Does anyone have a bobbin I can borrow?

January 17, 2009 7:22 AM

What tools should I bring to my first sewing class?

I'm enrolled in an adult learning "Sewing 101" class at a community college. The description says to bring your sewing machine on the first day of class and that no materials are included.

I'd hate to be that kid in class who always had to borrow a pen. What are the essentials that I bring on a first class? I've got the machine, but what else should I bring? Scissors, thread...what else?

Thanks for your help!

posted by ginagina to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (7 answers total)

Best answer: If you're going to get into any kind of crafting work, you're going to want a little Bag of Essentials that you can quickly access. It doesn't hurt to make one up now, even if you don't need it for this class, you'll use it later. I'd throw a few things in a see-through make-up bag and then grow it as needed. Start with:
small scissors
measuring tape
small container with needles/straight pins, safety pins
maybe a seam ripper too.
posted by saffry at 7:47 AM on January 17, 2009

We teach sewing at our shop, and that materials list they've given you is woefully inadequate. Ditto all of saffry's suggestions. I would also make sure your sewing machine has empty bobbins (if you don't know where they are, crack open the case right below the needles, most machines have a little storage area under there that will have extra feet, a few bobbins, etc), and bring a spool of multipurpose cotton/poly thread in a neutral color -- black, white, etc. If they really mean NO materials supplied, you don't want to be caught out without thread. Maybe a fat quarter or two of fabric just to make sure you've got SOMETHING to stitch on...
posted by bitter-girl.com at 7:54 AM on January 17, 2009

What others have said, plus spare needles for your machine, both thread snips and scissors, a couple of spools of thread. Bring a notebook and pen in case you want to make notes. Bring pens in multiple colours if you're going to be doing any pattern altering so you can keep your lines straight. I'd also bring a marking pencil or chalk.

If there are any project specific things like zippers, buttons, etc, etc, bring that, too, even if you don't think you'll need it right away.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:35 AM on January 17, 2009

Check out this sewing site. It is a good primer, even though it concentrates on sewing kites.

I wouldn't bring anything except what came with the machine.(well I wouldn't purchase needles or thread) Why? I would expect any instructor to have VERY specific list of required notions. For example certain size thread and needle appropriate for the material being sewn. If the instructor doesn't then maybe I'd look for another course.
posted by Gungho at 8:44 AM on January 17, 2009

I agree with Gungho. I bet that part of your first class will include a discussion of what tools to get for the class. Maybe the instructor wasn't more specific up front because they intend to let you customize what you'll be doing, and thus needing.
posted by dpcoffin at 12:03 PM on January 17, 2009

Best answer: For the very first class, you'll probably just get oriented to your machine. Threading it and such...I'd bring thread (does the machine have a needle already? just a generic one is fine), some small scissors, and some scrap fabric to test stitches.
posted by lemonade at 12:23 PM on January 17, 2009

In the information you have about the class, is the instructor's name listed? If so, try to get contact information from the college so you could ask the instructor what you need to bring with you for the first night other than your machine. Otherwise, all of the other answers here are great, and you will need to have all of those notions at some point, so getting them together now is a good idea.
posted by snugglebunny at 1:09 PM on January 17, 2009