What supplies do I need to get started with sewing?

[Mrs P]

I have decided I need a new hobby, and am spending my birthday cash on a basic ($150) sewing machine. What other supplies do I need besides thread, fabric and good scissors? I will be mostly making basic baby clothes, nothing too advanced!!

[Yeddi]

Pins, tape measure, buttons, studs or zippers, pattern or pattern making paper. I think that's it...

[Fleur]

Pins, is about all I can think of, adn patterns of course if you want to use them. I think you have the other basics covered. Have fun!

[MrsBexie]

A good quality cutting board, ruler and roller cutter... Getting a cheaper one just costs more money in the end...
Good fabric scizzors, white fabric pencil, pins, all different colours of thread and extra bobbins, a quick unpick thingy, and thats all I can think of.
Yay!! Sewing is sooo much fun!!

[Kazbah]

And sewing lessons - Spotlight has beginner classes that are good value.

[teresa]

all of the above! tho i found a fantastic book on sewing which helps with all of the basics plus extras. it goes on about what you should have in your sewing box plus what each sewing foot is for and how to sew different fabrics and what stitch to use for what. its a fantastic book. cost about $60 i think from memory. feel free to pm me if you want the name of it

sewing is very addictive and trust me you wont want to just do baby clothes! good luck and let us know how you get on

[Astrid]

Have a squiz at this thread as well:
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...embers-132745/

[Muppity]

Best investment that I ever made was a sewing box. Cost about $35 or 40 is from our local sewing shop and keeps everything in the one spot.

With supplies. I found that the easiest way was to get what I needed for a project and then keep the spares in the box. And then before going shopping for the next project look at what you already have IYKWIM. There is nothing worse than have 100 buttons that were cute (and sometimes very exxie) and nothing to do with them After a few projects you have several different thread colours, scraps of fabric and leftover buttons etc.

Also, spare sewing machine needles are an essential. Get the right ones when you get the machine if you aren't sure.

[Mrs P]

Thanks girls! I got my machine - I actually also picked one up for two friends who couldn't get to the store (last day of the sale) so I bought THREE at once ha ha!

I got most of the basics you mentioned, plus a couple of things one of the lovely salesladies suggested (I told her it was my first machine and I didn't know what I was doing, and she was great!). Also got some material to make 2 pairs of ruffle-butt bloomers as my first projects! All those bits ended up being nearly $90 but included good titanium scissors ($9), another pack of 3 scissors ($9 - needed some for the house too) and a magnetic pin thingy ($10) as well as elastic for the bloomers etc.

Cannot wait to get started! But I need a sewing table too - am going to get DH to pick up one of those folding 6 foot long ones from Bunnings ($48) - will come in handy around the place, and I can set it up permanently in our spare bedroom for now, so no need to pack everything off the dining room table every time I sew!

Yay!!

MrsBexie - roughly how long does it take you to make a pair of bloomer with that pattern?

[MrsC_Aussie]

It might be worth investigating if there's a branch of the Australian Sewing Guild in ur area, I know there are groups in WA. I'm a member and its great to meet up monthly with other women who sew, everyone I've met through the Guild is lovely and so willing to help and answer any questions or help u figure out what went wrong lol!