The first thing you will need to have is a sewing basket itself. You do not need to go out and purchase a basket made especially for sewing; any box with compartments will work great. Many people prefer to use a fishing tackle box because they give you a lot of small compartments to store your various items in. By having many compartments you can keep your sewing basket in order and free from clutter.

Once you have your sewing basket or box, it is time to start acquiring the necessary basics you will need to sew. There are a few things that every sewing basket should have. They are:

Sharp Scissors

Using dull scissors is one of the most frustrating things you can do when you are sewing. Dull scissors make your project much harder than it needs to be. A good quality pair of very sharp scissors will save you a ton of frustration and time. Your projects will also turn out better and have cleaner lines to them. Having a sharp pair of scissors available without having to hunt around the house for them is a must for any sewing basket.

A Variety of Pins and Needles

What you will be sewing dictates which needles you will need. Needles come in a variety of sizes and sharpness to be used with different fabric types. In your sewing box you will want to have very sharp needles and some which are blunt ended. You will also want to have large needles and small ones. In addition to needles you will want to have plenty of pins to use to hold things together while you are sewing them.

Magnetic Pin Holder

Rather than a traditional fabric pin cushion, a magnetic pin holder can make your use of pins and needles easier. Also, when you are finished for the day, you can simply wave your magnetic pin holder over your work area and attract up all of the stray pins before they end up on the floor and in someone's foot. A magnetic pin holder is a staple for any sewing basket.

Threads

No sewing basket is complete without threads. You will want a selection of a variety of colors and thread weights. The last thing you want to do is find yourself needing to sew on a dark button and only having white thread to do it with. Many stores sell a package of small spools of various thread colors. In addition, there is some wonderful denim thread available if you will be sewing on jeans.

Stitch Gage

A stitch gage looks like a small ruler with a sliding gage on it. The stitch gage is used to help you measure and also to help you sew straight seams and hems every single time.

Taylor's Chalk

Taylor's chalk is a must for making markings on your fabric and cutting out patterns. The chalk is easily removed from your final product

Anti-Fray Solution

Anti-fraying solution can be applied to the edges of your fabric to keep it from fraying while you work with it. The solution resembles super glue and can safely be used on most fabrics.

Pinking Shears

Pinking shears are a special type of scissors which cut fabric so that the edges are zigzagged. This zigzagging keeps fragile fabric edges from fraying. If you will be working with a fabric with a tendency to fray, such as satin, you will find that pinking shears make your life a whole lot easier.

Elastic Puller

Elastic pullers are used to pull elastic through casings in your projects. They are very inexpensive and indispensable if you will be working with elastics.

If you take the time to stock your sewing basket with the above items, you will be ready for any sewing emergency or project. And, you can be the hero of the house when a button falls off ten minutes before your family leaves for a special occasion.

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Repetitive movements, such as those hand and wrist movements associated with embroidery and hand sewing, can cause RSI. Generally, embroidery involves the simple movements of passing a thread through fabric from the front to the back, the back to the front and holding the fabric in place to do so. Both of these actions can cause and exasperate RSI in the hands and wrist.

The good news is that RSI can be avoided if you take the time to make some simple changes to the way you embroider and sew. And, if you find yourself afflicted with RSI you should immediately stop your stitching and allow for your tendons and muscles to heal. The best thing you can do for the pain is to take an anti-inflammatory medication and rest the area. If the pain does not subside on its own, then you should seek the help of a medical professional.

As you are embroidering you should take all of the precautions you can to avoid RSI. The first is to adapt how you handle your needle and project. When you are doing embroidery it is much easier on your non-dominant hand to use a frame to secure your work in place. You can use a floor frame or a simple lap frame. Both of these will allow you to work without having to sit and hold your fabric taught between your fingers.

Using a very small weave fabric can add to RSI. Because the smaller weave requires your stitch placement to be much more precise, to get the needle in just the right place, you will likely find that you tense your muscles in your hand and fingers to make the stitches. When you use a higher count, or larger weave fabric, this issue is resolved naturally because the holes in the fabric are larger and you do not have to be as precise to get your stitches made.

When you are stitching by hand it is important to limit the length of the threads you are using. When you use a long thread you have to constantly stretch out your arm to pull the thread through your fabric. By stitching with shorter threads you will not have to stretch out your arm as much. You will have to get new thread more often but you will save your arm and shoulder muscles and tendons a lot of unnecessary work in the process.

When you stitch you should be resting your elbows on the arms of your chair or on a pillow. By not moving the upper parts of your arm with every stitch you can avoid shoulder and upper-arm repetitive stress injuries.

After you have been embroidering or sewing for about a half-hour you should stop and move your arms and hands around. See if you feel any stress in your muscles and know that this will most likely be the area in which you would suffer from an RSI. Take the time to understand why you are seeing soreness and how to avoid it in the future.

Once you have stopped for a quick break to move around, you should also work at closing your eyes and releasing any stress you might have. Simple relaxation techniques can do wonders for RSI.

If you are suffering from RSI it does not have to mean the end of your stitching for good. You should take the time out to rest and recuperate. Then, when you are ready to start stitching again, you can modify your movements to avoid any flare-ups of RSI. If you then still experience pain it is time to consult your doctor.

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In centuries past, couching was a very popular form of decoration for the upper-class clothing of the time. People of means would often wear items which were covered in couched and embroidered designs.

The couching of today is generally done by laying a length of yarn, cord, or ribbon down on a piece of fabric, and then sewing it in place with a zigzag or other decorative stitch. Today, couching is used to sew on many of the more decorative fibers and trims available to those who sew at their local craft stores.

Applying any type of trim or embellishment to fabric can very drastically alter its appearance. Couching can be used to embellish and it can also be used to hide unsightly mistakes or damage on a fabric. If your garment has a stain on it, you can apply something over the stain by couching and have a renewed garment in no time.

Couching By Machine – The Presser Feet, Needles and Thread Options

Couching by sewing machine can easily be accomplished with the help of the correct presser foot, needles, and threads. There are five different types of presser feet which are used with couching. They are:

A Cording Foot – Has a small loop attached to the foot which you feed in a small braid, yarn or ribbon. This can be used to help you position your trim so that it is right-side facing up.

An Open-Toe Embroidery Presser Foot – Is the basic presser foot used for couching because it can handle all types of materials and allows you to see them while they are guided and sewing into position on your project.

A Multi-Cord Presser Foot – This presser foot allows you to couch with multiple cords at the same time.

A Blind-Hem Presser Foot – Allows you to sew on thicker trims and near the edge of your fabric.

A Beading Presser Foot – Allows you to easily apply strands of beads which can be wider than normal couching materials.

In addition to using a special presser foot for couching you will want to use a larger than normal sewing needle. This is especially true when you are couching using denser fabrics or trims.

When you select the thread for your sewing machine and bobbin you need to take into account if you want the thread to blend in or be visible. Using metallic threads can give your couching a whole new dimension. You will want your bobbin thread to match your sewing thread for couching.

In addition, if you are using a light weight fabric to couch on, you will want to use a fabric stabilizer. You can stabilize your fabric by either sewing in a light knit interfacing or by using a tear-away stabilizing product.

AS you can see, by using a couple special items and your sewing machine you can use couching to embellish you sewing projects. While couching is not difficult, it does take a bit of time to learn how to do. By taking the time and using the right items, your couching will be looking professional in no time.

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Here are some tips and tricks to get you on the road to choosing the appropriate fabric for any sewing project:

Read Your Pattern

If you will be sewing from a pattern, read the back of the package the pattern came in to see what fabric the pattern maker suggests. While you can ultimately use any fabric you choose, the pattern maker gives you an idea of the fabric choices the pattern was ideally made for. You will generally have the best end result if you stick to fabric similar to that listed on the pattern.

Examine the Fabric

When you go to your local fabric or craft store to purchase your fabric, spend some time touching and feeling the fabric. Look it over very well and look for bad signs such as fraying. You can be assured that if the fabric is fraying on the bolt, then it will be fraying when you try to make your project. Similarly, if the fabric is rolling up onto itself on the bolt, then it will do the same to you once you get it home and try to work with it.

Another thing to look for is wrinkles. Does the fabric wrinkle easily? You can test this by scrunching it up in your hand and looking at the result. If the result is a wrinkled mess, and you can't easily smooth it out with your hands, then you can be assured it will wrinkle once your project is completed.

While you are examining the fabric take the time to look at the top of the bolt and see if there are any special care instructions listed. For everyday items and casual clothing, try to stick to fabrics which are machine washable and dryable.

Working with Satin and T-Shirt Knit

Two of the hardest fabrics to work with are satin and t-shirt knit. The satin is so slick that it wants to fall off of your sewing table while you are cutting it. Then once it is cut, it doesn't want to stay together for you to sew it. The best thing you can do to work with satin is to buy special, very small, pins called "silk pins." These pins will help your fabric stay together for sewing and will not leave holes in your finished product.

T-shirt knits tend to want to roll up constantly. This means that when you are sewing with it you will have to be unrolling it and holding it in place to sew your seams. While t-shirt knits can make some wonderful items, they are a bit of a bear to sew with.

If you are new to sewing you might want to avoid satin and t-shirt knits until you get a bit more sewing experience under your belt.

Cotton Fabrics

One of the easiest fabrics to sew with is cotton. Cotton is comfortable to wear and looks great on. However, if you will be sewing with cotton, or a fabric such as wool or linen, know that it will shrink when washed and dried. The first thing you will need to do with cotton is to wash and dry it before you ever cut out your pattern. This will help to ensure that your finished product will stay the same size after laundering. If you will be working with wool or linen you can both wash it and let it shrink or you can commit to only dry cleaning your finished items.

The most important thing you will need to do is to find the right fabric for your project. You can accomplish this by reading the pattern and really looking well at any fabric you might want to use. Make sure when you get your fabric home that you know how to care for it and prepare it for use. Once you have done these things you can ensure a wonderful finished project which will last for years to come.

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Because elastic comes in many forms, as do fabrics, it is very important to know your basics about both of them before you attempt to sew elastic. By learning about fabrics and elastics you can ensure that you use the right one of both for your project for the best results.

To sew elastic, the best thing you can do is to use a stretch needle and a longer stitch length than normal while sewing. Generally a long stitch length of three or four is best for most fabrics and most elastic types. The best elastic products to use are Ban-Rol, Stretch and Sew, and Stretch-Rite Sport Elastic. Each of these three products can be found online or at your local sewing or craft store. They are each of good quality, last a long time, and are the easiest to sew with.

To sew in your elastic, start with a strip of elastic about four or five inches smaller than the fabric opening you want to elasticize. Cut the two ends so that they will meet-up with each other and not overlap. One of the best ways to do this is cut them into triangular ends and have them meet up on a diagonal. If you overlap your elastic you will have an unsightly and uncomfortable bump in your finished project, which you definitely do not want.

Take your elastic and zigzag stitch it together by sewing back and forth over it a few times where the two ends of the elastic meet up. The best sewing machine setting to use for this is to use a wide, three-step zigzag. Once you have completed sewing your elastic together, then pull on your elastic circle to ensure that it is secured and will not come apart. Once you are sure that it will not separate, you can then use it in your project and know it will last.

When you put in your elastic, make sure to pin it at even quarters in your project. By dividing the fabric evenly in quarters, and the elastic itself, you can make sure that your final project looks its best and will not bunch up in one area and be loose in another.

The next thing you need to do is to vertically sew in your elastic at each of these four points. Do these before you start sewing and you will not need to deal with popping pins and diagonal pulls as you sew in the elastic.

Again, using a wide, long zigzag stitch, to allow for the elastic to move and shape your project, and stretch your elastic and sew the top of it into place. Continue to sew around the top of the elastic and then move on to sewing the bottom of the elastic.

By using this technique to sew elastic, you should have perfectly elasticized sewing projects which will last and stretch for years to come.

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The easiest project for a brand new sewer is to make a simple pillow or dress. Pillows can be made from two squares of fabric simply sewn together and then stuffed. To make a pillow you don't even need a pattern. If you can cut out a square then you can make a great pillow.

If you want to make a clothing item for your first sewing project, I suggest you start with a simple summer type dress. Having something useful and pretty when you get done can give you an amazing sense of accomplishment. If you have a young child to sew for you can make a child sized dress, otherwise try one for an adult.

If you have never sewn before you will need to gather up all of the following for your first project:

A pattern
Fabric
Thread
Fusible Interfacing
Sharp scissors
Pins and a needle
Anything else listed on the pattern

A basic sewing machine

The first thing you need to do is get your sewing machine threaded and working. You should have a manual with instructions on how to do this correctly. No two machines are the same so you will need to do this part on your own.

Once you have your machine threaded, and all of your items gather up together on your sewing table, you will want to read over any instructions that came with your pattern to make sure that you clearly understand them. On the back of the pattern you will find measurements, fabric suggestions, and other information you need to understand fully.

You should always make sure you completely understand your directions and have everything you need before you ever start cutting your fabric.

Decide which "view" of the pattern you want to use (i.e. sleeveless, with sleeves, short dress, long dress, etc…) and see which letter corresponds to it. This will tell you which pieces you need to cut through.

When you select your fabric try to stick to lightweight fabric without too many designs or stripes on it. Do not attempt to work with plaid on your first try! The last thing you want to have to deal with when you are fist starting out is matching plaid or designs. Start simple, and work yourself up.

Wash your fabric and put it through the dryer. This will insure that if your fabric is going to shrink, then it will do it before you make your dress. The last thing you want to do is make a dress and have it shrink in the washer and not be able to wear it.

Place your pattern pieces on your fabric and pin them in place. You will find a map, of sorts, on the instruction page to show you how to lay out your pieces on the fabric. Once you have them all placed and pinned you can start to cut out your fabric with very sharp scissors.

The instructions will lead you through how to sew your pattern pieces together to make your dress. Follow the instructions and take your time. Make sure you understand completely what you are asked to do before you attempt to sew anything. Once you understand then you can start to sew your pieces together.

Start with two pieces and work until you have your dress completed. If you hit a snag you can always call someone who sews or go into your fabric store and ask for help. They would be thrilled to help you!

Once you are finished, wear your new dress with the pride that comes with knowing that you made it yourself!

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Some of the most famous civilizations for creating brilliant embroidery creations are the Japanese and the English. They both used embroidery to decorate ceremonial garments as well as decorative home items. While the Japanese are most known for their amazing kimonos, the English are well known for their hand embroidered fabric furniture panels.

Unfortunately for collectors, many of the works of embroidery art of the past have been lost to time and decay. The silk threads and fabrics are very prone to damage by insects and light. It is very unlikely these days to find a work made prior to the mid 1600's. Examples from earlier than this time only exist in museums, and churches who have taken the care to restore and preserve them.

There are two major forms of embroidery from the past which are collected today; they are: stump work and samplers.

Stump work was made in the mid-seventeenth century and consists of a highly colored, embroidered design on white silk. Often the works are done of scenes of people and carved wooden heads, hands and feet are added to these works of art. Often found with stump work are padded areas which are used to make the designs three dimensional and interesting to the eye.

Stump work was made to depict scenes of live at the time and was used to cover mirror frames, and to cover trinket boxes. These trinket boxes were generally made with many small drawers and with secret compartments for hiding valuables such as tea and jewelry. Often the trinket boxes contained mirrors and were lined with paper and metallic tapes.

Serious collectors today are still discovering wonderful stump work to add to their collections.

In the past, as part of the regular school curriculum of girls, embroidery was taught. These very young students, sometimes as young as seven or eight years old, would show their sewing skills by creating colorful samplers. The samplers would showcase their sewing skills as well as their knowledge of the numbers and alphabets. Many samplers were created which depict the children, their interests and their school buildings as well. Samplers were generally stitched on wool or silk fabrics with very colorful silk and metallic threads and can still be found for purchase today. Very old or very decorative samplers today are worth a lot of money to the collectors who are fortunate enough to own them.

Some of the most unusual embroidery throughout the times has been that of maps. Maps were drawn on silk and then stitched. The names of countries and other places of interest were stitched on the maps.

If you have ever tried any form of hand embroidery, you know it is a slow and tedious process. The results are amazing, but it can take a very long time to achieve even the simplest of designs. This makes all embroidered fabrics from the past very collectable today by those who understand all of the hours and patience which went into creating the works of art. While children around the world no longer do embroidery as part of their school curriculum, the art is still practiced by adults all over the globe.

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Generally cross stitch is done on weaved fabric which has small, even holes, for your needle and thread to go through. This weaved cloth is called Aida cloth. Some cross stitch is done on silks and other fabrics as well. What fabric is used depends entirely on the stitcher themselves and the desired end results.

Some cross stitch embroidery today is also done on plastic and paper canvases. These other mediums produce their own unique results. Plastic and paper are stiffer than traditional cross stitich fabrics and can be molded into interesting shapes and used for projects where fabric simply isn't practical.

The threads used for cross stitch vary from cottons, wools, silks and metallic. The threads are usually very colorful and come in a complete myriad of colors and textures for any need.

If you are new to cross stitch it is always a good idea to learn a bit about the craft before you begin on your first project. There are tons of books and websites which are dedicated solely to cross stitch techniques and instructions. Before you purchase your first project you should take the time to read about cross stitch and understand how it is done. This will save you a lot of frustration on your first project.

The next thing you should do is to choose a simple cross stitch project to learn on. Find a project which is not too complicated, doesn't have too many colors, and which uses a larger weave Aida fabric. The combination of these three factors will ensure you the best results for your first cross stitch project.

When you understand the basics of cross stitch then it is time to start on your first project. Start by reading all of the instructions which came with your first project kit. Read and understand how many threads to use and about any special markings on the pattern.

When cross stitching you will take a traditional six strand embroidery thread and separate it into individual threads. You will then cross stitch using one to three of the threads at a time. Generally the larger the weave of your Aida cloth, the more strands of thread you will work with at a time. The best thing you can do for your end product is to separate each strand and then use the recommended number of threads together. Do not rewind them together, keep them separated. This helps for your thread to better cover the canvas and look flat and even.

When you start your first stitch, do not knot your thread. You never want to knot thread on any stitchery project because it will make lumps on the finished project. Simply pull the thread through your fabric and leave a small tail of thread at the back. Hold on to the small tail at the back of your project and make your next few stitches so that they overlap that thread and secure it in place. This takes a bit of practice but makes your projects look great.

When you are done stitching with one color and need to start a new one the process is simple. You should take your needle and gently pull your thread through the existing stitches on the back-side of your project. This will secure your thread. Once you have done this then clip the thread off close to your project surface but leave a bit extra, maybe a centimeter, so it does not come undone. To start with a new thread color simply re-thread your needle and start again just like before.

The biggest problem with cross stitch is that it is simply addictive. As soon as you learn how to do it you start finding projects everywhere that you want to complete. This is a good thing in moderation but try to keep to buying projects only one or two ahead of the one you are currently working on. Cross stitch projects can take up a lot of time and you should make sure that you don't purchase projects which you will never actually complete.

Best of luck with your new craft!

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The look coming in Spring 2008 appears to be a throw-back to the 1950's. Such items as high heeled pumps, slim skirts, large belts, and loose blouses with puffy collars and sleeves appear to be becoming all the rage once again. It appears that the days of butts hanging out of low-rise jeans are ending and a more sophisticated look is returning to the mainstream. For many of us, this couldn't have come at a better time; unless you are a six foot tall pencil, the fashions of 2007 just aren't that flattering.

Some of the latest staples of your wardrobe should be:

* A slim skirt
* A wide belt
* A great fitting pair of slacks
* A fitted jacket
* Shaped t-shirts
* Wrap blouses and dresses
* Metallic accents including grey metals and gold
* Denim items

This short list should give you a million and one ideas of items you can sew. Wraps are simple to do as are straight skirts and belts. Another easy thing you can do is purchase something ready to wear, or take something already in your closet, and add some metallic embellishments to it. This is a great way to recycle your older styles and make them current so you can get more wear out of them.

The colors for the coming seasons appear to be shades of grey, black and red. Use these colors to add to your classic wardrobe in unique ways. Belts make great accent items as do simple wrap blouses.

As we all know, the best thing about being able to sew our clothing is that we can make what we want, in our own colors and style, and have it fit our unique body types exactly how we want them to. Use this advantage and create some items for your wardrobe which will make you stick out from the crowd and have the other ladies at work asking; "Where did you get that?"

I was shopping recently at the mall and found a wonderful, simple slim skirt and the price tag blew me away at almost $200. If you can make one, and others like it, you could easily pay for your sewing by making a couple extra to sell. Or, you can simply delight in the fact that other people think you spend a fortune on your outfit, but the truth is that you made it all for yourself!

No matter what your level of sewing experience is, you can sew yourself some wonderful items which will be in fashion for Spring 2008. Take a bit of time and look around to see what the new up-and-coming items will be and decide what you can make for yourself. The hardest thing about sewing is getting started – so do it today!

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When we were growing up most of our mothers and grandmothers knew how to sew. As clothing has become cheaper and cheaper, sewing has become almost a lost art amongst the younger generations. Thankfully, the past few years has seen resurgence in sewing and other handcrafts. This is leading to a new availability of information on how to sew and supplies to learn to sew with.

Sewing requires a unique set of skills. These skills are not complicated to learn, but there is a definite learning curve in learning to sew. If you jump in with both feet without a few basics you are surely setting yourself up to fail. The best way to develop your sewing skills is to start slow, learn, and work your way up to more complex projects as time goes on and you learn what you are doing.

The first step in starting to sew is to gather up all of the items you need to complete your project. Get out your sewing machine booklet and thread your machine. Make sure, before you ever even attempt a project, that your machine is threaded correctly and working well. This will save you a ton of frustration.

If you will be sewing something from a pattern, take the time to read through all of the instructions and make sure that you clearly understand them. Make sure to read and understand everything before you start to cut out your fabric. Remember that once you cut your fabric it will be in pieces and you can't just re-cut it.

Before you work with your fabric, make sure you wash and dry it. This will ensure that your finished project will not shrink when you first wash it. Once it dries you will want to iron it out. Once your fabric is washed, dried, and ironed, then you can pin your pieces to the fabric and cut them out. Cut all of your pieces out using the sharpest pair of scissors you can find. Using sharp scissors cuts down on frustration and keeps your fabric looking good at the edges.

When you first start sewing you will want to baste your pattern pieces together with long hand stitches. This allows you to see how your project will look once you have sewn it together on your machine. And, it allows you to make adjustments much more easily if you should happen to need to. One good tip here is to use a bright colored thread for basting. This will allow you to easily remove it once your project is sewn together.

The most important thing for you to remember when you first start sewing is that "Rome was not built in a day." Start with a very simple project and take your time. Then start a more complex project and take some time to learn a new skill or two when completing it. As you progress through your various projects you will feel more and more confident in your sewing abilities. After all, you are learning to sew because it is functional and fun!

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