NBR: Sewing machine/sewing "gear" help?

[Deleted]

Here's the deal: my sweet mom taught me to sew when I was 11...but it has all left me since then.  For Christmas this year she gave me my own sewing machine with a cute sewing box to store my stuff.  She also gave me some pins, a pin cushion, and needles.

I am DYING to get started and I am planning on finding someone local to show me how to use it (or if I don't feel like leaving my house I will just read the manual...lol).  My question for you is this:  What are the "essentials" I need to get before I get started?  Obviously a sewing scissors, pins, pin cushion.  But that is where my knowledge ends.  Helpppp.

[mayflowers]

Thread, measuring tape/measuring board and cutter if you are really into it, fabric. I also have extra bobbins.

[mollz14]

Oh gosh. That was so nice if your mom! I have picked up many things for my sewing machine but mostly as extras, left over from projects. I would say a seam gauge has been very helpful. Also a great pair of sewing scissors and extra bobbins. Happy sewing! Have you decided in your first project?

[Starbuck128]

Thread, the highest quality that you can afford.
Thread snippers are helpful. They are just small scissors.
Sewing machine needles.
Tape measure.
Seam ripper.
A cutting mat and clear ruler.
Fabric marker or chalk for marking your fabric. A fabric marker marks will disappear with a little water.

Your sewing scissors should be fabric only scissors. Do not use them to cut any other material or it will dull the blades.

[purpleroses]

Jan 24, 2015 18:24:19 GMT -5 Starbuck128 said:

Thread, the highest quality that you can afford.
Thread snippers are helpful. They are just small scissors.
Sewing machine needles.
Tape measure.
Seam ripper.
A cutting mat and clear ruler.
Fabric marker or chalk for marking your fabric. A fabric marker marks will disappear with a little water.

Your sewing scissors should be fabric only scissors. Do not use them to cut any other material or it will dull the blades.

All great recommendations.  I also like to have extra bobbins and lots of pins (when doing projects like a blanket or using slippery fabric like minky I always need a ton of them).

Good luck!

[beebe918]

Rotary mat (self healing)
Rotary cutter
And in addition to a clear ruler I have various size clear squares that make cutting quilt squares much easier.

[Ee]

Jan 24, 2015 18:24:19 GMT -5 Starbuck128 said:

Thread, the highest quality that you can afford.
Thread snippers are helpful. They are just small scissors.
Sewing machine needles.
Tape measure.
Seam ripper.
A cutting mat and clear ruler.
Fabric marker or chalk for marking your fabric. A fabric marker marks will disappear with a little water.

Your sewing scissors should be fabric only scissors. Do not use them to cut any other material or it will dull the blades.

This is a good starter list!! I just want to reiterate the extra sewing machine needles!! Mine always break at the worst possible time and I never have enough backups on hand!

[Deleted]

Jan 24, 2015 18:22:00 GMT -5 mollz14 said:

Oh gosh. That was so nice if your mom! I have picked up many things for my sewing machine but mostly as extras, left over from projects. I would say a seam gauge has been very helpful. Also a great pair of sewing scissors and extra bobbins. Happy sewing! Have you decided in your first project?

Thank you ladies for the responses! This helps me feel a little less overwhelmed as I get my kit together.

mollz14 I want to try something simple but DH thinks I might as well tackle something challenging...haha. The end goal is to make nursery curtains and to slipcover the cushions on the glider we just got secondhand. I will probably start with something smaller though--i found some easy patterns for crib rail protectors.

[Deleted]

Jan 24, 2015 18:21:22 GMT -5 mayflowers said:

Thread, measuring tape/measuring board and cutter if you are really into it, fabric. I also have extra bobbins.

Bobbins are empty correct? Or do you buy bobbins to match the thread you are using? (I feel like this is such a stupid question...haha I am almost embarrassed to ask it)

[mollz14]

Jan 24, 2015 23:10:07 GMT -5 @jraeohyeaaa said:

Jan 24, 2015 18:21:22 GMT -5 mayflowers said:

Thread, measuring tape/measuring board and cutter if you are really into it, fabric. I also have extra bobbins.

Bobbins are empty correct? Or do you buy bobbins to match the thread you are using? (I feel like this is such a stupid question...haha I am almost embarrassed to ask it)

Don't feel embarrassed. I am fairly confident in my answer that you buy them empty and you thread them with your machine. Atleast that is what I've always done. But besides a class in 10th grade I'm self taught so I could be wrong!

[mollz14]

Jan 24, 2015 23:07:59 GMT -5 @jraeohyeaaa said:

Jan 24, 2015 18:22:00 GMT -5 mollz14 said:

Oh gosh. That was so nice if your mom! I have picked up many things for my sewing machine but mostly as extras, left over from projects. I would say a seam gauge has been very helpful. Also a great pair of sewing scissors and extra bobbins. Happy sewing! Have you decided in your first project?

Thank you ladies for the responses! This helps me feel a little less overwhelmed as I get my kit together.

mollz14 I want to try something simple but DH thinks I might as well tackle something challenging...haha. The end goal is to make nursery curtains and to slipcover the cushions on the glider we just got secondhand. I will probably start with something smaller though--i found some easy patterns for crib rail protectors.

Picking the first project can be hard but I say dive right in. My projects never turn out perfect but they achieve the goal! Keep us posted on how it goes.

[mollz14]

Jan 24, 2015 20:57:18 GMT -5 @acukel said:

Everything they said! I just wanted to add how much I miss sewing, my machine needs repair. The thread always bunches and knots on the bobbin side. I try to adjust the tension but it never seems to change anything.
I just haven't found the time to take it somewhere. Plus my cat always sits on whatever I want to work on! Someday I will have a craft room/office.
Good luck with your machine!

I have the same issue!! I was making a quilt right before Christmas and I was getting VERY frustrated with my machine. I've had it for 6 years. I got it a "tune up" once and it worked much better but it cost about half as much as the machine. But these posts have gotten me excited. Maybe the motivation I needed

[kate6214]

I don't sew, but I crochrt and knit and YouTube has taught me so many thing I'm sure there are tutorials out there for the basics.

[j3nnyb3nny]

Jan 24, 2015 18:24:19 GMT -5 Starbuck128 said:

Thread, the highest quality that you can afford.
Thread snippers are helpful. They are just small scissors.
Sewing machine needles.
Tape measure.
Seam ripper.
A cutting mat and clear ruler.
Fabric marker or chalk for marking your fabric. A fabric marker marks will disappear with a little water.

Your sewing scissors should be fabric only scissors. Do not use them to cut any other material or it will dull the blades.

This is a great starter list.
Just to reiterate never snip threads with your fabric scissors. DH did this to mine a few times and I can notice a notch near the end now.
Also a magnet is a must! The amount of times I have dropped a pin pot on the floor and had to hunt through carpet to find them all is crazy. It picks them up so much easier and then you won't have to worry so much with LO around later one.
if you have a sewing shop near you there is usually someone that can advise on things like specific needles for your machine depending on fabric etc.
Also try YouTube videos for tutorials, then you can even learn in pyjamas!

[queenrichie]

Seam Ripper. That will be your best friend when you're learning.