Sassy’s simple sewing kit
Sunday, May 31st, 2015
Sewing is simple, but even when you’ve got the fanciest of fancy machines, you’ll still need a few extra tools to go with it. And a sewing box too.
Measuring
Traditionalists prefer a simple ribbon-tape, while modernists (and men, probably) love a retractable tech tape. A metre rule is also useful, especially if you have long, straight lines to draw. Another great tool is a simple seam gauge, especially when sewing hems as it helps you get an accurate measurement all the way round.
Marking
Blocks or pencils of tailor’s chalk are the simplest and the marks are easily removed by brushing.
Higher-tech options are available and include erasable pens/pencils, water soluble marker pens, iron erasable pens and dressmakers’ carbon paper with a tracing wheel.
Cutting
Five common cutting tools. Bent-handled shears have an angled lower blade that keeps fabric flat while being cut. Pinking shears have zigzag blades that form fray-resistant edges. Sewing scissors trim threads and a thread clipper has spring-action blades but no handles making it quicker to snip thread as you sew. Rotary cutters offer a clean, straight cut but aren’t quite so good for cutting fiddly shapes.
Pinning
Pins. Simple huh? They keep your patterns and fabric in close company, even if you’re sewing in space. And not all pins are the same. Standard multi-purpose pins will make do for most, but you’ll need finer pins for really delicate fabrics. Real sassy sewers buy pins with coloured plastic heads which are easier to see when you drop them on the floor meaning less time wasted watching Fido doing Hellraiser impressions.
You’ll need a pin cushion too to keep them under control. Go for a magnetic one and picking up fallen spikeys is as easy as waving at the carpet.
Sewing
Machine needles come in many sizes. Buy yourself a pack of different sizes suitable for all weights of fabric. Most packs of sewing machine needles contain both metric (size 65-110) and imperial (9-18) sizes. We don’t understand it either but are guessing that a committee might have been involved. The bigger the number, the thicker the needle. There are different needles for different jobs. For instance, quilting needles, needles to use on knits, twin needles.
A fine needle will break if used on heavy fabrics, while a thick needle will damage lighter ones. Blunt needles are bad news. They damage your fabric, and cause uneven stitching. Experts suggest changing the needle for every new project. Great advice and needles are relatively inexpensive – cheaper than fabric anyway. Back in the real world though, I’d usually use mine for two or maybe three projects if using mostly cottons or lighter fabrics. Of course it you’ve splashed out on expensive fabric, then it’s a new needle every time.
Fixing
A seam ripper is a small hook with a blade underneath. Push it through the fabric to open up seams and rip out stiches when things go wrong (which they will, at first, often.)
A very useful sewing site
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