What? There's no peeking! You're just going to have to wait. Or keep reading.
I called my brother to find out what she wanted for her birthday, and he told me that my sister-in-law bought The Not-so-Silly Monkey a sewing machine for her birthday. I had to ask him to repeat his response, I was blown away. The Monkey wants a sewing machine? My hoop-shooting, soccer-playing, Volleyball-Wiz wants a sewing machine? It makes a bit of sense, because she can be quite the fashionista when she wants to be. It is important to say that both of her grandmothers sew, as well as her cousin's mom and her cousin's Tutu, and of course, I dabble a little in sewing. Tutu is quite the quilter, really. Had all of the sewing that Tutu and I do given Monkey inspiration? Has Pinterest's DIY boards made enough of an impression on her to have her request such a cool gift? Maybe she's just exhausted all other gift options? She is pretty close to having everything!
When it sank in that I wasn't on an episode of PRANK, and I realized that they were, in fact, giving her a sewing machine, I started beaming. My niece wants to sew!! I missed the boat when my older niece, KLo, asked me to go with her to pick a sewing machine a few years ago. I went with her, but looking back, I could have done a better job outfitting her, and I feel like I let her down. Like most crafters, I learn from my mistakes. The wheels started turning. What should I have given to KLo when she purchased her first machine? What would I want gifted to me with a new sewing machine? What do I feel are necessities for any sewing space? I called to make sure other gift-givers were on the Notions Route, and hit the local Black Friday Sale at JoAnn Fabrics. I'm an Olfa girl, myself, but who can resist 60% off Fiskars notions? Not this gal.
Here is a list of what I consider "The Basics" for anyone looking into basic craft sewing:
Self-healing cutting mat:
I say the bigger the better, but honestly, I have five of these: One little rectangular mat, perfect for squaring up blocks and taking to classes or craft-nights with the girls; One long, skinny mat for working with strips, or for a take-along; One 12"x18" June Tailor mat, complete with ironing board on the back (This one is perfect for those of us crafting out of a closet, as most of us do); One 24"x36" mat that currently resides with my mother, who is working on an adorable baby quilt for one of my cousins, who was born three years ago - Love you, Mom); And the gigantic fifth mat is waiting patiently at the North Pole for a Christmas Day delivery. I love all of these mats, as they make smaller projects and quilts so much easier to work on.
Acrylic Rulers:
These come in a variety of shapes and sizes. My favorite is the 6"x24" ruler that has grids. It is so easy to cut strips and square up fabric and quilt blocks with this beast. I have a few template rulers in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they are not necessary. They can make a job go much faster, and I do use a lot of mine, but I was lucky enough to have inherited half of them. If you see these and like them, treat yourself to one ever now and then. I picked up a new diamond rule last night, and it was well worth the four bucks!
Rotary Cutter and Extra Blades:
Let's face it, the ruler and mat are nothing without these tools. Having extra blades on hand is essential. I like to keep extra everything on hand for two reasons: 1). I live too far from a craft store to "drop by" for more supplies, and 2). I usually run out of whatever I need in the middle of the night when the store is closed, so even if i did live close to a store, I couldn't get in for what I needed anyway.
Fabric Scissors:
My favorite pair are Ginghers, but $45 is a bit steep for me. I'm not a complete scissor snob, and used Fiskars and any other pair of fabric scissors under ten dollars until last year, when Santa put a set of Ginghers in my stocking. Good job, Big Guy. I tie a ribbon on every pair of scissors meant for sewing, to avoid confusion when people are looking for scissors to open anything or cut paper.
Seamstress Tape Measure:
If you need to know why this is a Must-Have, step away from your machine and make an appointment to see me. Even if you aren't making clothes, this little tool can help any project along.
Seam Ripper:
Every machine I've ever owned has come with a seam ripper, but having two is a good idea. I keep the factory seam ripper in the cute little compartment on my sewing machine. As you faithful readers know, I have two velcro'd to my machine for convenience. I'd estimate I have a half a dozen seam rippers floating around here, and I usually pick up one during the big notion sales just in case. They do dull out after a while, and have a way of getting lost.
Thread:
What's a machine without thread?
Wonder Tape:
While this isn't a necessity, really, I consider it a valuable notion. There are some fabrics that don't respond well to pinning. Any of you that have worked with any linings, satin or minkee know what I mean!
Pins:
I grew up with metal pins, with tiny heads on them. When I had my first job, I decided to get my own set of pins for my sewing needs, and saw these cute little flower-headed pins. A friend of mine explained that beyond fashion was function, and these pins were popular with quilters, due to their thickness, length, and flat head. Having a strong pin to go through multiple layers is essential to quilters. Having the length keeps a project in place a bit better than a shorter pin. That being said, the shorter dress maker pins are also an essential tool, as they are for more delicate projects. Pins aren't all that pricey, so recommend buying a package of flat-heads and dressmaker pins. You'll decide which you prefer.
Fabric:
Do I really even need to comment on this? I'm wondering how many of us bought fabric before we even bought our machine!
So what did I wrap up for The Monkey? Like all of us, I'm on a budget, so I didn't go totally over the top. I did, however, invest in these lovely products:
I think she may have been more excited to open presents than anything else! There was a sigh of relief when she opened the mat set, as my kids and I told her it was an autographed Justin Beiber poster. Regardless, I am hopeful she will enjoy sewing as much as I do! Happy Birthday, Monkey!
