Any tips on sewing set for dd?

[3bunnies]

Dd1 enjoys sewing - mainly on my machine, I am thinking about getting her a little sewing set for her 10th birthday- although I imagine that for some years she will also raid mine. Wondering what size to get and if she will need one at secondary school (I remember having to bring a sewing kit to school among the huge uniform list I had but no idea if they still do)- two birds one stone!

Seen this half price locally. Or bit smaller but quite cute or bigger but nothing inside and probably too big to take to school.

I bought an empty sewing box for my DD a few Christmases ago. I put in dressmaking scissors, small pointed scissors, glass headed pins and a pin cushion, a tape measure, a seam ripper, thread (black, white, red, pink and blue) and a few fat quarters of fabric. She loved it and still uses it.

You could add some buttons in a cute tin, safety pins, felt squares and pop fasteners if there is room.

My DDs did not have to take a sewing kit into school, but they didn't take textiles beyond the compulsory lessons in the early years of secondary school - it may be different if they take textiles for GCSE.

There is a beautiful first sewing basket here with lots of lovely ideas.

I bought a lovely basket for DD1 in Shaws the Drapers for half the price of the same one in John Lewis! Sadly it isn't on their website.

I still use the sewing basket I was given at the same age. Most of the contents have been replaced though. My pincushion was a gift from my great aunt when I was about 18. I'm now (gulp) late thirties.

Therefore my suggestion would be to buy a decent box that will last and put some basics in (needles, pins, pincushion) you have stocking fillers for years here.

I've just made my aunt laugh by plaintifully requesting she replace "sharp things" in my sewing basket for my upcoming birthday - I indeed new pins, hand sewing needles and embroidery scissors.

(We do gift lists in my family in case anyone thinks I'm rude)

Thanks for all the ideas. Maybe I had better get a bigger one although maybe a tough order to appeal to the 10yr old and the 30yr old dd1 in terms of style. Having said that my box is just the cheapest decent sized one I could afford! Good idea about providing a source of stocking fillers in the future. though she will have to make the stocking first as her old one has holes in

My box is definitely not to adult tastes but it is big enough and has a lot of positive memories so I keep it.

I think it's best to buy an empty box (a vintage one off eBay?) and add all the things on TheWoolyBacksWife's list. The kits you can buy are often poor quality as is the C Kidston one.

I would add a ruler like this one and maybe a cutting mat and a marker pen like this one.

I actually left sewing needles off that list

Every sewing kit/craft kit should include a pom pom maker. They are the best little gadget I have seen in a while and will have you addicted to making them! Great fun.

Thanks for all the ideas. I think I will go for an empty box and add a few basics and build it up over the years as her interests develop. I imagine that she will borrow from mine for a while and then I will start borrowing her pom pom makers

I so remember getting my first real sewing kit at that age. It was just a cardboard box but I had a jar of buttons, a few threads, proper dressmaking scissors (still using), pins, needles, tape, measure etc. Completely agree that anything in a ready-stocked kit is invariably the cheapest of the cheap, and fairly useless for real sewing. Maybe an inspiring book or magazine?

If she gets really into sewing it won't all fit in a box anyway how big is her bedroom?