Please LOGIN or Join PatternReview

Go to Page: 1 of 62 of 63 of 64 of 65 of 66 of 6

What unusual items are part of your sewing kit?
ahrizel Beginner PA Member since 4/22/12 Posts: 295	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 2/1/13 10:03 AM After asking for suggestions about getting a thread out of a bobbin case, I got some great suggestions about items for the sewing kit. I'm not talking about thread and scissors, but more unusual things. I always have bandaids. Between pins and the rotary cutter I use one at least once a week. And my favorite sharpie marker. Yes, I trace anything where it won't show with a sharpie. So what do you folks have in the sewing kit that is a little unusual? Mary
NM gal   Beginner Member since 5/27/09 Posts: 1158	Login to reply to this post 2 members like this. Date: 2/1/13 10:15 AM I always have a lint roller. Actually have several in the sewing area, one by machine, one in cutting area, etc.
DonnaH Intermediate TX Member since 10/1/03 Posts: 466	Login to reply to this post 2 members like this. Date: 2/1/13 10:20 AM I have a cheap little paint brush - the kind kids use w/ water colors. It's about 1/4" wide. I use it to brush away lint around my needle, feed dogs, and presser foot, and inside the bobbin case when I change bobbins. The lint tends to stick to the end and I can get it off easily by squeezing and sliding my fingers off the brush end. I'm always surprised by how much it picks up.
sewsally   Intermediate WA USA Member since 8/18/02 Posts: 1200	Login to reply to this post 6 members like this. Date: 2/1/13 10:38 AM I have blue painters tape. Use it to mark the wrong side of fabrics, pick up threads, as a guideline on my sewing machine. It leaves no residue unless of course I iron over it.
gramma b Advanced USA Member since 7/25/08 Posts: 2271	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 2/1/13 10:38 AM I use little black office pinch clips instead of pins for thicker items and to hold glued things in place. Long hemostat-type scissors from the Fishing Dept. (meant for tying flies!) work for turning tubes and poking out collar points. Save those free chopsticks for the same. Also tweezers, dental floss, kids chalk, and various-sized straws.
ahrizel Beginner PA Member since 4/22/12 Posts: 295	Login to reply to this post In reply to gramma b << Like this post Date: 2/1/13 10:49 AM I forgot about the office clips, I got those originally for holding things I shouldn't pin.. And the hemostat, I love that thing! I usually use those for turning things. I got the hemostat idea from Pattern Review, I've gotten more great ideas from this board. Mary
a7yrstitch   Intermediate TX USA Member since 4/1/08 Posts: 4391	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 2/1/13 10:49 AM Paintbrush here too! Long thin bamboo skewer for reaching into machines, pulling thread behind needle(s), turning, guiding tricky seams on serger, pinching down the middle of a gathered area as it sews so it doesn't become a pucker. Chopstick - heavy duty version of skewer. And good for turning. Mechanics Mirror Pipe cleaners. Painter's tape. Among other uses, I keep a piece on the machine bed and jot down the current needle in the machine. Miniature set of offset screwdrivers. Example of offset screwdrivers. ------ I have no idea what Apple thought I was saying so be a Peach and credit anything bizarre to auto correct.
PattiAnnJ   Advanced OH USA Member since 12/3/06 Posts: 4987	Login to reply to this post 2 members like this. Date: 2/1/13 11:06 AM Updated and reposted. I started a similar post a few years ago with regard to machine embroidery. Some items may cross over for machine sewing. Mini screw drivers for removing the screws in the needle plate. Magnifying glass. Flashlight. Cotton swabs. Painter's Blue Tape or Frog Tape. Lint rollers. Compressed Air. Yes I do blast lint and fuzzies from the machines, just not directly into the mechanics. Card board bottoms from bottled water (make good trays for scrap sorting). Glue sticks (prefer aleene tacky glue sticks). Baggies (for storing opened glue bottles or those school glue sticks that some may prefer so they do not dry out. Turn table with sectioned tray for items most used (pens, chalks, glue, small rulers). Magnetic tray for tweezers, scissors, seam rippers. Magnet pin cushions for the obvious. Magnetic wand to collect fallen pins. Thread catchers to catch snips. You can make these. Mugs to hold thread when a particular spool does not feed well from the spool pin. Thread stand if the mug does not work. Mugs to hold pencils and other marking items. Radio. TV (wall mount). Bed for dog. Heater for colder weather (sewing area is in finished basement, but still cooler than I sometimes prefer). Fan for warmer weather. Phone. Computer. Printer. Light Box. Small refrigerator for bottled water (that's how I got all those empty carton bottoms). Stairs for exercise (joking) no bath in the basement, so up and down we (dog and I) go. Comfortable/adjustable chair for each machine station. Vacuum cleaner. Cutting table with two large cutting mats joined together. Hangers on one end of table for acrylic rotary cutting rulers. Marble Tile - don't remember why I though I needed one...I think it is a cast off from my husband's leather crafting. Multiple plastic totes for storing fabrics that have been sorted by type and color. Rolling storage units for patterns, thread, assorted elastic. Bookcases for multiple sewing, quilting and machine embroidery publications. Grace quilting table that makes a good place to hang fabric when sorting. Okay, this was not accomplished overnight and maybe some of the above is not unusual. I am occupying 95% of the basement when the storage area is included. I don't know if I should smile or cry. Some day this all has to go. I see a super-duper yard sale in my future! Site for thread catchers -- Edited on 2/1/13 11:46 AM --
Maia B   Advanced Beginner IL USA Member since 10/27/10 Posts: 3404	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 2/1/13 11:23 AM I keep a lint roller handy, too. Also have large and small "hemostats". A plastic handheld magnifier that was a loyalty gift from some business in my hometown-Grandma kept it at her bedside. A bone bodkin she used-I use it to thread ribbons, thin elastic, etc through casings, bring up bobbin thread, turn corners, nudge things under the presser foot into place. I've got cute little candy tins-Pac Man, Hello Kitty, Angry Birds-that hold thimbles, used needles, and tiny doodads in my sewing basket ------ 🌸 Plenty of machines, mostly Berninas 🌸
cyclegirl   Advanced Beginner TX USA Member since 2/12/04 Posts: 396	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 2/1/13 11:39 AM I keep an empty spice tin on the sewing table. Use it to dispose of bent pins and used machine needles. ------ betty/mikie

Go to Page: 1 of 62 of 63 of 64 of 65 of 66 of 6

Please LOGIN or Join PatternReview

Printable Version

* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.