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Sign In Are you looking for a gift for a new quilter? Are you interested in some gift ideas that will make them SO happy? I’m here to help! This blog post is all about great gifts for a longarm quilter, with some gifts that are perfect for the quilter who only uses a domestic machine.
Gifts for a Beginner Longarm Quilter
For a new longarm quilter, finding the right tools and accessories can make a huge difference in their quilting journey. Here’s a list of the 12 best gifts you can give your new quilter.
Why I’m Qualified to Advise
Hi, I’m Mary Beth Krapil, Handi Quilter National Educator. I have been quilting for 45+ years and longarming for 20+ years. As a 15+ year HQ educator, I love to share my knowledge and experience by teaching all over the world and writing here on the Handi Quilter blog.
Today, I am sharing my favorite tools that I recommend to new quilters to get them started on the right foot and equipped to grow their longarm quilting skills.
The Best Gifts for New Quilters
Here are 12 gift ideas that can enhance their quilting experience and help them get the most out of their longarm quilting machine:
1. Gift Idea for a New Quilter: Needles
First up on my gift guide for new quilters? Needles!
They are a basic staple that is needed for longarm quilting. Good results depend on using the correct needle. A good rule of thumb is “every quilt deserves a new needle.” Needles are inexpensive compared to the damage a worn or bent needle can do to a quilt or to a machine. Not to mention the frustration and time suck of breaking thread, shredding thread, batting pokeys, poor tension, or skipped stitches because of a worn needle.
Get your quilter prepared with an assortment of needles that are the right needle system for their machine. Handi Quilter machines use needle System 134. You won’t go wrong if you purchase the needles from a Handi Quilter retailer or online directly from Handi Quilter. There are 3 types of needles and they come in various sizes. Here is what I recommend you get:
Standard (R)Â
Ball Point (FG or FFG)
High Speed (MR)
For each type, you’ll want to get a package of size 16 and a package of size 18. These are the sizes used most by quilters. Feeling really generous? Get a pack of each size 12-14-16-18-20. Your quilter will be over the moon!
You can get these at your local Handi Quilter retailer (find one near you HERE) or order online HERE.
2. Thread as a Gift for a New Quilter
If you’re looking for a gift for your new quilter, thread is DEFINITELY a great idea! That said, not all thread is created equal. You’ll want to get thread that is specifically designed for quilting.
Quilting uses lots of thread. A selection of high-quality threads in various colors and types (like polyester, cotton, and specialty threads) can be an invaluable resource for a quilter. I recommend Superior Threads as the best source of superior quality longarm quilting threads.
If you’re at a loss as far as color or type, a gift certificate is always a good option!
Get this gift for beginner quilters HERE.
3. New Quilter Gift Ideas: Horizontal Spool Pin
Speaking of thread! Your quilter may already have a variety of spools of thread. Most longarm quilters use cones (basically a giant spool of thread) since quilting takes a lot of thread. But, there will be times when we want to use a spool. The Horizonal Spool Pin is a device that is needed when using spools to deliver the thread properly.
Get your new quilter this essential online HERE.
4. Gift Idea for Beginner Quilters: Longarm Quilting Rulers
Precision rulers designed specifically for longarm quilting help with straight lines and geometric designs. Your quilter may already own a variety of rotary cutting rulers for cutting fabric. They are not safe to use for longarm quilting.
Special 1/4 inch thick rulers are required, to keep the ruler away from the moving needle. Handi Quilter offers a variety of shapes and sizes and sets of rulers.
I recommend getting the Handi VersaTool as your first ruler.
Adding a Long straight edge ruler,
and a circle set.
These 3 will make a great starter set!
5. Gift for Beginner Quilters: Handi Grip
To go along with the rulers, you’ll want to include a package or two of Handi Grip. Handi Grip is applied to your rulers and templates to provide a light friction to the ruler surface that is in contact with the fabric. This friction gives the user better control and reduces the chances of rulers slipping.
Put another way, rulers can be very “slidey,” which is frustrating for new quilters. Adding Handi Grip to their ruler helps add a bit of friction.
6. Gift for Beginner Quilters: Ruler Base
When using rulers, the quilter MUST use a ruler base accessory to extend the base of the machine and provide stability for their rulers. Not just new quilters, but all quilters need this accessory. It’s a safety issue. The stability of the ruler base decreases the chance of the ruler getting between the foot and the needle. If that happens, the needle will strike the ruler and break the needle and break the ruler, and can cause expensive damage to the machine.
When ordering you’ll need to know the model of machine your new quilter has. Ruler bases are specific to each machine.
Get a ruler base for your new quilter at your local Handi Quilter retailer (find one near you HERE) or order online HERE
7. Gift for Beginner Quilter: Batting by the Roll
Quilt Batting is the layer of insulation between the quilt top and back of the quilt. This is the middle layer of your “quilt sandwich” that adds warmth to the quilt. Longarm quilters prefer batting that comes on rolls rather than pre-packaged sizes of batting. Less prep work is needed to get wrinkles out of the batting on a roll. Warning: The first time you see a roll of batting delivered to your house, you’ll think someone sent you a booster rocket from the space shuttle! No worries, it will store neatly on the pole at the bottom of the longarm frame.
Many types of batting are available in a variety of fiber content and lofts (thickness of the batting). This is another area of personal preference so you may want to ask your new quilter what kind of batting they prefer. Or go with the gift card!
8. Gift for Beginner Quilters: Handi Hammock
This hammock is installed at the lower part of the longarm frame. It keeps the batting that is going into the quilt, up off the floor. It’s compatible with 10-foot and 12-foot HQ Studio, HQ Studio2, HQ Studio3, HQ Gallery and HQ Gallery2 quilting frames. Not for use with Little Foot or Loft Frames. It helps to keep the batting clean and away from pets and small children. Quite Handi! 😉
Treat your new quilter! Purchae a Handi Hammock at your local retailer (find one near you HERE) or order online HERE
9. Gift for Beginner Quilters: Cordless Compressed Air Duster 
Cordless compressed air duster (example)
Quilting creates lint, lots of fluffy lint. It is important, to keep the machine in top working condition, to clean the lint from the bobbin area and the tracks. If your new quilter has a newer longarm system, it is possible to accomplish this chore with compressed air. Some older model longarm machines should be cleaned with a brush to avoid getting lint in the inner workings of the machine. Buying can after can of compressed air can get expensive. This little rechargeable gadget is fantastic and better for our earth. These are readily available at big box stores and, of course, Amazon (what isn’t?).
10. Gift for Beginner Quilters: Pins
The traditional way to attach the quilt pieces to the longarm frame is by pinning to the leaders attached to the poles. There are lots of alternative ways to do this, but pinning is the way most quilters do it. A new box of pins is always a nice treat. These 2-inch pins with pear-shaped heads are the easy way to attach quilts to leaders. They are sharp enough to pierce multiple layers of fabric and long enough to take a deep bite into the quilt and leader.
Get this gift for your beginner quilter HERE.
11. Gift for Beginner Quilters: Removable Marking Tools
When quilting, you sometimes need some guidelines to help you keep things symmetrical, sized right, or going in the right direction. It’s paramount that you’ll be able to remove those marks when the quilting is done without leaving any signs that you marked the fabric. There are many options on the market. I have a couple of go-to marking tools I use all the time.
Handi Iron-Off Pencils
These are my faves for colored fabrics. They make nice visible lines or marks and iron away completely without a trace. You can find these pencils for your new quilter HERE
Water Soluble Pens
For white or very light color fabrics the Iron-off pencils don’t show up well. So I switch to a water soluble marking pen. The key to using these is to TEST on your fabrics to be sure it will erase completely with water. That’s a good rule for any marking tool. Always TEST. Also read the package and follow any rules they have. They come in Blue (water-soluble) and Purple (“air-erase”) style. The purple “air-erase” make marks that fade away from just the humidity in the air. If you live in a very humid place, the marks will go away pretty fast. The blue ones require you to actually apply water to the marks to make them go away.
You will be able to find these pens at your local quilt shop.
12. Gift for Beginner Quilters: Tool Tray
It’s always a good thing to have your tools right at hand in a convenient place. The Handi Quilter Tool Tray 2 fits over the poles of the frame to keep all the essentials at your command. Tool Tray2 comes with 16 dividers so that you can customize the space and organize just the way you want. Better yet, the Tool Tray2 will fit any size frame, regardless of make or model!
Keep your new quilter organized. Find this great gift HERE.
13. Gift for Beginner Quilters: Quilt Retreat or Handi Quilter Academy
Generally, quilters LOVE to socialize with other quilters! Getting them a gift certificate to a quilt retreat (we host our retreats at the Handi Quilter Education Studio in North Salt Lake), or to a conference like Handi Quilter Academy can be a great way to gift your quilter the gift of community and education!
Check out Handi Quilter Academy here!
Share these blog post links with your new quilter:
For extra points, your new quilter will appreciate reading these blog posts that inform and inspire! They will love you for it!
Are YOU the new quilter?
This list was focused on the gift giver. If you are the new quilter be sure to share this blog post with your loved ones and friends. Make their gift giving easy for them and good for you; get the things you really want!
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Remember to Quilt Every Day! – Until next time, Mary Beth