Okay I have my machine, but nothing else. What should I buy?

[ZombiesAteMyCunnyFunt]

My lovely Grandma was so delighted that I want to learn sewing she insisted on buying me a sewing machine, we got one today, it's a very basic one, a Janome 2032.

Can someone very kindly write me a shopping list of things I need? Also advice on any particular brands I should avoid etc would be very helpful. Thank you :)

Oops, DD got hold of my phone when I put it down, I didn't realise she'd added to the title :o

And added to it beautifully! :o

What sort of things were you after?

Very artistic DD you have there .

Not sure whether you mean attachments for your machine or dress making stuff in general. Will err on the 'dress making in general' side.

I would buy extra bobbins. Also, as haberdashery sundries - good sharp scissors (cloth cutting ones and smaller sharp ones for thread), dressmakers chalk, pins (small head and large head), tape measures (a few...they go missing), white and black thread - good colours for basting stitch on items.

LOL at the title. I wondered what was going on!

What sort of thing are you thinking of sewing? It makes a difference as you could need different types of needle for example but you may not. Generally Schmetz are good and cheap ones like Hemline aren't so good.

I don't think you can go wrong with loads of spare bobbins. You can get Janome ones or any that say they are suitable for Janome. I don't think there is a bad brand for bobbins.

Also depending on what you are doing you can get all sorts of feet for your machine. If you are intending to do patchwork and quilting you could get a 1/4" foot with a guide which I find very useful.

An unpicker
Some cotton
Little embroidery snip scissors useful for trimming threads
Sharp pins with the little ball on the end they don't hurt your fingers as much as dress makers pins
Presumably you got bobbins with your machine
A pin cushion maybe
I wouldn't say you NEED anything else

Dress making chalk
Tape measure

when you say nothing else, I assume you have all the feets and attachments.

in that case, you don't really need much else.

A grader's sqaure would be useful.

look at www.Morplan.com for sewing supplies, but don't get carried away.

you need thread, fabric, an unpicker (really, you need an unpicker - you will use it more than anything else in the world!)(and make sure if it says seam ripper, you get the small one - the large ones are crap)
pins
sharp 2H pencils
tape measure,
tailors chalk (don't hold with the "washable" pens)

please don't buy bobbins - the reason is because it's very hard to ensure that you'll get the correct bobbins for your machine - even if they look right, you can almost guarantee that suddenly your sewing will be weird and puckered and stitch-skipping/pulling threads and you won't know why.

you need to tell us what accessories you have with your machine.

Sorry I should've specified exactly what I do have well, a machine, and erm, well. A machine. It came with a foot, a bobbin and a needle. So let's just assume that I need everything apart from just a machine.

More bobbins (but get the proper Janome ones)and lots of needles. Change your needles often as they wear out.

What do you sew - if it's clothes you might want to add a zipper foot if it doesn't have one. Otherwise wait and see what you need.

I'm hoping to do all sorts really, little clothes for DD, maybe some toys, I'd love to do a patchwork quilt, cushion covers, all sorts!

I know you said not to buy bobbins, Nickel, but someone has reviewed them with the same machine as mine and she gave them 5 stars, what do you think or should I still not get them?

Just looking at that website Nickel, I'm and at all the different types of scissors!

Ooh I've just discovered a compartment in him with a quickunpick, 2 bobbins, a pack of 3 needles, a darning plate and a buttonhole foot!

Ooh I've just discovered a compartment in him with a quickunpick, 2 bobbins, a pack of 3 needles, a darning plate and a buttonhole foot!

Ooh I've just discovered a compartment in him with a quickunpick, 2 bobbins, a pack of 3 needles, a darning plate and a buttonhole foot!

Ooh I've just discovered a compartment in him with a quickunpick, 2 bobbins, a pack of 3 needles, a darning plate and a buttonhole foot!

If you are sewing then you will need your iron and ironing board too. Rediscover them if you need to and put a layer of padding on the board if it doesn't have one.

A nice box or tin to keep all the bits in.

Pins, needles (hand sewing) tape measure, scissors are the main things. Any sewing shop will sort you out with them. Expect to spent about £15-20 on the scissors, Fiskars are good, you will have them for life unless your DH steals them and hides them in his shed for 6 months.

My favourite threads are Gutermann but Coats are the other main one.

Some cheapie Ikea/dunelm scissors for cutting paper to keep your good scissors sharp.

It's worth starting to get familiar with your local sewing/haberdashery shops, especially market stalls, Dunelm often have a good sewing department, are there any local quilting/patchwork shops?

You will build up a collection of threads, zips, buttons and sundries as you go. Don't get tempted by any ready made sewing kit (not even Cath Kidston) as the contents are invariably crap.

Go and find a sewing class too (I teach sewing for Adult Ed). As well as learning lots you'll have fun doing it too. Much easier than learning from books or You Tube as a beginner.
Once you know the basics and are feeling more confident,You Tube and other sites like Sew4Home have some great tips and ideas.
Good Luck and enjoy!

you didn't get any other feet? (good that you found the other bits)
was it a new machine or second hand?

scissors, you just need a very small pair (or snips, which look like secateurs) and a big pair for cutting fabric. :)

with your other bits, 2 bobbins might not be enough, so yes, try the bobbins that the lady recommended, but keep an eye out for the problems I mentioned (hopefully you won't have nay if they're janome bobbins)

I buy Morplan threads they're really cheap - gutermann are good, but bloody expensive, and it's just not necessary. )both are 100% polyester)

if you want an exact colour match, you can send a sample off to them and they match it for you.

Nickel you are sooooo right . I had not heard of Morplan but I like to choose in person (obsessive perfectionist).

This thread inspired me to tidy up my sewing room and I found quite a few bobbins, I thought I was running out but I have about 12!

He's a brand new machine, (I call him Jeremy for some reason ) I made this last night :) considering I've never touched a machine before I'm pretty impressed with myself :)

Would this be terrible? m.ebay.co.uk/itm/200945867958
Imagine how pretty it'd look with all the thread on them

And I'm intending to buy these in town; wrong? m.johnlewis.com/mt/www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-value-sewing-machine-needles-pack-of-5/p230859332

they should be okay - John Lewis is a respected brand.