Sewing 101 - Sewing Basket Basics

Kim the inadvertent farmer here.  We’re starting a new series today at Not Dabbling in Normal…sewing 101!  I am very excited about this because my dear friend Melissa has agreed to write it…she is a seriously great seamstress and I am thrilled that she will be joining us.  Thanks Melissa!

PS…remind me to tell you all sometimes how Melissa and I met, it is a tale you won’t believe!

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Gosh, where do I begin?  The first post is always the hardest so I guess I should introduce myself.  I’m Melissa, wife of 13.5 years and mommy to four sweeties.  I author my blog  Susie-Homemaker and was asked by my good friend Kim to join the team here and post bi-monthly on the topic of sewing.

My sewing journey began many moons ago when my Grandma May (she’ll be 81 at the end of the month) bought me some fabric and a blouse pattern for my birthday.  I was in fourth grade and recall always digging through her pattern drawers and dreaming about sewing.  She obviously saw my interest and decided it was time to give me some sewing lessons.  After school I would ride my bicycle to her house and work with her work on my shirt.  In middle school, I had to take Home Ec class where I gained a little more experience, but for the most part I’m self-taught (we all learn a lot by trial and error).

I sewed off and on throughout the time I lived at home, but the bug really didn’t bite me until after I was married.  For my first married Christmas I got a sewing machine from my in-laws.  It was very similar to the  machine I used at home (a late 70′s Singer), so it was perfect for me.  I dabbled in sewing, but wasn’t too successful so I opted to do a few home dec projects when the desire to sew struck.  Then in 2002, I had two boys in diapers and decided to try my hand at sewing some cloth diapers for them.  It went so well that I jumped in with both feet and I haven’t looked back.  These days I mostly sew for myself, but my children do still reap some of the benefits.

Enough about me, let’s get started with the basics!

If you plan to sew, you really need to acquire some basic supplies.  Besides needing a sewing machine (well you could hand sew if you like, but you won’t find me doing any more of that than necessary), some basic supplies you’ll need to have on hand include:

• a basic sewing reference book
• thread and bobbins for your machine
• machine and hand sewing needles
• seam ripper
• pins and pin cushion
• measuring tape
• sewing scissors (my best tip – buy good quality scissors and only cut your fabric with them)
• marking pen (I like one that has both water and air soluble tips) and/or tailor’s chalk
• iron and ironing board
• sewing box or basket to put your supplies in

Most of the items above are pretty self-explanatory, but I want to touch briefly on the sewing reference book.  The one pictured is the one I use.  It’s from 1976 and I bought it off eBay some time ago.  Yes it’s dated both inside and out, but the techniques don’t really change.  It has bailed me out time and time again, a book I treasure and wouldn’t want to part with.  You might find something similar at a yard sale or used book store, so there really is no need to go out and buy something brand new (unless you want to of course).  A good reference book will help you excel in your sewing.  Granted with the internet we now have unlimited information at our fingertips, but when you’re sewing it’s often just quicker to pull out that reference book instead of firing up your computer and searching Google for what you need.

Some other supplies I use regularly in my sewing room include:

• rotary cutter and mat
• 24″ long quilter’s ruler
• pattern weights (used to hold down pattern pieces instead of pins)
• seam and hem gauges
• dressmaker’s ham and ham holder
• seam roll
• tailor board and point press
• press cloth
• point turner
• flexible ruler

Most of the above mentioned items can be found on the notions wall at your local sewing supply store.  Big chain stores such as Hancock Fabrics and Joann’s often have 50% off the entire notions wall several times a year so it’s a great time to stock up on the supplies without breaking the bank.  If you have one of those stores in your area, I encourage you to sign up for their mailer which includes all the current sale information and a coupon or two to use on regularly priced items.

I hope you found this post informative.  I’m just starting with the basics of sewing and progressing forward.  If you have any suggestions for future posts, please feel free to leave me a comment.  Next time I’ll discuss information on sewing patterns (one of my favorite things to shop for!).

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