Every single cooking magazine always seems to have a listing of what you should stock in your pantry. Well we've decided to put together our version of a Basic Pantry for the Quilter.
These are items that you should never be without in your sewing room.
1. Thread - 100% cotton for sewing - keep on hand some good basic colours. Our thread brand of choice is Metler.
2. Seam Ripper - sorry but we're not perfect! Look for a seam ripper that has a nice sharp point and is easy on the hands. Our seam ripper of choice - White Handle Seam Ripper by Clover.
3. Fabric Scissors - only use for fabric. Look for a comfortable handle and good blades. Our scissor of choice is the Fons & Porter Quilter's Scissor (available 5 1/2", 61/2" & 8 1/2"). They are resonably priced and with the red handles easy to find.
4. Pins - You can never have enough pins. Look for flathead pins. They may cost a bit more that the traditional pins, but you can lay rulers on top of them without the worry of wobbling. Our pin of choice is the Flowerhead pin by Clover.
5. Make sure to include a good ruler in your kit. You cannot go wrong with an Omnigrid 6" x 24" ruler. With bright yellow markings, your measuring lines can be seen on almost all fabrics. This size is the most versatile.
6. Rotary Cutter - There are so many different choice available. Just remember you get what you pay for! Cutters come in a variety of sizes. A good versatile size is the 45 mm size. Easy on the hands. Make sure that it has a safety guard on it. Our cutter of choice is the 45 mm Rotary Cutter by Olfa (regular or deluxe handle).
7. Now that you have a ruler and a cutter, you need the proper mat to cut on. Again there are a variety of choices. Look for an 18" x 24" mat. This is the perfect size to travel with or to move room to room. We like both the Olfa and Omnimat brands of mats. The only difference is the brightness of the mat.
8. Glue - Always a necessity especially if you are dabbling in applique. Glues of choice - Fons & Porter Glue Pen and the Glue-Dab-A-Roo.
9. Hand Sewing Needles - Always a necessity. Look for a good quality needle that has a big eye. Remember the larger the size number the smaller the eye of the needle. Our most favorite needles are the Sharps # 10 by Clover.
10. No matter what type of needle you are working with a good needle threader eases the frustration factor. The best threader around is the Double Ended Needle Threader by Clover. It has two ends. The very finest end actually allows you to thread a size # 12 needle.
11. Marking pencils are an absolute must for any sew or quilter. Just like other notions, you get what you pay for. Invest in an Ultimate Marking Pencil or a Fons & Porter Mechanical pencil. Both come with the traditional grey colour lead. You will still want to have other pencils but we pretty well guarentee that you will be reaching for one of these pencils for all of your needs. As with any marking pencil you need to test any pencil on the fabric you are marking before marking a whole project.
12. And finally, we highly suggest a Tailor's Awl be included in your list of must haves. It's great for helping to guide the final bit of your seam through your sewing machine where fingers do not fit. Our choice is the White-Handle Tailor's Awl by Clover.
