Sewing Kit Advice

7/19/2012

Is that a pizza cutter?!

About five years ago I was given a sewing machine for my wedding shower. It sat completely unused in my closet for years. A friend of mine said she needed a sewing machine, so I happily gave her the lonely one up in my closet.

Well, about 6 months ago I decided that I wanted to give sewing a real go. I typically need hemming done on a lot of my clothing, and I was intrigued by the idea of altering my own dresses to make them more in-line with my view of modesty (specifically inserts to cover up 'the girls').

Anyway, I purchased a wonderful new sewing machine and finally found a beginner's class for someone who has never touched a sewing machine before.

I learned, though, during registration, that I needed to at least come prepared with a "BSK."

"What the heck is a BSK?" I asked.

The nice woman responded with, "Oh, that's short for Basic Sewing Kit."

Wow, I really must be a newb.

Anyway, I now have about three weeks to put together a basic sewing kit. I'll be honest. I don't even know what goes into a basic sewing kit. But I want to learn!!! I've googled various BSKs and got a whole bunch of info. However, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by all that information.

I know some of my readers are sewing masters. Can any of you be so kind as to share some of your favorite tools of the trade? Give me your version of a BSK so I have a better idea what I need to start off with?

And please feel free to dumb your language down to cave-man levels. That picture above? I can probably only name about half the things (and only because the pin cushion is pictured twice).

Thanks in advance for your help!!!

Oh, and PS: Bobbins.

I thought those little spooly-things came pre-wound with thread. Can you get those, or did I just make that up? Do I need to purchase the thread (also spooled) separately and then re-wind it around the bobbins? Or have I completely confused the point of what a bobbin is?

When I tell you I have no clue what I'm up against, I cannot possibly exaggerate my lack of knowledge. So really... help the poor, drowning girl out.

15 Comments

Janet

7/19/2012 08:41:54 am

"Is that a pizza cutter?"

That is too funny!!!

It's a rotary cutter and it's used in a similar way to a pizza cutter. Instead of pizza, it cuts a bunch of cloth, though. I use an Omnigrid one, but you've gotta have a good board to use it on.

Straight pins (I use the glass bead type)

Obviously a measuring tape

Two pairs of scissors (for cloth and other randoms so you keep the good ones sharp)

Seam ripper (pulls out the seams without murdering your cloth)

Magnetic pin holder (I prefer these to cushions)

Patterns!!!

Those are the most important aside from the basic "thread and needle" that are almost too "duh" to mention.

Gina

7/20/2012 03:47:00 am

It's a pizza cutter. I'm telling you it's a glorified pizza cutter. Ha.

Thanks for this list. Is there a reason you prefer magnetic vs. fluffy cushions?

Kelli

7/19/2012 12:14:22 pm

http://www.household-management-101.com/basic-sewing-kit.html

?

Gina

7/20/2012 03:47:22 am

Ha ha - this was the same list another friend sent me. :) Thank you, Kelli! Glad to see you stick around.

Nicole P.

7/19/2012 03:24:15 pm

Most bobbins come empty and you fill them on your sewing machine using whatever color spool you want. You machine should have come with empty ones for you to fill (mine did).

Janet's list is pretty spot-on for a beginner list, but I wouldn't say a rotary cutter is necessary for beginners, especially since you use a special mat for cutting with it. I would add a disappearing ink pen or marker for marking when you want to cut/sew on your fabric. It shows up better than fabric pencils and washes off in the washing machine.

Let me know if you need any help. I taught myself to use my machine and how to sew lots of basic stuff- curtains, pillows, bed sheets, skirts, etc.

Gina

7/20/2012 03:46:09 am

Ah ha... I haven't even taken mine out of the box yet, so I have no idea what it comes with. I figured I'd wait until the class lest I break something without realizing it.

The disappearing ink is a good idea!!! I didn't know they made those.

And considering me thoroughly impressed by your talent. Did your mom sew? Did you watch her, or did you seriously just decide one day "I should probably teach myself this" ?

Nicole P.

7/20/2012 04:54:33 am

My grandma sewed everything! She made all my mom and aunt's clothes when they were younger and used to make stuff for all us kids too. She decided that she wanted to make quilts and without having done, she made about a dozen of them for everyone in the family. I think I got her talent because my mom doesn't sew anything :) I never watched my grandma but I wish I had. I just decided to try it after my grandma passed away and we found a bunch fabric left over.

Anyway, I started reading blogs and getting sewing books from the library and after a bunch of fails, I'm getting the hang of it :)

Nicole P.

7/20/2012 05:04:19 am

And I forgot to mention, if you plan on sewing some clothes, I would suggest getting some pinking shears (the scissors that have the sawtooth edge on them). They keep the fabric from fraying when you wash it so it keeps the insides seams neat.

Michelle link

7/20/2012 02:17:35 am

http://www.amazon.com/Sewing-Tools-Snips-Gauge-Ripper/dp/B000YZ7TEG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1342789668&sr=8-3&keywords=sewing+gauge

http://www.amazon.com/Dritz-Assorted-Hand-Needles-Pkg/dp/B0019KBVRQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1342789738&sr=1-2&keywords=hand+needles

http://www.amazon.com/Singer-Sewing-Detail-Scissors-Comfort/dp/B0052QJQ98/ref=sr_1_3?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1342789775&sr=1-3&keywords=sewing+scissors

http://www.amazon.com/Coats-Clark-Thread-Yards-White/dp/B000H1XXN8/ref=sr_1_6?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1342789827&sr=1-6&keywords=thread

http://www.amazon.com/Dritz-Pearlized-Straight-Pins-Size-120/dp/B000YZASD0/ref=pd_sim_ac_4

http://www.amazon.com/Dritz-Cushion-Tomato-Strawberry-Emery/dp/B000GJFP14/ref=sr_1_1?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1342789982&sr=1-1&keywords=pin+cushion

http://www.amazon.com/Singer-Fabric-Marking-Pen-Pencil/dp/B00566E680/ref=sr_1_5?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1342790165&sr=1-5&keywords=sewing+marking+tools

You "need" this because it is cute, and your great-grandmother had one:
http://www.amazon.com/Mundial-2-Inch-Classic-Embroidery-Scissors/dp/B0009VEMFE/ref=sr_1_14?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1342790052&sr=1-14&keywords=sewing+scissors

A good supply of patience and good humor.

Gina

7/20/2012 03:44:34 am

Wow - those last ones are AWESOME. Now do those take the place of a seam ripper?

And is this list basically a copy of what you have? 'Cause I know you sew a lot!!! Ha ha ha.

Thank you! This is great! :)

Maria link

7/20/2012 02:24:40 am

You do need to purchase separate spools of thread and you will learn to wind those around a bobbin in class. What I use on a regular basis of for sewing are plenty of needles (hand and machine needles), pins, a tomato pincushion, measuring tape and scissors.

Gina

7/20/2012 03:43:11 am

Thank you, Maria! I realize this is going to be a stupid question, but are hand and machine needles different?

I figured they were the same thing. Do I need to have both in a BSK? I guess I would. Are they labelled as hand vs. machine needles?

Michelle link

7/20/2012 02:26:03 am

Oh, and for hand sewing:

http://www.amazon.com/Clover-6027-Protect-Grip-Thimble/dp/B002JTO2A4/ref=pd_bxgy_ac_text_c

Carve this into your memory:
When hand sewing, PUSH, do not pull your needles. It won't matter one bit now, but on the day you turn 40, your eye sight will fade to useless and your whole arm will burn with pain if you pinch your hand needles between thumb and forefinger and pull them through fabric.

Seriously.

Gina

7/20/2012 03:42:01 am

Interesting! I would never have known that (because as of now, when I haphazardly sew up holes on things, I definitely push AND pull).

Thank you! :)

Michelle link

7/20/2012 02:18:26 pm

Machine and hand needles are different.
Machine needles are shaped to fit up into your machine, and have the eye (that the thread goes through) toward the bottom.

http://www.threadsmagazine.com/assets/uploads/posts/3751/114-machine-needle-01_xl.jpg

Hand needles are for hand sewing and have the eye at the top. They are somtimes called sharps.

http://www.clover-usa.com/aimg/x1_22f465dda079597905094f4251cfde39.jpg

Your machine should come with a needle, and probably some extras. It should have some extra bobbins too. You will need additional bobbins only if you want to keep bobbins full of each of various colors of thread.

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