Machine Kit

Machine Kit
What does a well stocked sewing kit include?

I am getting into sewing, making handbags, dolls, kids clothes. I find myself running back to the store for supplies a lot. So, my question is- what should I have in my sewing kit?

Also, I want to buy a Sewing Machine that is around $150- any suggestions for brand, model, what I should be looking for, etc… I sew everything by hand now and I need a machine!

Any other beginner sewing tips would be appreciated!

i am going to answer the question about the machine first. the other posters were right. brother is a good machine and very easy to learn. i did manage to wear out a brother purchased at walmart. because of the time of year i would check sears. janome makes the machines for kenmore. for the price range you can’t beat the stitch quality of a janome for the price. sometime in january they will probably put their machine 1/2 price. i’m not saying it is the best but for the money you will spend it has the best stitch quality.

now for your sewing kit.
you will end up with many sewing supplies. this hobby is very addictive. i store my supplies in the plastic shoe boxes, grouping like things together.

box #1
thread. of course you want as many colors as you can afford but somethings people never think of are: a spool of black and a spool of white button or upholstery thread. this is a heavier thread and better for putting buttons back on that get alot of use. if you have black and white you can either use dark or light. polyfiliment thread. this is a clear thread. almost like a really thin fishing wire. this comes in handy sometimes when you just don’t have the right color or you don’t want the thread to show.

Box #2
this is where i keep thing for working with patterns. in this box i keep my seam gauage, pins (i use pins with heads and without heads) 2 tape measures, a fabric one of course to measure bodies and i also keep a small metal tape measure (the kind you get at the hardware store)
3 pair of scisors. your fabric cutting scisors also called dressmaking scisors, i keep a smaller pair of just paper scisors to work with patterns, and a pair of pinking scisors. you could also keep pattern weights in this box but i don’t use them. a roll of scotch tape to modify patterns. i keep a magnetic pin cusion in this box to make it easier go get pins when working with patterns. you will also want some fabric marking pens.

Box #3
this box i keep for hand sewing. i keep an additional seam gauage in this box. an assortment of needles. patches. a wrist pin cushion. a small pair of scisors to clip threads. a needle threader. seam ripper and a pair of tweezers. the tweezers come in really handy to remove small threads.

Box #4
this i call my embellishment box. i keep buttons, snaps, hooks and eyes, velcro and elastic in this box.

Box #5
this is my sewing machine box. in this box i keep things i need for my sewing machine. you won’t have this box yet but here are some things to put in it. sewing machine needles, tweezers, extra feet for Your Machine that didn’t come with it, a needle threader, small pair of scisor to clip threads.

other things you will find helpful are.
a good iron and pressing cloth
you may need a Rotary Cutter, ruler, and mat, i have one that is a Cutting Mat on one side and is padded on the other side to use for ironing.
i keep interfacing on hand.
a box for fabric scraps.
fray check to keep seams from fraying.
yahoo has some great sewing groups, you may want to consider joining a couple of them. people on the groups are great at helping others

have fun with your new hobby and feel free to e-mail anytime.

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