Online supplies

I need a supply of pre wound bobbins, needles, thread, etc. Is there a good site on the Internet where I can buy these things at a savings, or is it just as good to go to the local supplier?

Steve

Reply to
SteveB
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I order such supplies from Nancy Notions & Clotilde. Both are in the US, but am unsure if they ship international or not.

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I have always been very happy with their service and it is great to have learned about them before I became disabled and unable to shop often locally. Emily

Reply to
CypSew

For needles, I really appreciate Pam at Kapres -- things have always come on time, in perfect order.

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Prewound bobbins are typically used for embroidery or commercial sewing... is that what you're doing? (for most seaming, you want the top and bottom threads to match in weight, stretch, etc., so you use the same thread top and bottom)

Here are some suppliers I've found to be reputable:

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If you're after cotton thread, my two current favorite brands are Aurifil and King Tut from Superior Threads
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Much of my notions stash comes from Fabric Depot in Portland, as they're

+/- local to me. I hear they have good mail service, too. Pricing on their website is somewhat goofy... they give you full retail price, and then deduct 30%. No tax in Oregon, fwiw.
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is a very large general fabric store; little of their stock is onthe web, so if you know what you want, call or drop them an email tosee if they've got it.>

Kay

Reply to
Kay Lancaster

Thanks a bunch. I am still early on in the learning curve. I will be doing Raven Mills Sunbrella here at first, and shade cloth to get some awnings made for our new place. In particular, I need sewing needles for a Singer

111W155 Industrial walking foot machine, heavy UV resistant outdoor thread, an instruction manual (1956 vintage) and a couple of other things.

Are prewound bobbins the way to go, or just do your own? Plastic or metal? And what would be a good QUALITY pair of scissors? Are there any kits with all the basics available?

I will be using a style of awnings I first saw in California that has grommeted flaps that allow the canvas to be continuously adjusted on the frame for stretching, drenching, sun, and other factors. I may use a rope pull and aluminum extrusion, but will have to see once I get started.

I looked at one grommet maker today, a hand squeezed device, and it was $139. Basically looked like a vise grip. I remember that long ago, I made one out of a pair of Vise Grips for my canvas man, and they worked just okay, as you had to make one squeeze, tighten the nut, then do the final squeeze. Would I be better in looking for an air powered model? Using a hammer? My wrists are shot, and when I did do some canvas work way back when to help out, I got a lot of grommets crooked. My old canvas guy had the largest hands of any human I have ever seen.

Thanks for helping a newbie, and hope these Q&As are helping others, too.

Steve

Reply to
SteveB

Nope, you don't want the domestic machine needles from Kapres. I just found the manual on the web:

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'll need 135x17 system needles, aka DPx17 (the usual domestic needles are15x1). Locally, I'd just go to my dealer because they sell lots of machines,but for mail order, you might look around for Ron Anderson (check googlein alt.sewing and rec.crafts.textiles.sewing)

I'd talk to Ron (Anderson) about that or Lydia (Beacon Fabric). Most of the prewounds I've seen are filled with thread much, much too light for your purposes.

My personal favorites are the Kai N7300s:

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-- strong and sharp and madefor big hands, though my husband who has VERY big hands can't use themcomfortably. I bought him the COB210s, which have no fingerloop andare self-opening for some of the nasty jobs he occasionally tries, likecutting fiberglas cloth, screening, etc. Mostly they live in the kitchendrawer and get used on chicken bones, etc. But yes, you can cut fabricwith them. I use them mostly for cutting up to 10 layers of cottontwill (think Levi Dockers) at a time. Big blades are advantageous... they help you cut with fewer strokes and fewer "jaggies", a common problem for beginners. And remember to keep the lower blade in contact with the table -- don't cut "up in the air".

I know one of the upholstery shops around here uses Gold Seals, and has for many years. Beacon Fabric handle them.

Don't know of any kits. IMHO, aluminum extrusions are handy to have around as straightedges.

Those are definitely questions you want to ask Lydia at Beacon. I've always ordered shade cloth sewn and grommetted at the factory. I know they reinforce the hems somehow -- a tape inside, I believe.

The grommets I've set on a casual basis I've done with mallet and die on a wood block. A couple of times, I've just taken a project to the local boat awning makers, and they've charged me a couple of bucks to put some in -- they had a bench-mounted device that looked something like a bottle-capper, with a long lever arm. I think they put plain rather than spur grommets in with it, but don't know for sure... it was just a seabag sort of thing I was making.

Again, I think you really need to talk to Lydia at Beacon... canvaswork was their main business for many, many years. I know they have the mallet-type dies and spur grommets.

Good luck!

Reply to
Kay Lancaster

ron [at] a1sewingmachine [dot] com

Ron Anderson A1 Sewing Machine PO Box 60, Sand Lake, NY 12153

518-469-5133
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NAYY,

Beverly

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BEI Design

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