The New Year is a great time to clear out and clean up your sewing room/area. I also like to review my notions and accessories for what has worked and what has not worked so well over the past year and then treat myself to some new notions/aids for my upcoming sewing year! Here are some of my suggestions:
*Straight pins: Straight pins today come in all shapes and sizes – designed for specific fabrics and sewing applications. My favorites are the “Magic Pins.” These come in a variety of sizes including regular, fine, and ultrafine. The pins have a silicone grip on the end that can be pressed over with the iron and are easy to grip. I have the flat head, piecing, and regular pins now added to my pin cushion.
*Rotary cutter: I have used the yellow Olfa cutter for years but recently bought a Creative Grid rotary cutter. This is a heavier cutter which makes the cutting easier as you don’t have to apply as much pressure to get a cut. This cutter doesn’t tire my hand out. Quilter’s Select also makes a similar cutter.
*Automatic Needle Threader: With a push of a lever, your needle is threaded! I wish I had tried this several years ago… I now don’t mind doing a bit of handwork with this notion!
*Rulers: Just how many rulers does a quilter need? Apparently, from looking at my stash, a lot! I like the Quilter’s Select basic rulers that have a coating on the back that grips the fabric and prevents the ruler from slipping when using your rotary cutter. The 6-1/2” x 24” and 6-1/2” x 12” are the two sizes every quilter should have. I also have most of the square-up rulers from QS. Another great find that I’ll be using more this coming year are the Stripology rulers from Creative Grid. These rulers have slots cut in them for the rotary cutter blade. This gives a straight cut very quickly. There are four sizes of these: The Stripology Mini-Quarters, Mini-Quilt, Stripology Squared, and Stripology XL. If you make your own precuts, these rulers will greatly speed up your cutting. They also work well for squaring up blocks.
*Scissors: A sewer can’t have too many scissors! I have added two sizes of the Karen Buckley Perfect scissors to my notions. The micro-serrated blades are very sharp and make accurate cuts without slipping. These can easily be used by both left- and right-handed stitchers!
*Sewing Chair: Need to replace your seating? Look for a chair that is armless and provides good support for your back. Some sewing chairs are designed to fit well with a sewing cabinet. We carry one that also features storage in the seat.
*Sewing Machine: If you haven’t had your machine serviced in the last year or so, why not begin the year with a “freshened” machine? Today’s machines usually benefit from a service from a qualified technician at least once a year if you are a daily/weekly sewer. If you stitch occasionally, at least have your machine serviced every two years. The technician will do a deep cleaning and oil the parts of the machine that you cannot access. New machines have more of a “sealed system” that require a trained tech to service.
There are also sewing machine feet that I find necessary to have for my sewing projects. Some of these feet may come with your machine or you may purchase separately. I consider the 1/4” piecing foot, open toe applique foot, even-feed foot, and free motion foot essential to my stitching.
We have a great selection of essential sewing tools as well as the nice-to-have tools. Come by and see us when you are ready to upgrade your machine and tools to make your 2024 sewing experience a great one!
-submitted by The Sewing & Vacuum Center
