Basic Sewing Supplies For Class

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You forgot "snacks". ;-)

I personally cannot live without thimbles! Also, in my "travel box" I have a smallish pincushion, and stick the straight pins into that. I always carry a 6" ruler, a chunk of beeswax, and tuck in a small tube of hand cream.

Bandaids

Be sure to label, initial or mark what you can so you can identify what's yours. My scissors probably look just like everyone else's but they just happen to have thin, sharp points and I would be so unhappy to have someone accidentally or whatever take possession of them. Did I mention that the outside of the blades of these old favorites have tastefully arranged hot orange polka dots for easy i.d.? Polly

Holy Moly!!! Do you all pack a steamer trunk or utility trailer for all your class supplies?????

I have never taken a class and most likely never will up here where I am living, and I just cant fathom the amount of things you all seem to pack along!

~KK in BC~

Holy cow, you are well named as queen of everything.

I believe in schlepping the least amount of stuff possible to a class. When I teach I have minimal supply lists for students and bring things for them to "try" and share - like for applique classes I bring the bias tape makers for stems and they can all press their stems and if they love it I'm sure the quilt shop is happy to sell them one. Same with the glue baste it and such. Even if there is minimal rotary cutting I will bring supplies for the class to use (say they just need to cut their background square for hawaiian applique) rather than have everyone bring a set.

Last week a student told me she took my class because the supply list wasn't scary like some classes. :-)

The class I hated, hated, hated the teacher had us bring the world and we didn't use half of it. Makes me crazy.

marcella

When I first started going to classes I made myself a bag to put things in so I could find them easily, and also check that they were all there before I left home and before leaving the venue!

Its in the Embroidery part of my Webshots - Town and Country Cats Bag.

All the hardware goes into the front pocket and fabric, etc goes in the three big pockets. I have another carrier for my big board and ruler. I have my small scissors on a cord that goes round my neck - this is as a result of a lost pair. I keep an old pair of glasses in the side pocket just in case I forget my normal ones - at least I will be able to see something!

It has a long strap so I can sling it over my shoulder if I have to take my machine too (I take my smaller old machine - Janome 6500 stays safely at home).

It works very well, but has to last me the rest of my life - I'm not making another!!

Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk

Most of what has already been mentioned (I hate the feeling I might not have what I need) but -

- only one cutter (45mm) with a couple of spare blades

- long and SHORT ruler for cutting

- serrated scissors, and duckbills if doing applique

- a small pencil case with half a dozen sharpened pencils, rubber, erasable markers, etc, but NO pens, and pigma pen separate and NEVER left out on the table (just ask me why!!!?) and my note pad is usually graph paper

plus -

- a cone of white rayon embroidery thread for basting

- small pliers and spare SM globe

- LOTS of bobbins (probably most already filled with light, medium and dark basic thread and a few empty ones)

- large darning/wool needle (better for unpicking stitches than a seam ripper)

- applique roll to carry work flat (most of my sewing kit incl mini iron fits inside my applique roll)

- drinking water in a small sports bottle so it won't spill if knocked over

- multi outlet power board as well as extension cord

- small pack of hand wipes and another of tissues

- for a longer class/workshop "mindless" handsewing (or even knitting!) to do during meal or tea/coffee breaks, but this is often never unpacked

- a bag of some type of confectionery to share that isn't sticky on the fingers

- pre-printed cards with name/address/phone/email (NOT business cards) just in case I want to stay in touch with someone new

- my lucky mascot pincushion, a wildly coloured female figure with purple/orange hair (a great ice breaker when I pull her out and sit her on the table in front of me lol)

What can I say!? I am a control freak!! rofl I don't get to go away to classes or workshops much these days, so I panic that I might not have that one essential-to-me thing. My day-to-day sewing kit is very small, but I want to be able to get the most out of my now rare classes/workshops away. Despite the long list I can fit everything I want to take in one medium size bag.

Most of the time I see sewers coming to my house rather than packing to go to somewhere else myself. I joke sometimes that they look as if they are moving house as they come laden with everything but the kitchen sink despite knowing that I have at least two of everything here for classes rofl. Eventually they learn to bring only their specific needs to my house but they often ask me what to take as "basic sewing supplies" to other classes.

Like Marcella, I prefer to provide tools for my classes. I have multiple cutters of different brands so newies can try before they buy (eg. I also have a box of 37 different thimble styles and sizes), and I can supply a class of beginners with the basics to make their first quilt so they can be sure quilting is really for them before buying lots of expensive equipment. A beginner class is told to bring only their SM and instruction manual (and ALL their SM attachments), and thread (they usually bring cheap poly thread and they can then compare their thread with a good quality poly/cotton or cotton). For the first 2-3 weeks I even provide fabric to make practise blocks.

A basic tool in my classroom is a small battery operated engraver. Everyone brings their new tools in and engraves their initials (on rulers, on scissor handles, on cases, etc)

I have watched a lot of new quilters start out and I find that their "sewing kit" starts out as nothing, blows out to include a mass of things rarely used, and then eventually gets pared down to what they really need and like.

Reading back over this I am laughing over how I differ as a teacher and a student.

You've covered a lot of it. I have a small clear plastic "carry-all" (about 6"-7" square by about 9" high) that has a "half" insert that sits at the top. In it I have basics that "live" there. A rotary cutter and spare blades, neutral thread, snips, fabric scissors and a small "all purpose" scissor. A magnetic pincushion with straight pins, a packet of safety pins, hand sewing needles, several sizes/types of machine needles, various fabric marking things, a stiletto, a pencil sharpener, small set of sewing machine screwdrivers, machine cleaning brush, regular mechanical pencil, and so on. It also has some bobbins and feet for the machine that used to be my "travel" machine. sigh. Those will come out when I remember, and I think at least the feet will fit my Singer 66 that needs to be set up in a place where I can use it. The short post for the cone thread holder also lives in the travel case. (the rest of the CTH lives in the sewing machine travel case with the machine.)

When I teach a class, my class list is pretty specific. I do carry various items for students to try, especially if the shop carries them (or something similar). I recommend ruler sizes that are probably going to be easiest to use for the particular class. If there are specific, specialized rotary rulers/templates, I mention them, and note that I will bring at least one sample for them to try, as well as paper templates to use for those that don't want to spend the money until they know they want to do more of the particular style. I am not into having anyone buy something they won't use. And usually give as many different ways to do something as the class can handle. Having at least one spool of really good thread with me allows students to see what it looks/feels like and encourages them to purchase good thread.

Pati,> Have you noticed that most supply lists for classes and workshops

And it's always the couple of items that aren't used that were the ones you had to drive to 12 different quilt shops to find!

The only thing missing in your sewing kit is a 5"x5" square of sand paper. Dixie in NB.

When I give to you something I made with my hands I share my heart.

Marcella, I have to agree with you there! I really resent supply lists that are a mile long, and then it turns out that we only use half (or less!) of what was on the list. :(

As for me, I try to minimize, too, but I always end up taking more than I planned. One thing I do try to remember to take, though, is my surge protector/extension cord. I want to protect whatever machine I haul along, and sometimes the electrical outlets aren't conveniently placed. Oh, and I usually have my portable Ott light with me, too, if I think there may not be sufficient light available.

Unfortunately, the list can't include- an open mind and a willing attitude and your full attention.... but sometimes it would sure help the classes go smoother.

Leslie & Furbabies in MO.

I do the cheap version -- a small paper bag and masking tape. Tape it to the table for your trash.

Good one Leslie!!!

Exactly! That particular class required 1" masking tape. I hunted everywhere for 1" that wasn't really 7/8". sigh. Turns out we used about 4" of it to tape our little quilt backing to the table while we basted it. Any size would have done!

marcella