Have you ever had a sewing emergency? Maybe it was a button that unexpectedly fell off at an inconvenience moment. Or, perhaps a hem ripped out unexpectedly. The need for an essential sewing kit is obvious. Every home needs one.
You will need something to keep your sewing supplies together. Your need some kind of container that you can keep handy at all times. Many people love those sewing boxes sold at sewing shops. Others prefer to use a fishing tackle box. It really does not matter much. Even an old shoe box in good condition will work. Having drawers or compartments in the box can be helpful in organizing your supplies. If you use your kit as part of your regular sewing, make sure to put your supplies back in your kit for unexpected emergencies.
Since this is your essential sewing kit, you will want to make a list of essential sewing supplies to keep in your kit.
Two scissors are needed. First, you need a pair of sharp high quality eight inch bent handle sewing shears. Second, you will need a pair of trim scissors also known as embroidery scissors. Use sewing scissors only for cutting fabric and thread. Never ever cut paper or other things with your sewing scissors. Keep your sewing scissors in peak condition. It is also helpful to keep a pair of paper cutting scissors handy. Just avoid getting them confused.
Seam ripping is a common need. For this, you should have a tool known as a seam ripper. It has one long bladed finger, a curved center blade, and a second finger with a beaded end.
Optionally, you may want a pair of pinking shears to trim the edges of fabric in a zig zag cut to prevent fabric fray.
Keep several different kinds of needles in your kit. It is a good idea to have a set of smaller, medium, and larger needles with sharp or universal as well as sets of stretch or ball point needles. Always match the right needle with fabric and threads you are using. The right needle makes any task easier and with better results. You will also need a few hand sewing needles of different sizes and shapes for emergencies and hand sewing tasks.
To hold fabrics together while you sew, you will want to have a couple different sized glass head sewing pins. These come in different lengths and weights, and depending on the kinds of sewing you typically do, you will only need one set of inch or inch and a half pins. Add sets for specialty applications.
You will need something to keep your pins and needles organized and protect you from their sharp points. Traditional pin cushions are made with soft fabric outsides and soft insides into which you poke your pins and needles. Alternatively, many people use magnetic pin holders today. They work essentially the same way as the traditional pin cushion, except instead of poking it into the cushion, the magnet holds the pins and needles on the surface. It is also helpful for picking up stray pins or needles from the table top or floor.
Your sewing kit should always have one spool of black fifty weight long staple black thread and one white. Use other threads as desired for general sewing.
You must keep a good cloth measuring tape in your kit.
To set hems and measure seam allowances, you will need a seam gauge. This tool also known as a stitch gauge is a small six inch metal ruler with a plastic finger slide that can be set at specific lengths.
To mark measurements and pattern elements on fabric, you will need a fabric marking pen or chalk pencil. You can choose from air soluble, erasable, or water soluble types.
The items we have discussed, are really vital for your emergency sewing kit, but there are many other sewing notions that are useful and helpful. Always, keep your crisis sewing kit ready for emergencies.
You will need something to keep your sewing supplies together. Your need some kind of container that you can keep handy at all times. Many people love those sewing boxes sold at sewing shops. Others prefer to use a fishing tackle box. It really does not matter much. Even an old shoe box in good condition will work. Having drawers or compartments in the box can be helpful in organizing your supplies. If you use your kit as part of your regular sewing, make sure to put your supplies back in your kit for unexpected emergencies.
Since this is your essential sewing kit, you will want to make a list of essential sewing supplies to keep in your kit.
Two scissors are needed. First, you need a pair of sharp high quality eight inch bent handle sewing shears. Second, you will need a pair of trim scissors also known as embroidery scissors. Use sewing scissors only for cutting fabric and thread. Never ever cut paper or other things with your sewing scissors. Keep your sewing scissors in peak condition. It is also helpful to keep a pair of paper cutting scissors handy. Just avoid getting them confused.
Seam ripping is a common need. For this, you should have a tool known as a seam ripper. It has one long bladed finger, a curved center blade, and a second finger with a beaded end.
Optionally, you may want a pair of pinking shears to trim the edges of fabric in a zig zag cut to prevent fabric fray.
Keep several different kinds of needles in your kit. It is a good idea to have a set of smaller, medium, and larger needles with sharp or universal as well as sets of stretch or ball point needles. Always match the right needle with fabric and threads you are using. The right needle makes any task easier and with better results. You will also need a few hand sewing needles of different sizes and shapes for emergencies and hand sewing tasks.
To hold fabrics together while you sew, you will want to have a couple different sized glass head sewing pins. These come in different lengths and weights, and depending on the kinds of sewing you typically do, you will only need one set of inch or inch and a half pins. Add sets for specialty applications.
You will need something to keep your pins and needles organized and protect you from their sharp points. Traditional pin cushions are made with soft fabric outsides and soft insides into which you poke your pins and needles. Alternatively, many people use magnetic pin holders today. They work essentially the same way as the traditional pin cushion, except instead of poking it into the cushion, the magnet holds the pins and needles on the surface. It is also helpful for picking up stray pins or needles from the table top or floor.
Your sewing kit should always have one spool of black fifty weight long staple black thread and one white. Use other threads as desired for general sewing.
You must keep a good cloth measuring tape in your kit.
To set hems and measure seam allowances, you will need a seam gauge. This tool also known as a stitch gauge is a small six inch metal ruler with a plastic finger slide that can be set at specific lengths.
To mark measurements and pattern elements on fabric, you will need a fabric marking pen or chalk pencil. You can choose from air soluble, erasable, or water soluble types.
The items we have discussed, are really vital for your emergency sewing kit, but there are many other sewing notions that are useful and helpful. Always, keep your crisis sewing kit ready for emergencies.
About the Author:
Learn more Beginner Sewing instructions. Expert Donna Trumble teaches sewing instructions including her free book Top Ten Sewing Answers.
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