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Gift ideas for the truly committed enthusiast are often difficult to find. However, with a bit of ingenuity and thought, you'll be able to come up with ideas to wow her at birthdays and Christmas.

UNUSUAL MATERIALS

A really keen seamstress will have lots of the things she uses everyday. The things that will be missing out of her sewing box will be the unusual things. These might be things that she hasn't thought about using, or things that she can't get hold of. Perhaps you could find some antique buttons in a shop or on eBay. You might have live in a cultural quarter, and have access to unusual Oriental or Middle Eastern silks. If you search the Internet, you could find some out-of-print patterns, or perhaps you travel and could get fabrics from other countries.

BOOKS

Books full of inspiration always go down well, but try to avoid ones that are at too low a level to interest her. If she has been sewing for some time, she will doubtless have a lot of the standard books, and will know most of the basic sewing techniques. Choose a book that is out-of-print or by a local author. You could buy her a book on a related topic. Avoid books that are full of pretty photographs but have no textual content. A real enthusiast will want quite a lot of detail.

MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION

Ask your local newsagent or look on the Internet to find which magazine might interest your friend. A subscription can usually be arranged over the phone and it is possible that you could pay monthly for it, rather than all at once. Subscriptions usually offer one or two free copies of the magazines,too, so the gift will be extra valuable!

CONFERENCE TICKET

You could buy your friend a ticket to a conference and offer to go with her. Make a weekend of it, and book a night at a hotel. Be prepared to talk sewing all through dinner and spend the evening looking through brochures she has picked up during the day!

KITS

Depending on which type of sewing your friend likes, a kit might be nice. Make sure it is at the right level for her - one that is too easy will be a waste of money. You might consider buying a kit in a related craft eg cross stitch if she usually does needlepoint. This will help her extend her skills and offer her a whole new realm of activity.

DAYLIGHT BULB/MAGNIFYING GLASS

Seamstresses always need good light to work by, and it's not always there! Daylight bulbs are expensive, and the goose-neck fittings that are the most useful are, too. Even if your friend has one, another one for another room would be welcome, as she wouldn't have to keep unclipping it to move chairs. A magnifying glass on a stand is also a good present.

YOUR TIME

Offer your time as a chauffeur. For example, your friend might want to go to a club or society, or to a fabric shop in the next town. Write out a nice card with the words 'This card entitled you to ten trips into town' inside. Write out ten numbers and she can cross them off when you take her. In this way, she won't feel bad about asking for lifts.

CLOTHES SHOW TICKETS

If your friend is a fashion fiend, take her to a clothes show. Make an evening of it with dinner beforehand, as if it were a theater trip.

Whatever you buy, I am sure it will be gratefully received. A seamstress can never have too many materials in too many colors. Buttons and trimmings, fabric and cottons will all go down well.

Happy hunting!

Learn more about this author, Susan Hibberd.
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