The Beginner's Essential Sewing Kit!

People often ask which sewing materials they should keep around, so we decided to blog a list of things we love to use when sewing! Here are our recommendations for the essential sewer's kit! (Great for all sewers, but super helpful for beginners especially)



A Beginner's Essential Sewing Kit Materials and Tools:

• Fabric Shears: Pick one with a long, sharp blade and be sure to never use them on paper!

• Quilting Ruler: Having both sizes is really handy but just one is good to start with.

• Mini Scissors: Really great to keep around when sewing to snip off loose threads, cutting thread, snipping notch marks. Highly recommended. (We own several pairs of these!)

• Tailors Chalk: Available in a variety of colours, pick some that will be easy to see against the fabrics that you're using.

• Pins: Essential for keeping your fabric together when sewing or cutting.

• Handsewing Needle: Very helpful for quick, minor alterations. Essential for sewing buttons. Great to keep around for other small projects and detail work.

• Stitch Ripper: Removes any sewing mistakes quickly, perfect for beginners.

• Measuring Tape: Works great for measuring larger projects and body measurements.

• Thread: Black and white thread are good basic colours to have. Also keep another spool that would match with most fabrics you use or just one of your favourite colours. (We like dark blues, but greys are also easy to match)

These materials can all be found at your local fabric store. As well, if you sign up for a class at SWFDS, you'll also get this kit in a cute storage pouch! (thread and shears not included) 

Check it out here. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes available.

Hope this helps and happy sewing!

FashionDIY Artist signing out :)

[DIY Tutorial] Baby Receiving Blanket

Here are our DIY baby receiving blankets! Follow our tutorial to learn how to make this simple and inexpensive project!

Materials needed:
1.1 Metres of fabric (100% cotton in flannel or cuddle)

Sewing supplies needed:
Serger sewing machine (not pictured)
Fabric shears
Ruler
Measuring tape
Chalk
Circle reference (a mug or cup will work)

Instructions:
1. Decide what dimensions you'd like for your finished receiving blanket.
These instructions are for a 40" x 40" oversized blanket.

2. Lay fabric flat on the table.

3. Use a measuring tape to a 40" x 40" square (or whatever dimensions you've chosen). Chalk out your line and cut.

4. Take a mug or any circular object and line it up to the corner edges of the fabric.
Chalk the new rounded edge to all four corners.

5. Starting on a side not a corner, serge all the way around the blanket.

6. Trim off any excess threads from the serger and you're done!

For any questions, don't hesitate to drop us a comment below, send us an email or just visit us in studio! 
Happy sewing!

July's Throw Pillow Workshop Recap

Check out yesterday's throw pillow workshops!

11 students in a variety of sewing levels (from beginners to sewing experts) participated in our one day workshop, with 2 sessions offered. It took less than 2 hours to sew both pillow covers!

2 envelope throw pillow covers made from silk

(left to right: Michelle, Sasha, and Sheila with their pillow covers)

Tai sewing her second pillow cover

Sasha working on her pillow cover

Michelle showing off her completed pillow covers!

If you missed out, no worries! Our August workshop is coming up soon, details to be released very soon, so be sure check our website and Facebook for updates!