Creative Fabrics & Notions

Fabric and quilt stores are not the only places to find really nice, high quality fabrics, handbag hardware, and sewing notions.  Garage sales, estate sales and thrift shops are are a girl’s best budget friend.  Here is a short list of things you can find:

Old or Broken and Outdated Purses, Handbags and Gym Bags

What to look for:  good hardware that you can take apart and reuse, straps, reusable snaps, decorative pieces, zipper pulls, zippers, canvas for linings, good bag linings that can be reused, leather or faux leather pockets.

Outdated Men’s Leather Jackets/Faux Leather Jackets

There is usually enough leather on a large man’s jacket to make a nice purse, tote, or bag.  Carefully cut off any sewn areas and salvage large pieces of the leather and the lining.  Also, save the buttons, and zippers if there are any zippers.

Linens (Sheets, Pillowcases)

Use for linings, baby clothes (Christening gowns), gift bags, and any other project that calls for a delicate fabric.  Look for lacy or handworked or machine embroidery pieces to sew special gifts.

Outdated Wedding Dresses

Use for charity projects, such as making burial gowns for infants, create beautiful bridal bags, reuse beading and tulle, strip the lace for projects, and use for bag linings.  You can also make special bridal pillowcases for the bride  to use the night before her wedding day (silk pillowcases keep your hair nice and neat!) or a gift for a friend in the hospital.

Tablecloths

Rather than purchasing oilcloth (which is a plastic coated fabric used for lunch totes, lunch tote linings, etc.), pick these up for pennies!  They are usually large enough to cover a large dining room table, so there is a lot of fabric in one large piece.

Curtains

High quality curtains (especially) custom made curtains, can be cut up and unhemmed with plenty of fine materials for creating nice bags, pillows, smaller curtains, or cushion covers.  Don’t overlook the outdated prints, because those can be used as linings or making “fittings” (a practice run on a project you intend to make with some expensive store fabrics).

Old Uniforms

Lots of uniforms come with decorative pins, hardware, and fobs that can be taken apart and used on other projects.  Old military uniforms make beautiful and sturdy duffle bags, travel bags, and purses.  This type of canvas lasts many years.  Make sure that if you are using military wear, remove ALL stripes, pins, badges, etc. out of respect to the person who owned the uniform.  Also remove any identification of the branch of service—what you want is the fabric—not the identity (please be respectful). 

Old Sweaters

Make your special pooch a warm sweater using old (people) sweaters.  Free patterns can be found online.  Be careful about particular sweaters that have a high tendency to ravel.  You can also cut these up and hand “knit” them together with a needle and thread to make patchwork blankets.  (I may have to make one of these myself!)

Fleece Blankets/Old Quilts

Use these (instead of batting) to make baby quilts.  Make sure you have them cleaned well and that they are in reasonably good condition. 

Old/Outdated Clothing

What to look for:  nice buttons, zippers in good condition, reusable pockets, nice trim, etc.

Prom Dresses/Bridal Wear

Cut up and use for linings for all types of bags.  Either silk, brocade or polyester works great for linings.  These items also make beautiful remade bridal bags using metal bag frames.  Reuse any decorative accents on these dresses, also, such as beading, zippers, rosettes, etc.  Here is a link with a beautiful metal frame bag:

www.pinterest.com/pin/545076361124332086

Decorator Fabric/Decorator Swatches/Decorator Placemats

Decorator fabric is a heavy duty fabric such as that used on upholstered furniture and pillows.  Swatches come in large pieces and are sometimes freebies. These can be used for bags, and metal frame clutches as well.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/80849611/coin-purse-sakura-chrysanthemum-cotton?ref=market

Jewelry Finds (broken and not broken)

Jewelry and trinkets can be used for pretty zipper pulls for cosmetic bag zippers, jacket zippers, etc.  Here’s a great link to show you how to use jump rings, tools and jewelry finds to create beautiful and decorative detail to your sewing projects:

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-open-and-close-jump-rings

Be creative!

If you have some great ideas about fabric and notion finds, please email me at beaserbags@gmail.com.  I would love to hear from you.

  

Essential Sewing Tools & Equipment   

Tools are an essential part of learning to sew and sewing in general.  With the right tools for the type of project you are working on, you can complete a nice, professional project with ease, and have fun in the process.  Here, we will discuss the most practical and necessary general tools (in my opinion), needed for most projects.  I’ve also starred generalized cost/prices usually paid for these types of tools in a fabric or department store from low (*) to high (****) prices. 

With the exception of a really GOOD pair of fabric scissors, you don’t need to spend a lot of money on tools.  Some sewing tools can be purchased at garage and/or estate sales.  Old does not necessarily mean bad (unless the tool is rusted—don’t buy rusted sewing tools!).

Scissors (Shears)****

Fabric Scissors—A good pair of scissors (correctly known as shears) is essential for getting precise and neat cuts.  Keep your scissors is its case/sheath when not in use and use them ONLY for fabrics.  Have them sharpened by a professional as needed.  I own a pair of Gingher 8-Inch Knife Edge Dressmaker's Shears which I purchased in 1986 for my mother to use to sew my wedding dress.  (This was the only way I could get her to sew it!)  These scissors still look new and cut like a razor.

Paper/Interfacing Scissors*—I purchase these at the Dollar Store or Walmart.  Use a permanent marking pen and mark these PAPER/INTERFACING.  They will become dull quickly.  I don’t pay to have these sharpened.  When they become too dull for the sewing room, I use them in the kitchen for herbs, packages, etc.  I use them in the kitchen until they become so dull, they are dangerous, or they rust or break.  At this point, they go in the recycle bin.

Thread Scissors/Snippers**—these are not necessarily essential, but once you have a pair to keep handy for those small threads, you will be happy you have them.  They are pointed and small, and can cut thread right down to the end, close to the fabric.  Have these sharpened by a professional to keep the points sharp.  I don’t keep these in a sheath since I use this pair all the time, however, it is important to be careful not to drop them because they are very sharp, and you can break the tips off or injury yourself or your pets or children who hang around at your feet while you sew (or drop things).

Tape Measure*

Your best friend!  These come in tape form or a mechanical form (which automatically retract when you push a button).  I recommend having one of each. I have a set in my purse and a set at home.  I’m always ready to measure something! The mechanical version is usually only a yard long, which is great to keep in your purse for fabric store trips, confirming pattern piece measurements, etc.  I keep my tape corralled with a hair clip or binder clip.  You can get these free at quilt shows and hardware stores, sometimes.

Pins & Needles

Safety Pins*—all sizes.  Useful for inserting elastics, holding down things while you sew other things, and securing buttons with posts that cannot be washed or dry cleaned. 

Quilting Pins**—better than those short, stubby pins with no heads.  These pins are long, thin and easy to work with.  They are a bit more pricey than regular sewing pin, but well worth the cost.

Sewing Machine Needles***—Purchase high quality sewing machine needles in various sizes and for various purposes.  Always keep a supply of needles on hand.  You can find tons of needle charts online FREE.  Print one out and take it shopping with you.  As a beginner, print several copies, and place one copy in each of your patterns and attached to your tutorial.  When you go shopping, you have all the info you need as part of  your shopping list.  My favorite brands are Schmetz and Organ.  They are universal needles and do not easily bend or break.  Organ needles are suburb for serger machines!

Hand Stitching Needles*

Most of my students refuse to sew by hand.  One day, and one day soon, you will need to sew by hand.  Learn how and learn well!  Get a set of hand sewing needles and get used to it!  A cheap set of needles is all you need.

Corner Tool*

A dual purpose tool, with one end pointed (great tool for poking out corners) and the other end odd looking—usually with a large missing gape (used to help lift up a button to easily sew onto fabrics).  Some are wooden and some are plastic. 

Loop Turner*

Loop Turners come in a couple of different styles:  a long metal wire with a hook on one end and handle on the other; and a hollow tube with a plastic stick-type tool.  I like the metal wire version.  These are fairly easy to use after you get the hang of it, and makes easy work of turning long, skinny tubular fabric pieces right side out.  It is actually  kind of fun to use.

Bobbins*

Purchase the correct bobbins for your make and model sewing machines and create a good, even, full bobbin.  Your life just became more enjoyable.  I make several bobbins at once so I won’t have to stop to make one mid-project.

Thread**

A high quality thread will never fail you.  Enough said!

A cheap thread leaves lint in your bobbin area, all over your project, and tends to break easily.  Not good.  Ever.

Always read your pattern and/or tutorial under the Tools & Notions section to survey whether or not you need to purchase additional tools.  Some tools can be substituted with things you may have around the house—be creative!  A tool box, kitchen utensil drawer, junk drawer, makeup drawer, etc. is a great hunting ground for neat and inventive sewing tools!  For instance, if you have skewer sticks, you can use these in place of a corner tool. 

Have fun and Happy Sewing!

A Lesson In Fabrics

Fabric should not cost a fortune.  As a beginner, I suggest you stick with 100% high quality cottons. These fabrics come on the bolt measuring 45” wide and can be cut to amounts such as ¼ yard, 3/8 yard, ¼ yard, and 1 yard increments, or anything in between.   You can find great bargains at quilt shops, fabric stores or department stores.  Stay away from cheaply made, flimsy, see-through fabrics.  The fabric should feel weighty to the touch, and simply put, the fabric should feel “good.”   I love www.fabrics.com.  They have very good quality fabrics and often have great sales with lots of choices.  There are many online fabric stores available.

You can be resourceful and use men’s shirts found at thrift stores, nice sheets, old curtains, etc., most of which can be purchased from thrift stores, estate sales, or garage sales.

Practice making your project on cheap muslin fabrics or old sheets before investing in high quality fabrics.  It’s worth the extra work.  As always, look for bargain prices but don’t sacrifice quality.

Always choose the types of fabrics that your pattern recommends.  If you get confused, ask a seasoned sewer, or the employee at your local fabric store (who should, but doesn’t always know the answer).

If you enjoy sewing and you are a beginner, invest in a beginner sewing book.  Most of these types of books explain various types of fabrics, what type of needles to use with them, and what these fabrics are generally used for (what types of projects are best suited).  Visit your local book store and find some good books on the subject.  Leave the store with the ISBN number, the title of the book, and the author.  Then run a check online with Amazon or Barnes and Nobel and get a used copy of that book.  You may also be able to find a great resource in a resale shop.

(Image above from makeit.com)

Pattern Coming Soon!

Smart Phone Wristlet

Pattern Coming Soon!

Tuck 'n Roll Jewelry Stash Bag

If you are ready to learn and don’t know where to begin, here you go:

·         Print some lined paper, some curves, or anything you desire.  Children’s coloring books are a great item to use to practice sewing lines.  You can find these things online as well. 

·         Remove your thread from your bobbin and needle

·         Practice sewing (without thread) on your paper until you feel confident.

·         Before beginning a sewing project, replace your needle—sewing on paper makes it dull and not useful for fabric

Now, go  practice.

a good sewing foundation

As a (practically) self-taught sewer, I learned by trial and error—mostly error.  I ruined a lot of projects, ripped a lot of seams, and sewed a lot of garments that either didn’t look good or didn’t fit.  Through all this, I learned that, without a good sewing foundation, what you end up with is a lot of time-consuming error creations.

Although making errors while sewing is a good way to help you avoid doing it again next time, hopefully, I can help you avoid the kind of frustration that will keep you from continuing your sewing.

What kind of learner are you?

If you are unfamiliar with the various types of learning styles, a quick internet search will gather a lot of information on the subject.  The basic styles are:

Auditory Learners learn best by hearing.  For instance, if someone explains a concept to you, you will be able to process the information in a way that makes the doing easier.  In sewing, listening to instructional videos may be a great option for you.  Also, attending sewing seminars, demonstrations, or taking classes may be a good way to learn some skills.  Most local public libraries have an assortment of these available for free. 

Visual Learners learn best by seeing.  For instance, watching an instructional video, or someone showing you how to do something helps you to solidify a concept, making it possible for you to do it yourself.  As with auditory learners, free demonstrations and classes may be beneficial.  Sitting side by side with someone who is working on a project would be a great option.  Quilt guilds are a great resource for experienced sewers.  These guilds offer retreats, classes and demonstrations at their meetings, as well as mentorships with people who enjoy helping others learn.

Kinesthetic Learners learn best by touching/feeling/doing.  For instance, manipulating fabric, using the tools, and basically using your hands to figure out a concept on your own, or with the help of others, is the best kind of learning for you.

Most people are combination learners.  I don’t particularly like it when someone explains something to me.  I’d prefer to look at a picture or diagram, and then go after the project myself, which makes for a visual/kinesthetic learner.  I also love to watch Sewing With Nancy and other teaching videos like I would a movie.  Then I go back, later, and try out the concept when I’m sitting at my sewing machine.

For now, try figuring out what kind of learner you are. Most people already know.  If you don’t, it is best to find out as this will give you a good place to start in your sewing  ventures.  Knowledge is power—it’s true.