Sewing Pages

For Hand Sewing you need to have:

Needles

Thread

Sewing Pins

Scissors

Measuring tape

Patterns or paper for making patterns

Nice to Have:

Sewing Machine

Thimble

Iron

Ironing board

Sewing and Cutting Table

Sewing and Notions Box

Sewing notions: buttons, elastic, bias tape, special threads etc

Notions also include all those extra sewing needles, machine needles, bobbins, sewing scissors, hem guides, rulers, etc.,etc., etc..

pin cushion

Collection of Fabrics stored at home

There are other useful things to have, many of them are classified as “sewing notions” – everyone has their favorite that they can’t live without – mine is a needle threader for other people it is hemming tape etc.

The best way to get a collection is to start with a cheap set/kit from a discount shop or sewing center.  Then, pick up more as you see them on-sale, at garage sales, charity shops etc.  It is often possible to find old-fashioned notion boxes used at thrift stores, and these are wonderful for storing all these little bits and bobs.

Tiny thread scissors are one item that most people feel is a useful addition and you can never have too many sewing pins.

Books and Reference Sites:

Kindle Edition

Long out of Print, this is one of the very best (and my original) how to sew book and it is now available again via kindle!  I nicknamed this “The Hippies Guide to Sewing” which it is, those old enough will get a giggle out of “groovy pattens” and young folk can laugh at how Granny used to talk – but once past the 60′s silliness, this is one of the best and simplest books out there. It talks you through making your own basic patterns, how to sew by hand and with a machine, plus idea an altering old clothing.  There are a few mistakes, the gathered pants pattern will make giant pants if followed exactly, but that’s the only real problem I’ve found and I’ve been using my copy since 1973.

Wiki-How – Sewing

Wiki – now has a whole How-To section for sewers and home sewing, I haven’t used it myself but it looks very basic and through.  A good starting place when you don’t have a book or want to expand on what you have – just be sure to print out anything you want to keep

Hand Sewing Lessons

Book from 1909 read on the web or buy a copy from Amazon-I have not used this but it is an old classroom guide and seems to have most stitches

Viking and Anglo-Saxon Stitches

You don’t have to be from the Dark Ages to use and appreciate this great web page on the popular hand stitches of the Dark Ages.

Sewing for Dummies

I haven’t personally used this book, but it looks like a good basic guide.  I suggest getting at least one, hard copy book of this sort that includes both hand and machine sewing.  If you are lucky enough to get an old hand or treadle machine, finding and downloading a working manual and instructions is a good idea; as well as buying up as many proper sized needles and bobbins as you can find.

There are also many good hands-on videos on you-tube and almost any local library is likely to have at least one basic sewing guide.

Machines are nice, but you can easily get started without one; some small projects like hats may be even easier made by hand than with a machine.  Baby clothing also makes up pretty quickly by hand, and some older people when I was a child (in late 1950′s) refused to sew them on machines believing they were unlucky.  I still have some of the hand-sewn things made for me by an older relative.

Finally, whenever you can find fabric on-sale or second-hand; it is a good idea to pick some up when it isn’t a budget breaker.  Having various sorts of fabric around the home, make it much easier to sew when you have a few free minutes or realize the kitchen really needs a new table cloth-right now!  Some sewers prefer to buy only what they are going to use for each project, but from a prepping standpoint I think having at least a basic collection of fabrics is a good idea.  Even ugly natural fibers can be useful, as long as the dye doesn’t run a 1960′s pillow case makes a perfect jelly bag, and you may not even notice the berry stains if the original pattern is “groovy enough”…