suggestions for sewing box must haves

[DBlain]

I set up my machine last night and figured out the threading, the bobbin winding, and sewed some basic stitches. I like having my laptop next to me since I can watch how to videos, sure beats trying to figure out the manuel.

So now I need some suggestions on things that are must haves to make sewing easier. I have a decent scissor but was wondering if anyone uses and electric scissor or rotary cutter. What is the best way to store spools of thread, what is the best type of all around type thread, I would like to build up an inventory of about 15 colors. Should I buy extra needles for the machine.

Please post your favorite sewing essentials, and the best place to buy colored velcro and D rings. Thanks I appreciate any suggestions and help

[yorkietalkjilly]

My sister was a longtime sewer before bad eyes but she always had beeswax & a small little iron from a place called Clotilde's or something like that which she used to press seams & such as she went along.

[rubymoon2072]

i always buy from joann fabric. i get the sulky thread 30 or 40 w...it works well with straight stitches but also the decorative stitches. i also got a rotary cutter and the bias maker by singer. you got the table already with it so thats a bonus. you should have gotten extra needles in your kit? a tip you have three speeds to sew at when using certain decorative stitches you need to use the low speed to get it to actually look the way it is show in the stitch panel. i was using high speed and couldnt understand why it wasnt coming out right. you may want to also invest in a wooden spool holder. they carry them at walmart and you can put i think 30 spools of thread on it and you can see what you have at all times no searching. joanns actually has 50% off thread the last time i looked a couple of days ago. so glad you got a good start!!

[kjc]

A seam ripper, extra needles in all sizes (or for the work you plan to do), etc.

I could go on, but alas, I am a gadget freak.... I can't tell you everything that's in my sewing boxES. lol.

[LILBIT1]

Yes you need extra needles. Ive Had a couple break over the years. I buy thread and fabric at joanns ( watch ur paper for coupons). Get a pair of the sheering sissors. I use those to stop the frays on necherchiefs I make. Get a large and small seam ripper. I use both depending on project. Kids things large ripper. Small stuff for Waffles small ripper. Lots of needles, 2 pin coushions (I always misplace one LOL) Take it S L O W The faster you go the wackier the stitch! And remember you have to share pics of what you make!!!

[Nancy1999]

A good pair of scissors is imperative. Don’t use them for anything else but cutting cloth. Joanne’s has a scissor sharpening service and it’s really worth it when your scissors begin to dull. A tip on cutting a straight line is to snip a section where you want to start the line, and pull out a string or two as if you were gathering the fabric, this will give you a perfectly straight line in which to cut. I also keep a pair of smaller scissors next to the machine to clip threads. I always thought a rotary cutter was more for those who do quilts, but I don’t know.

Besides my scissors, my most useful tool is my seam ripper! Have lots of bobbins so you don’t have to take the thread off a bobbin to use a new color. I like straight pins with a bulb on the end, there are easier to use and if they fall on the floor they are easier to see. If the room you are sewing in has carpet, you might want to get one of those Mr. Sticky rollers. It picks up loose thread which can be a bear to get off the roller bar of your vacuum. Measuring tape and a small sewing gauge are useful. Velcro in all sizes, but I only buy black and white.
I usually buy thread with my fabric at Joanne’s, but Walmart has better deals on thread than Joanne’s. Note how many yards the thread has, I usually buy all purpose thread and tend to use black and white the most. I buy my d-rings online, they are smaller than the ones I can get locally. D Rings, nickle plate, 8 sizes, 2 styles, Welded or Cast

I agree that an iron is important; I iron folded seams before sewing. If you are buying an iron, don’t get one that shuts off every 5 minutes, you spend all your time waiting for the iron to heat.

[Yorkiemom1]

[QUOTE=Nancy1999;4036948]A good pair of scissors is imperative. Don’t use them for anything else but cutting cloth. Joanne’s has a scissor sharpening service and it’s really worth it when your scissors begin to dull. A tip on cutting a straight line is to snip a section where you want to start the line, and pull out a string or two as if you were gathering the fabric, this will give you a perfectly straight line in which to cut. I also keep a pair of smaller scissors next to the machine to clip threads. I always thought a rotary cutter was more for those who do quilts, but I don’t know.


Thanks for a wonderful trip back down memory lane Nancy!! I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard my mother say never to cut ANYTHING but cloth, with her "good sewing scissors"....and one of the most memorable spankings I ever got was when I decided to cut out Valentines with her pinking shears, so I would have that pretty zig-zag edge on my Valentines!!! That was back in 1952!! And that tip about the threrad pulling to get a straight line!!! Learned that from my home ec. teacher in sewing class, back in 1964! I had completely forgotten that until just now, reading your post! Y'all are making me want to start sewing again!!!

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

Thanks for a wonderful trip back down memory lane Nancy!! I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard my mother say never to cut ANYTHING but cloth, with her "good sewing scissors"....and one of the most memorable spankings I ever got was when I decided to cut out Valentines with her pinking shears, so I would have that pretty zig-zag edge on my Valentines!!! That was back in 1952!! And that tip about the threrad pulling to get a straight line!!! Learned that from my home ec. teacher in sewing class, back in 1964! I had completely forgotten that until just now, reading your post! Y'all are making me want to start sewing again!!!

Yeah, I took home ec too, I guess they stopped offering it and it's such a useful class. Even if you never plan to sew, it gives you skills to know if you are looking at something that's well made or not. I had to hide my scissors from my children, but in 30 some years I only had to sharpen them once. They still look brand new. My avatar has my latest creation, "Little Miss Muffet."

[DBlain]

wow lot of good suggestions, thanks I have added several things to my shopping list. what's the beeswax for? and I don't know what a bias is, do you use that a lot.

LOL on the scissors, I was planning on having THAT conversation with my husband tonight, I often find my kitchen utensils like my chicken scissors, colanders and strainers in the garage. I am going to lay down the rule on my sewing scissors and threaten him with bodily harm if he puts his paws on them

I am bad at sewing straight lines so Nancy thanks for the tip, even though I am not sure I understand it 100% but maybe when I try it I will understand.
I am also bad at sewing even size stitches, is that because I am not keeping an even speed on the pedal. LOL my husband says that I never hold a constant speed when I drive so perhaps that's what I tend to do when sewing. Good idea on the carpet roller, I have a large rug under the table so that will come in handy. I just bought the pins with large pink and white ball heads, figured they would be easy to see when sewing over them. As a kid I can remember breaking a lot of needles when hitting the head on the pin.

I can't wait to get back to Joann's and I just got some more coupons, so far no one has made mention of electric scissors, I am still wondering about them

Kathy please share a few more things from you sewing kit, even if I am not ready for the advanced stuff I want to start thinking about it

[DBlain]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Yeah, I took home ec too, I guess they stopped offering it and it's such a useful class. Even if you never plan to sew, it gives you skills to know if you are looking at something that's well made or not. I had to hide my scissors from my children, but in 30 some years I only had to sharpen them once. They still look brand new. My avatar has my latest creation, "Little Miss Muffet."

what brand of scissors to you have. please post a picture of Little miss muffet, it's hard to see how cute it must be in the avatar.

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Yeah, I took home ec too, I guess they stopped offering it and it's such a useful class. Even if you never plan to sew, it gives you skills to know if you are looking at something that's well made or not. I had to hide my scissors from my children, but in 30 some years I only had to sharpen them once. They still look brand new. My avatar has my latest creation, "Little Miss Muffet."

I love your Miss Muffet costume a perfect compliment to your spider.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by DBlain

what brand of scissors to you have. please post a picture of Little miss muffet, it's hard to see how cute it must be in the avatar.

They are just chrome dressmaker scissors, they say, Brazil 406-8 and when I google that I get the name of "Mundial" but I don't see that name on the scissors. Mine came in a 2 piece set, with smaller and larger scissors.

Here's Ralphie as "Little Miss Muffet."

[DBlain]

wow Nance that is quite an outfit, it is darling, Ralphie makes a very cute Little Miss Muffet, is that the tuffet peeking out on the left

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by DBlain

wow Nance that is quite an outfit, it is darling, Ralphie makes a very cute Little Miss Muffet, is that the tuffet peeking out on the left

Thank you, yes that's his little tuffet. Over the years, my machine has really given me so much pleasure, making things for my children and now making things for my new babies. I'm not a great seamstress, but for most things, "good" is good enough!

[kjc]

OMG! Poor Ralphie! Hope he doesn't get a complex by the end of October! LOL! Seriously.... too cute!

The bias direction of a piece of woven fabric, usually referred to simply as "the bias", is at 45 degrees to its warp and weft threads.


Sewing kit: Look at kits, you get quite a few useful items a bit cheaper... some are kind of cheesey though.

Def a magnet for picking up pins quickly if you drop or spill them.

Tomato Pin cushion w/ strawberry ... the strawberry contains emery dust and you can stick pins and needles in it to sharpen them.

I bought the longer quilting pins... with my old hands I find them easier to handle.

Ribbons, trims and buttons for embellishing.

Hand sewing needles, for things you can't do on the machine.

I have an assortment of measuring devices for making scallops, pleats, and different shaped overlays.

If you plan on using a rotary cutter, you will need a self healing mat to cut on.

I'll be sewing tonight .... I'll post more then. Maybe with pics! Lol!