You know that series “what’s in her purse”? I love that
series! There’s something super fun about getting to peek inside at the
contents!
I used to love going through my grandmother's cosmetic bag. She had such fancy containers with pretty colours inside. I was riveted. Which probably explains why I love zip pouches and seeing what everyone keeps in theirs!
You’re probably thinking “um, Shannon, this isn’t about
quilting!”, but I assure you it is!
Here me out.
Now, I know having a dedicated sewing studio is all the
rage, but I think it’s safe to say that at one point or another in your quilty
journey you’re going to take your project on the road.
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PIN NOW FOR LATER |
This could be to attend a sew-in day with your guild. Or to
attend a class. You could even be popping over to your quilting buddies house
for a sew-date. Or maybe you're road tripping and bringing a quilt along for the ride,
or, if you’re like me, you need a means of having all your tools at hand while stitching
away on the sofa 😉
All of these activities require some essentials, which is
why having a well stocked sewing bag is key to making these journeys efficient
and enjoyable.
THE ESSENTIALS
At any given time, the contents of my sewing bag change.
What’s in there all depends on the project(s) I’m working on, but here’s some
staples that are a MUST in my travel quilting kit:
Needles – I typically keep a bunch of options on hand,
including these quilting ones (which don’t get used that often), these straw needles (which get used ALL
the time) and these embroidery ones for all my big stitch hand quilting.
Thread conditioner – I used to swear by Thread Heaven until
they discontinued it. Now my go-to is this one – and the grapefruit smell doesn’t hurt either 😉
Thimble – I normally have 2, but that’s just because I used
to use this orange one until I got this leather one and now, I just keep them stored in here. You obviously don’t need 2 thimbles,
unless you want options! I’ve also got these thimble pads, which I honestly
don’t use very often, but they have saved my fingers in a pinch (cause even
with 2 thimbles, sometimes they go missing…).
Thread – I always keep a spool of white thread on
hand. This is my go-to for when I’m English Paper Piecing (EPP), but it’s also
come in handy for binding as well. I figure white is just a safe bet to have in
the kit. I also keep my EPP blocks in these bags to keep them organized within my sewing kit. That way, I can make progress whenever the urge strikes!
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MISCHIEF QUILT |
Needle threader – I don’t actually use this - yet. Even though
I started wearing glasses, I still find I’m able to thread a needle just fine.
So, while I’m sure this little tool will come in handy soon enough, she’s just
kinda hanging out in my kit until then.
Glue – since I’ve been working on my Mischief quilt, I always have
my Sewline pen and refills on me,
they make EPP a breeze. Plus, I’ve been doing some needle turn appliqué on my
Bohemian Garden quilt, so now I just leave my regular glue stick in there too. I pull
her out when I’m tackling any foundation paper piecing though (never FPPed? Here's my Ultimate Tutorial).
Pin cushions – obviously you don’t need 2 in your kit, but I
do find myself using both! The small one is great if I’m working on my EPP,
while the larger one drapes nicely over the arm of a sofa, which makes it
perfect for when I’m binding or hand quilting. Here’s a tutorial on how to make your own.
PROJECT BASED NOTIONS
This area changes based on whatever project I’m currently
working on. This time around I had:
Pearl cotton thread – in various colours as I’ve been working
on my #100daysofsfDminis.
But the Ecru is always in my kit. Pearl cotton thread can be a challenge to
find, here’s a handy list of retailers to check out.
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#100DAYSOFSFDMINIS |
Hera marker - this one isn’t always in my quilting bag, but since
I typically love to work on hand quilting while I’m travelling, she’s normally
tucked away in there 😊
Peach thread – as I’m working on binding the fall version of
my Irish Vortex quilt – you can find the pattern here.
Binder clips – if you caught my Quilt Binding Tutorial, then you know I’m all about holding my binding in place with binder clips. I just
toss them into my sewing bag until I get home and can transfer them into their storage
jars.
THE NON-SEWING ESSENTIALS
This section will be very personal for each of us, but here
are some additional essentials that aren’t specifically sewing related, yet are
items I rely on whenever I am sewing:
Hair elastic – if you’ve caught any of my selfies or IG stories,
then you know my hair is in a top knot 99.9% of the time. As such, hair elastics are my
life! I can’t live without them! And I have them stored all over the place – my
sewing kit included!
Lip balm – I’m not a big make-up person, but I can’t get
through a day without my lip balm. Here’s my current fave.
Earbuds – I listen to a lot of podcasts (here are some of my fave) while I’m
hand sewing. I’m just getting into audio books, but can see them being addictive!
Eyeglass cloth – ever since I started wearing glasses, I’ve
come to realize the importance of having a cleaning cloth handy. Since I never
touch my glasses, I’m at a loss as to how they get so dirty! But dirty they do
get, and smudgy glasses are just annoying. I have these microfiber cloths that work wonders
and you don’t need any spray!
If you’re on the hunt for even more notions and tools, here’s a roundup of some of my fave.
So, there you have it! Everything I’m currently carrying
around in my travel sewing bag. Now it’s your turn! Share your must haves in
the comments below 😊
xo
Shannon
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I was wondering what the microfiber cloth was for! ;) And what lovely patina on your thimble!!
ReplyDeleteHa! Yes, the microfiber cloth isn’t quite a quilting tool, but one that is essential for me if I want to see clearly 😉 You know your thimble is getting lots of use when you start seeing that patina develop!
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