Gift Guide 2009: 10 Rainbow Assortments

There is not a single sewist in the world who doesn’t yearn for assortment packs/bundles when we see them in stores (I’m sure this applies to all crafters — to all people, actually!). Yet we don’t buy things like this for ourselves because we are trying to show restraint. Which is why they make perfect gifts, not only because they are a-little-bit-of-a-lot-of-things but because they’re solid colors — so no worries about picking a print someone won’t like. Below are nine fabric world equivalents of a box of brand new shiny crayons, ranging from stocking-stuffer to major-gift prices.

Wool-rayon blend felt bundle from Giant Dwarf. Pack of 15 9×12″ sheets, $12. Lots of the shops listed in our wool felt source guide offer bundles too.

Gutermann Natural Cotton Thread Set – 100 Colors, $229.95, from Joann’s. Or, if you prefer a shinier thread, try the Sulky Slimline 30-weight cotton Dream Package, $269.99.

Heart pinwheel, $2.50, from Feltgirl on Etsy (who also has lovely felt bundles).

Kona Cotton Color Card, $15, from Hancock’s of Paducah (Pink Chalk Fabrics also carries them, but they’re out of stock right now). No, I don’t think it’s weird to give a color sample card for a holiday gift, but if you do, there is always the Kona Cotton Starter Pack, also from Pink Chalk Fabrics.

… and reader Rebecca reminded me via the comments that The Fat Quarter Shop and several other shops now have Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton Roll-Ups (rolls of 2.5″x45″ strips) and fat quarter packs.

Felt balls from Handbehg Felts on Etsy, 3cm Felt Balls/10-Piece Multi Mix, $14.75.

Assortment of Cosmo Multi Work Embroidery Floss. Cosmo is Lecien’s brand of embroidery floss, and Multi Work is a two-strand floss, which is awesome because I don’t like pulling six-strand floss apart and dealing with tangles! Pack of 32 colors, $115, or $3.80 per spool, at Bunny Hill Designs.

Color wheel pack of hand-dyed fat quarters, $44.95 from Ruby Mountain Dye Works on Etsy.

3-in-1 Color Tool by Joen Wolfrom from C&T Publishing. This fanbook helps you choose and combine colors, and includes value finders (clear red and green sheets of plastic that help you determine how much contrast a fabric has). $16.95 from the C&T Publishing Shop.

Pebeo Setacolor fabric paints work on all fiber types. Set of 10 opaque colors $33.84, set of 10 transparent colors $44.95, from Dick Blick.