Getting all you need to get started can be a bit pricey so here are some ideas for getting some thrifty start up supplies
Let me say again Yahoo Freecycle Groups! http://groups.yahoo.com/ Sewing groups and Freecycle groups!
Yard Sales, Thrift stores, Dollar Stores and Shop the sales. Craigslist, also folks
Look for old patterns in yard sales and thrift shops. Must thrift stores just throw them out and will give them to you for free. Look online for free patterns and join sewing groups!!!!
I scored a $25 ruler at Hancock's 80% off in the sales rack! You name it and it was in there.
Recycle old clothes.. old t shirts, jeans, dresses, can be made into bags, quilts, pot holders, patches, new shirts, dresses and the list goes on. I have patterns and ideas for all this!
Save buttons, zippers, off stuff too damaged to use, belts can make straps for bags, Be creative and Inventive.
Sheets can be used for dresses and test fabric.......your muslin on the cheap.
Finger press use an old wooden clothes pin
Stileto wooden BBQ skewer... big package 50 for 1.00 at the dollar store.
Cording for piping old phone wire, dollar store cording look in the tool section, twine ...its almost like a scavenger hunt.
Thread clips, finger nail clippers, tweezers in kits, computer tools, computer vaccuums, lets not forget tooth brushes and old paint brushes to wipe and clean. Q-tips, fishing tweezers they are long and thin. Use only sewing machine oil to oil your machine.
Big huge heavy washers can be wrapped and used as pattern weights.
Medical paper is cheaper than pattern paper, butcher paper, wax paper, tissue for presents , all this can be used to trace patterns. News paper can stain fabric but a friend of mine use to use it.
Old blankets can be used for quilt stuffing.
Scraps from sewing can be used for stuffing, reuse pillow stuffing.
Reuse gift boxes for storage, pill bottles to hold old needles, Old tins to hold sewing supplies, old plastic coffee cans for storage and not to mention tackle boxes and tool boxes. Yeah you have to clean them first but how nice remake them into yours
A dresser can serve as a place to store patterns and fabric. Suit cases can be used to store fabric neatly and dust free.
Need a stiff bottom for a bag? or board for your home made folios? Use old political signs, ad signs on the road that often get left behind they are plastic and stiff.. please dont go taking the good ones you can and will get in trouble for that. Dollar store foam board huge poster size is good and you can make alot from them, cereal boxes, cardboard boxes.
Old mike crates and be lined or used as they are for storage. An old file holder can be used to store rulers. old file cabinets can be used for notions and patterns. Store patterns in old notebooks look for them in thriftshops or use your kids old ones. I love PDF files for patterns!!!!! easy to store and very small.
No matter how big or small your sewing space is we can help you find the room to sew!
more tips 1/22/11
- Stiletto Heel- Hold down the fabric with a stiletto hell as you feed it under the presser foot. Your seam allowances will come out more even.
- Sandpaper- Glue fine sandpaper to a piece of foam board. Use this board under your fabric to hold it snuggly in place with no slipping.
- Paper lunch sack- Fold down a paper sack a few inches and tape to the edge of your sewing table. Drop scrap fabric, excess thread and other trash into this bag as you sew to keep your area clean.
- Old Car Mat- Place an old car mat under your sewing
machine foot pedal to keep it from shifting.
- White Vinegar- A cup of white vinegar added when prewashing fabrics will help set colors.
- Furniture glides- Tape a thin Teflon rectangle to the bed of the sewing machine as a guide for seam allowances. The sticky, felt circle kind also help to secure rulers and other supplies.
- Before you start your next project, stop by the office supply store to purchase a finger tip moistenergrip. There are many brands. This will help you grip fabric, thread any tiny pieces. Plus, at your craft booth it helps count money, especially new bills that stick together
