Sewing machine notions
When it comes to sewing machine accessories and sewing notions, there are so many different ones to choose from! In our eyes, there is a tool made to make any sewing project easier. These sewing accessories and notions range in variety from rulers and scissors, needles and threads, bodkins and hemmers, and the list goes on and on.
All sewers need an ample supply of thread for their sewing machine. Sewing threads not only come in a plethora of different colors, but there are also weights to the thread and types. Sewing threads are made of either natural fibers or synthetic fibers. Natural fibers include cotton, wool and silk, while synthetic fibers include polyester, rayon and nylon. Regardless of which thread is used, quality is of the utmost importance. Poor quality thread breaks easily, is super linty and can cause damage to your sewing machine. At Vacuums R Us & Sewing Too we only carry the highest quality of threads to ensure no damages occur to your sewing machine.
Now, let’s talk about thread weights. The higher the number or weight of the thread, the thinner the thread is. In contrast, the lower the number or weight of the thread, the thicker the thread is. For example, a 30 weight thread is going to be much thicker than an 80 weight thread. So what exactly is the purpose of thread weights? When piecing a quilt, we wouldn’t want to use a 30 weight thread because the seams would be extremely bulky. We want our seams to lay flat, so a 50 or 60 weight thread is more ideal. A thicker thread is more ideal for embroidery because it is decorative.
A spool of thread is not only labeled with the thread weight but also with the thread ply. Plys refer to the quantity of yarns twisted together to create the single thread. Two ply spools of thread mean there are two plys of yarn twisted together to create the one thread on the spool. For instance, a spool of thread labeled with 60/2 means the spool of thread is a 60 weight, 2 ply.
Phew! That’s a lot of information about thread. There is no need to worry or get confused about thread though; stop into our store to ask the experts what type of thread you should be using! We have threads for all your sewing, quilting, serging and embroidery needs!
Not only are threads important, but so are the needles used in your sewing machine. Sewing machine needles are bought in packages that have several numbers and letters on the front of the packaging. One set of numbers correlates to the needle system, HAx1SP for example. The other set of numbers are the needle size in both European and American. The American needle sizes are numbered from 8 to 18 and the European needle sizes are numbered from 60 to 110. Regardless of if you follow the European or American needle sizing system, the larger the number the larger the needle and the smaller the number the smaller the needle. This is the opposite of thread. If you are sewing on thinner or finer materials, we recommend you use a smaller needle size. Thicker materials should be sewn with a larger needle size.
Sewing machine needles also come in various types. You can find several different needle types at Vacuums R Us & Sewing Too for any type of material you are sewing. We stock jeans and denim needles, sharp or microtex needles, stretch, embroidery, leather, top stitch, metallic, ballpoint, quilting, twin needles and so many more. We understand the importance of selecting the right needle for your project. Ask our sewing experts to show you the different needles available for your sewing, quilting, embroidery or serging projects! Our trained staff is here to help you.
Did you know?! It is recommended to change your needle every 8 to 10 hours of sewing! This is how important needles are. Needles dull over time, causing skipped stitches and other poor quality stitching with your sewing machine. A dull needle can also snag your beautiful material creating a horrid sight. Change your needle often and you will have the best looking stitches on your finished sewing projects!
Now that we have threads and needles out of the way, let’s check out all the fun notions and accessories available. There are several must have tools that we recommend at Vacuum R Us & Sewing Too. Scissors are a must have and they better be sharp! We carry a large selection of scissors for any sewers needs; you will find metal shears and scissors, needle craft scissors, pinking scissors or shears, applique scissors and thread snips in our store. There is a scissor for everything and you can never have too many.
Rotary cutters are also a staple in our sewing rooms. We carry several different brands of rotary cutters, all available to try out in store. Some rotary cutters have a better grip and feel to them, which help us glide the blade through the material better. We also stock replacement blades when your blade becomes dull.
A rotary cutter is not complete without a variety of rulers to go with it. We stock many different sizes of rulers, all with a purpose to their sizes. A smaller ruler is helpful when measuring and cutting smaller sizes of materials, and a larger ruler is handy for larger cuts. At Vacuums R Us & Sewing Too, our classroom has a large selection of sizes we use daily.
A sewing room would not be complete without a tape measure or sewing gauge either. Tape measures are flexible and a great tool for measuring waistlines and other “flexible” measurements. A measuring gauge is a small sewing tool meant for measuring small seam allowances, hems and waistlines. Both tape measures and measuring gauges have their purpose in your sewing room.
How do you hold your materials together after they are cut to the proper measurement? Pins and fabric clips are both handy to use depending on the project you are creating. There are many pins to choose from, including flower head pins or glass head pins. We stock both types of pins depending on your needs. Glass head pins are great when you plan to iron your materials with the pins; the glass heads do not melt with the heat from the iron. Flower head pins have cute colorful flowers on their heads for easy visibility. Fabric clips are super helpful and easy to use as well. Clips do just as their name says, they clip your fabric pieces together! Easy to use, and they do not leave a hole in your material. We wouldn’t want to use pins in our vinyl material now would we?
Our favorite and most cherished tool in our sewing classroom at Vacuum R Us & Sewing Too is the seam ripper. Yes we say favorite, but it’s really only because we use it so often. Stop in our store to see the different seam rippers we carry. We have several different options for you to try. Since this tool is used so often with many of our sewing projects, the seam ripper should feel comfortable in your hands. There is even a seam ripper with a “magic” eraser on the back to pull those pesky threads out from your fabric, saving you so much time.
Marking pens and chalk are also a must have! There is a purpose for each type of marking pen or tool you will find in store. At Vacuums R Us & Sewing Too you will find tailors chalk, water soluble markers, air erasable markers, marking pens and more. Our staff at Vacuums R Us & Sewing Too are here to help answer any questions you might have about which marking pens to add to your sewing tools.
We carry a wide variety of stabilizers at Vacuums R Us & Sewing Too and our staff know stabilizers can be confusing. No show mesh, medium tearaway, appli-stick, fusible lightweight interfacing, and wet and stick are all stabilizer names that just sound intimidating. Each stabilizer serves a different purpose and our sewing experts are here to help you understand the differences between each stabilizer. Vacuums R Us & Sewing Too is your one stop shop for all your embroidery stabilizers, sewing stabilizers, applique and quilting stabilizers, and more!
Not only are there necessary sewing notions and sewing tools we believe everyone should have at home and in your travel case for classes, there are also plenty of fun, new and exciting sewing accessories! We stock the latest and best new sewing tools at Vacuums R Us & Sewing Too. We really mean it when we say there is literally a sewing tool or sewing notion to help make any technique easier and more enjoyable. And when you are passionate about sewing, quilting, embroidery, serging or crafting, we love to see and experience the latest sewing tools and notions! At Vacuums R Us & Sewing Too, we stock a wide variety of notions and feature a new notion of the month each month. You don’t want to miss out on our new featured sewing notion or tool!
Sewing machine bobbins, standard and optional presser feet, light bulbs, serger blades, serger loopers, slide plates, needle threaders, bobbin tires, and so many more parts are readily available at Vacuums R Us & Sewing Too! We understand how frustrating it is to have your sewing machine break down in the middle of your project and offer quick solutions with our readily available parts. At Vacuums R Us & Sewing Too we stock parts for all sewing machine brands, including Baby Lock, Brother, Bernina, Pfaff, Husqvarna Viking, Singer, Juki, Handi Quilter, Bernette, Ever Sewn, Kenmore and more.
Vacuums R Us & Sewing Too is your sewing destination for notions, tools and parts. From sewing needles, threads and bobbins to needle threaders and blades, you will not be disappointed with our selection. We love stocking the newest sewing tools, accessories and sewing notions as well, so make sure to stop on by periodically to see what’s new!