Complete Noob needs help buying sewing supplies!

[Chamomile Girl]

So my Mom gave me her old sewing machine for my birthday, and the money to get it reconditioned (it's pretty ancient). I have never sewed anything in my life, but I've always wanted to...and now that I have a kid it seems like an even better idea to learn how.

I picked up the machine from the sewing shop today and it's all lubed up and ready to go. They guy at the sewing shop told me it was built like a tank. Its all metal and weighs a ton. I swear it weighs more than my kid. Considerably more!

But I digress...I need to know what supplies I need on hand to get through a basic project without having to run to the store every 15 minutes. All I currently have on hand is:

About 6 bobbins (metal...do they still make metal ones?)
A pair of pinking shears
A few extra needles in sizes 11 and 14
Some random thread that is as old as I am
Some pins

That's it! I plan a visit to the fabric store tomorrow or the next day to pick up some other stuff. My MIL gave me B-day $ as well, and I want to spend it wisely. I also would love suggestions on fabrics and easy online patterns as well! I'll need something to cut my teeth on that isn't that easy to completely screw up (hmmm...I'll need a seam ripper than too I suspect. With a stabby point of death? )

[limabean]

I'm very new to sewing too, but I can help a little by saying that I got through my first few projects with nothing but a bobbin, thread, and scissors (and fabric of course!).

My first projects were small blankets (for my kids' stuffed animals -- about 18x24 inches, so nice and small and no pressure for them to turn out perfectly, since Teddy and Kitty didn't mind crooked seams ). It was great practice for just learning to pin, sew straight seams, turn, make sharp corners, etc.

Here's a super simple 2-sided blanket tutorial. I would recommend using flannel for both sides for your first time instead of using chenille for one side -- it'll be easier to use something with a consistent texture instead of the bumpiness/variation of chenille. And for the topstitching at the end, you can use a regular straight stitch too if you'd rather -- it doesn't have to be a decorative one.

Have fun and post pictures!

[luv-my-boys]

I think a few good staples to have in your sewing bin would be:

1. good pr of cutting scissors
2. pkg of pins
3. pin cushion
4. seam ripper
5. assort basic colored all purpose thread (black, navy, white, cream)
6. measuring tape


these are pretty much the things I reach for the most when sewing. They do have beginner pkgs that would have several of these items togethr. However I have found the scissors to be cheap everything else is usually pretty ok for beginners.

I always suggest simple projects like an apron or placemats because they are pretty basic in sewing concept (straight lines) as opposed to things with ruffles/pin tucks and what not. There are several brands that easy sew patterns as well.

[hildare]

pp's had good suggestions. You may want to also consider what you would like to be doing with the machine, getting a manual for it if you can and:
feet for your machine.. look at what you can find for your machine and what you would potentially use. vs. what you have... some of those old machines have some doozies!
i LOVE my rotocutter. love love love.
and a self-healing mat to go with it
a quilting ruler (even if you don't quilt this and the above items are very useful)
fabric marker of some sort
sewing table/cutting table.. mine is a folding table that is plastic where i cut and assemble things. very useful
thread holder of some kind and thread spools. fun to have lots. elastic thread for shirring <3
goooood scissors.. i know other people suggested that, too. get the good expensive kind with a metal storage box. do not let ANYONE touch them. guard them jealously and only use them for fabric. and then:
get other scissors, too, some tiny snips to use for threads off the machine and some that can be used for paper and other things...
seam ripper (sorry is repeating someone else)
hem guage is good to have

[Chamomile Girl]

Thank you for the suggestions! Happily I do have the manual that came with it. I used it last night to figure out how to thread the darn thing. I also have one extra foot for making buttonholes. I have no idea what to do with that one though.

One thing I do not have though is much space. Right now my workspace is a countertop in the pantry. To assemble stuff I'll probably be using the kitchen table.

[ms.shell]

you do not want to use old thread.
buy new thread. when you visit your fabric shop, ask them where are the "dressmaker spools." for some reason, at the local stores here, they keep the dressmaker spools separate from the rest of the thread selections. I buy these for the basic colors, as they have 450 yds (so lots more thread) for a much better value.

i think making pillowcases is a perfect beginner project. You just need 1 yd of fabric to make a pillowcase, and they are pretty much foolproof. And you will love dressing your bed yourself!

[punkrockmomma]

Get a sewing box, that way you can keep all of your stuff in one place. Also, get some new sewing machine needles. They have packages of them that have a variety of sizes for different types of fabric. An iron and an ironing board, and a desk lamp so you can see what you are doing, unless you have really good lighting in your pantry. I would also get a plastic tote where you can keep fabric, and other various items that don't fit in your sewing box.

I bought the book: SEW: sew everything workshop by Dianne Rupp. It's really great, it's a sewing class in a book, and it comes with a bunch of patterns, and project ideas. After doing a couple projects in it I'm making my first coat with a lining, and it's turning out really nice. I've also made myself 2 sun dresses this summer. I love sewing, it's so much fun.

[honeybunmom]

The only thing I'll add (as a noob as well - my machine will be 1 year old next month!) is that I recently read that you should get cheap pinking shears since you can't really sharpen them. Since, you'll have to replace them anyway, not a good place to splurge.

I haven't done many projects (birthday crowns, recycled longies, recycled bag, stuffed animals from recycled sweaters [see a theme here? LOL!] and, finally, my first dress for dd!) - I found that I needed more bobbins. I like to have plenty on hand for when I'm switching thread colors.

[tracymom1]

I have been sewing for a few years and absolutely love it! And some days I hate it (when I have to rip out yards of seams for stupid mistakes! Boo!). But I really improve with each project I do. I love the satisfaction of making my own housewares, clothes and gifts.

A good iron is invaluable if you are going to use patterns. A disappearing fabric marker or tailor's chalk is very useful, too. It really helps with marking your measurements for even lengths. A hem gauge is great and your very own scissors are INVALUABLE!!! Hide them from everyone!

Sewing notions are addictive!! I can't go to a craft/fabric store without totally geeking out at all the wonderful little what-nots!

Happy sewing