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Today’s National Sewing Month Project (a video lesson, actually) is brought to you by Angel Peterson from FleeceFun.
So you’ve picked out that new sewing machine with the help of Angel Peterson from FleeceFun.com, but you also need some sewing tools beyond the machine. Angel will help you determine the ultimate must-haves to stock in your sewing kit.. Learn about all these tools and why you need them in this easy sewing lesson. If you are just beginning sewing, watch this important video before you get started.
Here’s a quick list of basics you should start with in your sewing kit:
- Fabric shears – these are for FABRIC ONLY and make sure everyone in the house knows this!
- Flexible measuring tape – great for taking body measurements.
- Seam Gauge – you’ll be surprised at how handy this little tool is.
- Pins and Pincushion, hand sewing needle
- Seam Ripper – you WILL need it, trust us!
- Clear tape – especially important if you use printable sewing patterns.
- Rotary cutter – they’re fun and faster than tradtional shears.
- A variety of clear quilters rulers
- Self-Healing cutting mat
Today’s DAILY PRIZE is a great selection of sewing goodies in a beautiful and useful tin! To enter, answer the question below in the comments and we’ll randomly pick a winner.
Official Rules for Daily Contest
- There is a maximum of one entry per person. The entry will be based upon a comment left on this blog post. Duplicate comments will be deleted and are not tallied.
- Winner will be selected at random from the comments on this blog post below.
- You have until tonight, September 17th, 2015 at 11:59p EST to leave your comment on this post. Comments posted after that will not be counted.
- Contest open to anyone 18+ in US and/or Canada.
What is your favorite tool in the sewing kit?
Enter daily for your chance to win the National Sewing Month 2015 Grand Prize Giveaway.
AllFreeSewing
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The rotary cutter. I’d be lost without it!
that’s a hard one. rotary cutter. but if u have one then u need a special mat in order to use it.
I bought a pair of embroidery snips (not scissors) and I LOVE them. They’re perfect for snipping the threads when quilting.
I really love them all and they are all essential! But, to name one, it would be the rotary cutter…one I can’t imagine being without in a day in my sewing room. It makes cutting and squaring blocks up just so much easier and accurate.
I have two favorites because they go together. My rotary cutter and my June Taylor ruler. Thanks for the great giveaway.
I really think that all tools for quilting are necessary but I can’t imagine my quilt creating without my rotary cutter.
The shears
I love my rotary cutter. I can remember the days before they were available, and cutting the fabric for a quilt is definitely easier and more accurate with the rotary cutter!
The rotary cutter and self healing mat are without a doubt my favorite tools and are used in conjunction with each other. Thanks for the chance to win this fabulous basket of sewing tools.
Oddly, my favorite is a seam ripper. Saves so much time, esp when you’re rehemming or resewing something…shouldn’t take as long to rip out as it does to sew it up again!
My favorite tool is probably the seam ripper!
I would have to say that my favorite tool is a bobbin that holds all of that thread into one tiny space.
I can’t live without my self-healing cutting mat. It is great to use when pinning material together (saves my table from many scratches) as well as cutting.
I don’t know what I did without a rotary cutter and mat…it is a game changer for not only quilting, but general sewing.
My seam rioper, seems I am the family ‘professional un-sewer’
The wonder clips from clover they have so many uses. Not only for sewing ,quilting but other craft projects too.
The June tailor shape cut ruler. I use it more than any other tool of course without the mat and rotary cutter it would be useless!
The fabric shears are a new must have for me as my last pair have been damaged.
The shears are my favorite. Cutting accurately and easily makes a whole sewing project efficient , easy, enjoyable , and turning out right
The fabric shears
My favorite tool is the rotary cutter which has greatly reduced the time it takes to cut quilt pieces. Over the years I have improved my technique in using a rotary cutter and now, I have not only become faster in cutting, but also more accurate. My quilt blocks are now square.
Has to be rotary cutter. When I cut with scissors it always looks hacked up!
My husband & I spent a year in Germany to do mission work as he retired from full time pastorate. While we were there we sold our home & everything in it because when we came back We were moving back to be closer to his older sister. So, when we got back & found a house to rent, we had to start over buying everything, so needless to say, this kit would be a winderful gift, as I do crafts of all types to help with our income. Thanks for the opportunity & God bless.
Couldn’t work without my very sharp 8″ shears. Love them
I really need and.would love the Self Healing cutting mat!!Please pick me!!!
I would love the Self-Healing cutting mat.
most definitely the shear….I cut lots of material.
PICK ME!
Has to be my seam ripper, or one of the six(6) I own! Great fun!
defintiely the rotary cutter!
My rotary cutter is so helpful to me.
The seam ripper is my favorite. For all the repairs I’ve done and all the mistakes I’ve corrected. This makes it so much easier.
I love my rotary cutters. I never knew how useful, and necessary, they were until I used one.
Fabric shears! And, everyone knows not to touch my scissors!!!
My favorite is the seam ripper.
The seam rippers, take out stitches frequently!
I think I would have to say my shears with the light on them. The older I get the more they become helpful!
Unfortunately, my seam ripper is my favorite tool. I don’t know what I*’d do without it.
Love all the tools but the one I love the most is the rotary cutter. I have arthritis and the rotary cutter is so much easier on my hands. I also love the wide flat ruller as it makes measuring the widths needed for quilts.
The Shears and Rotary Cutter go hand in hand for me. Love a great pair of shears and the rotary cutter whenever it can be used. Both make work so much easier.
The seam ripper!!
I truly love the seam ripper and the rotary cutter!
The shears – without them you can’t even begin.
my duck bill scissors
Rotary cutter and the scissors
My favorite tool is the seam ripper.
My favorite tool in my kit is my seam ripper……well ok maybe not my favorite tool but I would be lost with out it….too many mistakes that have to ripped open and start again…
Sadly I have to say the seam ripper… I use it so much I even have a back up seam ripper! 😉
The Rotary Cutter I would love one the shears I use are ok but I heard it is easier with the cutter.
Thank you for the opportunity
I love my rotary cutter and my seam riper.
The self healing cutting mat sounds awesome!
My favorite tool is my pincushion
Probably my most used tool is my seam ripper! Wish it were not so :).
My seam ripper is my favorite! It’s there to remove any wrong stitches and, knowing that, allows me the freedom to be creative and relaxed!! I can always fix it. 🙂
My favorite tool would have to be the old hem gauge that I have had for many years. Lots of great uses.
Rotary cutter, they’re fun and faster!!
I would say the flexible measuring tape. My grew legs and ran away.
seeing where I work with fabric at work ( hobby lobby) cutting all day my favorite tool is my electric My T fine Cutter just one finger to cut my fabric, have to really be good at curves with this tool, I’ve used it for years now and love this tool.
What can I say. The seam ripper is my best friend.
My seam ripper is my most used tool, though not necessarily my favorite. However, I’ve just bought a rotary cutter and I don’t know how I cut without it before.
my pins. without em my projects turn out all funky and uneven.
My favorite is my seam ripper. I always have it close to my machine when sewing.
My seam ripper is never out of reach.
Well, it’s really a toss up because I couldn’t go without the fabric shears, the seam ripper and the flexible measuring tape. I use all three on a regular basis and don’t know what I’d do without any one of them, so to pick a favorite is really tough. Thank you for this giveaway!
I like the self healing cutting mat because you can use it over and over again.
My favorite purchase is a really good pair scissors/shears. Now that my nest is empty, I don’t have to hide them from the kids who never understood what the big deal was about not using mother’s sewing scissors.
Fabric shears is my favorite tool…specially for cutting old jeans to make bags… I love it!
If I had to pick one it would be the assortment or quilting rulers. But the whole package sounds great.
tape measurer
i don’t have just one favoret tool but my cutting mat I use for many things not just quilting.
I didn’t know all free sewing had a YouTube channel,I will be looking it up today.
the seam gauge looks like something I would use everyday. My sewing supplies leave a little bit to be desired, worn out, broken and old! thank you
Fabric shears! Sharp! An absolute must!!
Sewing would not be the same without a seam ripper. My favorite time saver.
My fabric shears are the best tool I own so far. The day I got them was such a relief to my poor overworked hands since I had been cutting denim with my regular crafting scissors.
I love my rotary cutter! Thanks!
I love love love the fabric shears!
The seam ripper is my favorite because I keep messing up.
My sewing machine. And my rotary cutter.
My shears, absolutely could not sew without them.
Not my favorite, but need seam rippers most of all! I have good fabric scissors that I keep under lock and key.
The sewing machine is my ultimate favorite tool . I couldn’t quilt without it.
My scissors/shears, they must be sharp.
The dreaded seam ripper. We all hate it’s necessity… but are so glad we have it!
My is my seam ripper. It has a light on it, which makes it so much easier to use.
Shears which I use all the time.
Lol…the seam ripper! I am always messing up!!
Lol…the seam ripper..I am always messing up!!
The seam ripper – by far my favorite!
My fabric shears.
My rotary cutter. I would be lost without it and probably not be sewing.
The Seam Ripper ! I use it so much in alterations !
My favorite tool in the sewing kit is without a doubt …the ruler. I can not make a straight line without this and sometimes even when I use one!
My rotary cutters. I have 3 different sizes.
Picking favorite it a hard choice as all the selections are of geat value to me. If I had to pick just one it would have to be the rotary cutter, it makes my projects look professional.
I couldn’t live without my fabric scissors
My self healing cutting mat and rotary cutter are priceless . . .
A bright light!
My most used tool is my seam ripper. I would be lost without it!
I need all of the supplies to replace old worn out ones love to craft!
I would have to say the rotary cutter because I’ve never had one & I imagine it would be helpful & the seam ripper because mistakes happen. Lol
Rotary cutter and quilting rulers.
Rotary cutter for sure. Gets tedious otherwise!
Favorite tool? That is tough for so many are indispensable. I think my pin cushion is one of my most important..since I find it helps me keep up with needles and pins…as I sew, as I cut, as I use my design wall.
Rotary cutter or the cutting mat
as im n
A good pair of shears and seam ripper,then my rotary cutting supplies.
Without a doubt my favorite tool is “the Cadillac” my Elna air electonic! She belonged to my mom (who gave her her name because of all her “bells and whistles”) and when mom passed 13 years ago, my dad said the Elna needed to come live with me. I’ve been sewing since I was 17 when mom and I made my prom gown so I have a lot of gizmos and gadgets and 4 other machines, but I seem to turn to the Cadillac when I start a new project.
as im new to all this sewing but really enjoying it i would love all that was in the basket as i know i would find great joy using them all
Clear quilters rulers!
I would be lost without my seam ripper so thats my favorite xx
Crocheting with tulle is SOOOOO much EASIER with a rotary cutter to cut the strips. Come to think of ti, I need new blades….
For me it would be my Shears but the Washi tape may be the new winner!! Great idea to mark the seam allowance with it. I once tried scotch tape but had trouble seeing it! I’m feeling a shopping trip for PINK washi tape.
Rotary cutter for sure!
Pinking shears are my favorite tool. I use the to make sure nothing frays.
My awl! I sew handbags and my awl it the greatest tool to help pass the thickness of the fabrics through the machine and keep everything moving smoothly.
My favorite tool is the rotary cutter. Second is the seam ripper. I would be elated to win it all!
My favourite tool has to be my straight pins. I know basic but I just can’t seem to have enough of them.
I love the my Self -Healing cutting mat it was a great help to me when I was making a weighted blanket for my great grandson.
the clear rulers are my best friends.
I always have my scissors & seam ripper handy when I’m sewing.
My seam ripper is my favorite tool because I make lots of mistakes. I am new to sewing (and loving it even with the mistakes) so I make more boo boos than the more experienced seamstress.
The seam ripper comes in so handy when you’re doing DIY upcycling projects–I love it!
I use all of those, but my seam rippers (note the plural) and the seam gauge are the ones I can’t do without. Also, I have a very, very sharp pair of 3″ scissors that I use to cut stray threads, etc. and even small fabric pieces. I also CANNOT sew without tweezers — pointy and slant. (They are necessary when using the seam rippers. 🙂 )
I like the clear ruler. I don’t have one and I think it would make things easier to measure.
I use all my sewing tools but my favorite is the thimble, saves my finger from lots of damage.
The rotary cutter AND the self healing mat. I couldn’t imagine cutting quilt pieces using scissors! Thanks!
A good pair of shears. That and the seam ripper.
I love Wonder Clips. They make sewing tricky seams so easy.
I can hardly sew without my seam guide!
Since we are limited to one tool, it has to be the seam ripper for me. Mother used to use a razor blade but that was dangerous and would sometimes ruin the fabric. I can and have substituted for just about every other tool.
Have to have great lighting! And of course, that proverbial seam ripper!
Love my thread snips, great for cleaning up projects and getting a close precise cut. I have more than one, but you can always find my favorite one on the ledge right under the throat of my sewing machine.
The fabric shears are my favorite choice. A tip I learned to keep family from using your shears for other non fabric cutting is to put a combination lock through the handles and don’t tell anyone the combination !
I use all of those, but my seam rippers (note the plural) and the seam gauge are the ones I can’t do without. Also, I have a very, very sharp pair of 3″ scissors that I use to cut stray threads, etc. and even small fabric pieces. I also CANNOT sew without tweezers — pointy and slant. (They are necessary when using the seam rippers. 🙂 )
My Ott light is my favorite tool. I Can’t see well enough with the light on my sewing machine so I back it up with my Ott light. Oh yeah, and my reading glasses, since I can’t see up close without them.Otherwise it would have to be my stiletto, as I have actually sewn through my finger and nail trying to push a thicker seam through my machine while lifting the presser foot. I believe I said more than OUCH!
Has to be the rotary cutter, having not long had one, I am wondering how I managed without it for so long.
I really love all my tools in my kit. But i can’t do without tailor’s chalk and tracing paper, without out those you can’t adjust a pattern.
I absolutely love my rotary cutter and self-healing mat!
The rotary cutter is such a wonderful time saver – I love it!
Seam ripper! Useful for small jobs, but I normally don’t make it through a project without some kind of ripping involved!
rotary cutter. makes cutting fabric quick and easy.
Seam ripper
Definitely couldn’t do without my rotary cutters!
My favorite tool in this collection is the self-healing mat. I always gouge the one I have until I need another one. Not cool, I know, but there you have it!
It’s GOT to be the fabric shears! As a heavily, overloaded paper crafter supply hoarder :), they are worth a MILLION $$’s whenever I can FIND them!!! It is sooo frustrating to try to start a sewing project with a pair of shears that have touched a paper project!
I love the shears, my family know they are hands off. I always need a new one lol ps, today is my birthday!
Pinking shears!!
a sharp pair of scissors are my most important thing I love in my sewing kit, you can’t cut a thing without them ie cut pattern and fabric also cottons and accessories like ribbon or trim.
The self healing mat, they are so expensive here.
I am lost without my pincushion that is on my sewing machine head. It is wrapped around the top and always within reach
i am disabled nd love the rotaary cutters because it allows more freedom of use
Rotary cutter – they’re fun and faster than tradtional shears. I love cutting fabric out with a brand new blade!
Besides the rotary cutter, it would be my thread snips.
Unfortunately it would be my seam ripper. A must have.
They are all very important and need to be used with my imagination.
Fabric Scissors
I think pins are greatly overlooked for their usefulness. There are so many different kinds of pins and there are reasons for that. I do all kinds of sewing with a variety of fabrics and there is nothing worse then having to rip out resew or discovering the fabric is damaged because you are using the wrong type of pin.
My seam ripper!
I’m so new to sewing that I don’t have some of these things! My next purchase is definitely a rotary cutter!! Thanks for all the tips.
My favorite tool is the little hem guage ruler.
Everything in your basket is so necessary for sewing but after my scissors I love my rulers for pattern adjustments and fussy cutting.
the pins, pincushion, and needles. i can sew anywhere with them.
Every project I do requires the seam ripper at least once. I wish it wasn’t true, but it is!
Sorry, but I have Two besties !! Rotary cutter and my Gorgeous Gingher scissors !! Couldn’t sew without them : )
Sewing tools! Just what I need to hem some new nursing scrubs to my short stature. 😉
My seam ripper and good fine pins. Both are very basic but very necessary.
My favorite is my rotary cutter. However the one I use most is the seam ripper! 🙂
Win win
I love the rotary cutter.
My pin cushion and pins
So many essentials and some exciting new finds, but I could never make it without a great pair of shears.
The tool I wouldn’t be without is a very pointed tweezers. I use it to thread all needles – hand sewing, sewing machine(s), and for picking up/out things that fall into small places!
What a beautiful basket! As I look at the basket, I realize that scissors and needles are an item that I use most frequently. It seems that the basics, whether using the needle for hand sewing or with the machine, inspires more sewing or quilting! Thanks for offering all these items as a prize
My favorite tool in my sewing kit is my thimble actually. They don’t seem important until you are hand sewing something and discover firsthand that the eye side of the needle didn’t get the memo that it wasn’t supposed to hurt you!
the seam gauge! I need several, since it’s always where I am not!
I don’t have a favorite tool in my sewing basket. Everything comes in handy, and I like trying new things.
After hemming jeans today it has to be the seam gauge. Like things to be even. Measure twice and cut once is an important saying.
My mom’s old wooden point turner!!
Rotary cutter for sure 🙂
I would llove some new fabric shears,despite many reminders my two boys still use them for scissors!A rotary cutter would come in handy to.
Shears – just for fabric!!! The pair I have been using were given to me when I graduated from 8th grade. That’s 53 years ago! I think if I win I can have my antique fabric shears framed.
Lately I’ve been doing a lot of hand sewing since my sewing machine is broken. So my favorite tool has become my thimble.
Have to say my Rotary Cutter! (but my Seam Ripper is always close by…lol) Thanks for chance to win! 🙂
I love the rotary cutter!
I need a self healing mat. The mat I have is not self healing and it’s getting sad.
my rotary cutter
I favorite is my Ginger snips I have been having a very long time and my stiletto.
I don’t sew as often as I should but I have a daughter in law who loves to sew for my grandchildren. I have watched her and she loves the sound of her fabric scissors as she cuts out a new garment. On my last visit she was making a beautiful winter coat for herself, for a change, and I’m sure she would love a basket of new sewing tools. I hope the person who wins these lovely tools gets many years of service from them and they make their new owner’s life easier in their sewing room.
My favorite tool has to my hem guage.
My favorite tool has to be my hem guage.
My favorite tool is the seam ripper.
Rotary cutter a must have in my book.
I would be lost without my rotarycutter and mat.
Self healing cutting mat
i like all of the them i don’t have a faborite one
I could not do with out pins to keep things straight.
Love the basics. Cutting mat, rotary cutter, scissors and of course my sewing machine. I DO NOT want to hand sew clothing and quilts like my great grand mother did!
In MY sewing kit, the favorite, most used tool is the scissors. What I would like it to be is a variety of rulers and templates for cutting and the rotary cutter and mat to go with it. Does that count as one favorite?
I love my rotary cutter. My bobbin winder next.
My favorite tools are the Clover Desktop Needle threader and wonder clips. Couldn’t do without either.
I just love my scissors My mother gave them to me and I can cut 6 or more layers of cloth if I need to and the cut is just as good if I cut 1 layer . God bless
I would have to say the self-healing cutting mat. Saving a good surface and with a rotary blade they just go so well together.
I would have to say my sewing box that has been handed down from my Great Grandfather. It was his cash box for his store during the Civil War. I just love it , thanks for letting us share.
I just realized from reading the comments that there are shears with a light on them. That is so neat. I would love to have any of the basket. I am just getting back into sewing from a 25 year break so I’m sure that basket would inspire me to get “sew” busy : )
Aside from my machine I could not do without my seam ripper.
I would love anything in the sewing kit The scissors with the light would be great, I’m a senior and can use all the help I can get.The lovely kit holding the supplies is really nice too! Hope I win,
can you tell us who won?
Who won please!
My favorite tool is the thing that I turn thin straps inside out with. Got a finger loop on one end and on the other end its got a hook with a lock pie e
Many really good time saving tools have come out since I started sewing 45 years ago. The one I enjoy using the most is the seam ripper. Have made a special apron with 2 front pockets. A seam ripper in the right and rotary cutter in the left side, both are attached to their own cord made from fabric. They go every where in the house with me.
My pinking shears…. I don’t have a serger so I really need these!!!
The self-healing mat – it makes the rotary cutter possible to use – and is also a nice base for other projects
I have many cutting implements but my favorite is my appliqué scissors! I love the way the fit in my hand comfortably and I can trim, grade and snip easily with one pair of scissors!