instinct Couture, Clématisse Pattern… With more than 2,700 patterns in stock, don't hesitate to ask us for advice 😊
Pattern budget: from €15 for printed patterns and from €5 for PDFs
Eudoxie by Coralie Bijasson
Carlos by Atelier Jumadi
Chagall by les patronnes
4. Personalise your creations
A little label here, a pompom there, and a patch somewhere else!
Mending, customising or adding a playful touch with a lovingly sewn label has never been easier!
We offer plenty of labels from Bohin, Ikatee, Atelier Brunette and many other brands…
Soft pompoms and patches to sew on or iron on… to delight both adults and children!
An affordable gift that brings real pleasure!
Budget: from €1.50
5. Gift cards
The gift card from C'est du Joly is a wonderful present if you're unsure: the recipient can spend it exactly as they wish!
The card can be used to buy:
- Fabric and haberdashery supplies…
- Yarn and embroidery supplies…
- Printed sewing patterns or PDFs,
- A class at our premises.
The gift card is valid for 12 months and can be used in either of our two shops or online. It can be issued in-store or online, ideal for very last-minute shoppers or those who live far away. It arrives automatically by email: no need to wait for delivery to make someone happy!
We have plenty more lovely gift ideas in the shops, including reference books, fabric remnants, ribbons and trimmings, kits…
Do come and ask for advice in our two shops:
- 328 avenue Georges Henri in Woluwe
- 357 avenue de la Couronne in Ixelles
We'd be delighted to help you choose 😊
So, all that's left is to get started… Get your needles ready!
