The real deal is that everyone has a list.
No matter where you go these days everyone has a list of 'shop here for my favorite things!' or '10 essentials you need to get started in embroidery!'. Well the bad news is, you'll buy way more than 10 things when you get started with embroidery - and the good news is, there is no right or wrong way to go about getting started. This is my short list of things I use every week - nothing fancy over here!
- Gingher curved scissors for applique. I do have a dozen pairs of snips for just quick cuts too!
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Fabric shears - warn everyone in your house that these are NOT for paper!
note - I actually have 18 pairs of scissors/snips in sight of my desk right now. It's embarassing. But I do recommend a heavy pair of metal shears for fabric cutting, a different pair of scissors for stabilizer cutting, and another pair for cutting anything with a sticky layer on it!
- Rotary cutter and replacement blades
- Exacto knife
- Fabric marking - heat soluable and water soluable
- Seam ripper (because it happens)
- Pins, clamps, sew tites, and clips - I also use binder clips (from an office supply store) when I'm securing large quilts or bags!
- Adhesive Spray
- Self healing mat
- Because I can't cut straight to save my life, straight edges - square, rectangle
- Rulers - ask me how many times I measure placement.
- Ribbon for banners - ribbon holder and ribbon
- Banners! - I get asked daily where I source my banners for crests and frames! I have used dozens of these from Amazon (but you can get them at craft stores as well). Truthfully, now that I can make my own, I prefer that method!
- Lint roller - you're going to want one before photographing your work! Trust me, whatever lint you don't see with your regular eyes, you'll see on the photos.
- Stabilizers: tearaway, sulky stitcky, water soluable (for full nap items) and for satin-edged bag tags, cutaway, polymesh sheets and roll
- On the back of every piece of fabric I use - Heat and Bond Lite
- Iron
- Ironing mat
- Ironing pad for pressing
Favorite fabric suppliers:
Farmhouse Fabrics
Children's Corner
