Hi everyone and welcome to your first Lunchtime Lessons!
Monday----- Sewing
Tuesday ------Knitting
Wednesday -----Crocheting
Thursday-----Quilting
Friday------Crafting.........
taking the weekends off!
So on to today's lesson!
What should you have in your sewing kit!
Whether you sew by hand or machine there are basics you need to make up a good kit!
Measuring devices---I like to keep 6" and 12" hard rulers (I have wooden ones) in my kit, along with the standard fexible measuring tapes......they used to be made from cloth, but most of today's tapes are usually a vinyl ( why is that word hard to spell?).
Common Pins---- a must for holding things together so you can properly sew them in place! I like nice long ones with the pearly heads to hold the parts together and make them easier to find at the machine! (don't want to be breaking needles on hidden pins!)
Pincushion ----- makes using the common pin more accessible and a good place to put them when you remove them from your work. The best pincushions have sand, crushed pecan or walnut shells in them....this keeps your pins and needles from rusting.
Needles.....Hand Sewing----------- sharp needles in various sizes are a must!
Machine Sewing----------again a variety of sizes and types is a must! the needle used for cotton fabric is not the one you would use to sew denim.
Needle Threader-------makes it easier for getting that silly wimpy thread into that tiny little eye of the needle......must have been an eye doctor who created the needle anyway.......if all else fails cut your thread on an angle (YES this is possible!) and most of the time it will slide right in!
Many of today's sewing machines come with built in needle threaders......take the time to learn to use it! It will save you headaches further on down the road!
Thread--------there are different types of threads for different fabrics.........be sure to put a general thread in your kit for hand sewing and when you buy fabric, buy the thread that goes with it to insure a smooth sewing session. Polyester is usally the standard thread choice. Basic black, white, cream are good to start with if you are buying by the spool.........many times you can get a kit with several small spools of various colors..but if you intend to do any major sewing, invest in the larger spool of thread.........nothing is worse than running out in the middle of the project.
Sissors--- a great pair of sharp dressmaker sissors is a real MUST HAVE for your kit.........and lock them up, hide them......do anything you need to, to keep anyone from using them on paper! they for your fabric only! I like to keep a full size and a pair of 6" snips in my kit.
By the way if you are left handed, you can get sissors especially for you! Makes doing the job easier with the right tools!
Seam Ripper-----oh boy did mine get a workout this past Saturday when I sat down to sew it wasn't a pretty sight! A good seam ripper will have a sharp point to get under the stiches and remove them without damaging your fabric.............NEVER rip a seam apart by pulling the two pieces of fabric and breaking the stitches......(your guilty of that I can see it on your face! LOL). That method will either tear the fabric or weaken the threads of the fabric and that may cause an issue later on down the road.
good idea to have but not a necessity:
Thimble.........I could never get used to using them........I do have a leather one for hand quilting for when I am doing the ties on my quilts. (posting pics of those soon!)
Fabric Marker pens-------the best kind to get are the washable ink kind. The lines will wash away and never be seen again. These are great to have to help you with your seam lines! no more crooked seams!
Safety Pins------I keep several different sizes in my kit in case I pop a zipper or some other castastophe happens.......ha I even have some in my purse! just in case!
Dressmakers Chalk.------yes this is the good old fashion chalk to make darts, seams and more! The good ones come in a little case with a sharpener build in!
Machine Sewers----should also have sewing machine oil to keep theirs machines running smoothly!
and of course you NEED a case or box to keep it all in one place with easy access.
Machine sewers: don't forge to keep your manual closeby in case you need to trouble shoot.
I just thought of something else........but it seems to have escaped me............ahh I have it!
Put some Press on hem tape in you kit........when you need to do a fast hem or repair it will be an invaluable item to have on hand!
Well that's if for today! My lunch is now over and back to my machine I go!
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