Sewing baskets today come in a variety of shapes; the traditional rectangular shape basket is the one usually found constructed of rattan. The outer basket is often wrapped in a beautiful chintz print fabric, although modern denims and twills can be found as well; most have a hook and eye tape tab closure, molded plastic storage tray and padded interior lid that serves as its own pin cushion. Durable, functional, and timeless, the practical sewing basket filled with basic sewing notions would make a wonderful gift for the novice sewer and can be assembled from the many, many notions found in your local fabric or craft store. Add a how-to sewing book and your gift will leave lasting memories.
The compartmented sewing baskets most wanted items would include:
Small pin cushion the tomato shape with its dangling strawberry emery to sharpen and clean pins and needles is endearingly iconic of sewing the wrist pin cushion its modern handy cousin
Flexible fabric measuring tape
General purpose hand sewing needles
Needle threader
Colored marking pencils
Thread - Long fiber 100% polyester thread minimizes snagging, knotting and breaking. Having commonly used colors white, black, tan, red, navy round out any sewing basket; Mercerized cotton thread is useful for fabrics with little or no stretch - great for quilters. Silk thread is used on silk, wools, and silk blends. Great for basting as it does not leave a thread imprint when pressed. Beautiful for top stitching, hand-worked buttonholes, machine embroidery and appliquι work.
Note: Inexpensive short-fiber thread can fray easily, producing thread lint that clogs needles and breaks easily.
Sewing gauge with sliding marker for easy hem marking and checking measurements during construction. A 6 clear plastic ruler would work too.
Package of glass-head straight pins or flat-flower head pins
Package of safety pins
Seam ripper for those inevitable stitch errors; makes it easy to remove stitches without harming the fabric
Thimble
Buttons, snap fasteners, hooks and eyes, package of hook and loop tape
Scissors and Shears: 8 or 9 bent-handle dressmaker shears for cutting fabric only - when properly cared for good quality shears will last a lifetime. Craft or trimmer scissors 4 or 5 are handy and small sharp embroidery scissors that cleanly nip threads. Pinking shears are a delight to have and a wonder of functionality; however they are not always a common item in the sewing basket. To customize the sewing basket for the beginner quilter, a rotary cutter and mat, as well clear quilting rulers in a variety of sizes are a must.
Note: scissors and shears will be the most expensive items in the sewing basket. Dritz, Fiskars, Gingher, and Olfa are some well known, quality brands.
Sewing baskets of the past evoke a sense of nostalgia and surely nudge our own sewing muse today.
Happy Sewing.
Editor Recommended Books
Save to Del.icio.us
