Beginners sewing kit

One day in the future, I will turn a fallen down tree into a craft box full of handmade textile tools. I’ll harvest plants from my permaculture garden and turn them into threads and yarns. But I’m not there yet, not even close. I have an emergency freebie sewing kit which is ok for sewing on a button. But that’s it.

The last time I posted here in the textile section, your help was amazing and today I start my first knitting project. So I’m back again, asking another newbie questions. I’d like to get a good quality sewing kit - do you have any suggestions? I’d like something that I can use over the coming few years and beyond as I work my way up to an iron badge. I like quality tools, the ones you only buy once. I’m also practical, so if the best answer is amazon, then so be it. And something I can grow into and expand . . . Not ‘all the gear and no idea’ . . .

I’m serious, since I dipped into the Textile badge section, my mind has been buzzing. (Any suggestions on how to turn off buzzing mind at 3am, gratefully received). My grandfather was a saddler, a tent maker, a cobbler . . . Well it’s hard to explain. He was in the British Army before the second world war and during that war, saw six years of very active service. His job was to make and fix things. He repurposed what ever he could. He tanned skins for leather and made tools and fittings from shell cases including a belt I still own. After he left the army he made saddles and tents, including circus tents. The back of his garage was an amazing workshop with a smell of oil and leather. I don’t know what happened to his things after he died. I could have learnt so much from him, but my dad also joined the Army and we spent most of my childhood in Germany and I rarely saw him. He also had an amazing vegetable garden - I’m sure he would have loved this place.

I need to get better at searching here . . .

Create a textile toolbox PEP BB

Ho hum . . . *slaps head*

Certainly the BB is a good starting place, however, if your goal is to go to the iron level, you will eventually need something much more substantial. I have two desk drawers full up with threads, scraps, different sorts of pins etc. However, recently I made myself a Hussif , because I needed something portable that I could trust not to loose things, and I made it specifically to hold the things I would want and need to go to a friend's house and mend or alter something.
https://permies.com/wiki/148142/pep-textiles/sew-tool-roll-PEP-BB#1224417

It doesn't hold my knife sharpener, or my good sewing scissors (which can easily cost a bundle - I think I paid over $50 and they were by no means the best). I made sure that sharp things were protected with salvaged leather because I didn't want to find my kit in the bottom of my pack the painful way! I avoided a plastic case as I found them annoying in the past - prone to breaking or opening unexpectedly. I'm *really* pleased with my upcycled leather thimble as it's easy to pack and fine for most jobs. (I've got a metal thimble for heavy duty jobs like pushing a needle through leather!)

So my suggestion is that you look at this as a journey - and plan for different scenarios.

Thank you Jay - yes, definitely a journey.

I’ve got a small wooden chest which my grandfather made for me. It’s had many uses over the years, most recently, toy cars. My boys are now both teens and once again, it’s empty, so I’ve repurposed for my textile needs. I have a few pouches that once had bits and bobs for my photography that can also be repurposed. I think the textile roll would be an excellent project for me - thank you for the link.

I love your banner picture!

I actually got 3 BB's out of that textile roll - the "tool roll" badge, the "leather thimble" badge and eventually I made a card loom and wove a band to use to wrap the bundle and hold it closed, so there's lots to learn from what's essentially a basic project that can easily be made out of scraps of old clothing.

I don't know what your family's policy is about gifts, but many of my sewing supplies came as stocking stuffers or birthday gifts. I admit I've tried hard to get quality so that things last. My Japanese scissors that now live in the Tool Roll, were actually given to me in Japan, 35 years ago - they still work just fine!

I love your banner picture!

Thanks - it gave me some grief trying to get it to load, but eventually the electrons decided to play nice. I'm much better with a needle and thread than with a computer!

Great idea! Thank you again.

As a teen, I had no money and long school holidays. I made bird boxes, bird tables and handmade chocolates as gifts. When ever I’ve been invited for diner, I’d take a jar of chutney or jam. When I became a half decent photographer, I’d give pictures or calendars. I’m guessing this Christmas, homemade textiles will be the order of the day. Most of my family are either in Canada, Japan or UK, so this plan will keep postage costs down.

I’m starting to notice a lovely coming together of the few BB’s I’ve done so far. I treated the chest I’m going to use with walnut oil using a rag I made and oiled the hinges - that’s three nest badge tasks I completed earlier in the week.  

It’s a start - heading to the thrift shop tomorrow. (I believe they’re called concession shops here?)