Favorite Things: Supplies, Books and Tools

First of all, you don’t need any of this to begin sewing, mending and making. Mending is about the stitching, and whatever you already have is a fine place to start. This is simply a list of what I reach for most and what we talk about in class, in case it’s useful.

I’ve linked to independent shops where I can. I’ve also included Amazon links, because I know that shipping costs add up, and some of you may already pay for Prime. While many small vendors have free-shipping minimums, forty dollars can be a lot to spend on thread at one time! Wherever you buy is the right place for you.

The Amazon links are affiliate links, so I earn a small commission at no cost to you. It isn’t much, and I pass all of it along to non-profits working to make our world better. Amazon would be making money from the sale anyway, so I’m glad to point a bit of it somewhere good.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I can’t change Amazon, but I can choose where a little of it goes.

Books

The Geometry of Hand-Sewing, by Natalie Chanin

This is the book I turn to most. It has detailed instructions for the stitches I use all the time, plus plenty I still want to learn (100+ in total). The spiral binding lets it lie flat while you work. Best of all, it comes with two die-cut plastic stencils for marking dots on your fabric, so your stitches come out even. I got it when it first came out in 2017, and I can’t think of a week since then that I haven’t used it.

You can buy a signed copy at the Alabama Chanin website.
Find a used copy here.
Or get a copy on Amazon.

To be honest, I’ve outgrown this one. I’ve done the thirty stitches so many times that muscle memory takes over. But the diagrams are clear and easy to follow, and it’s the perfect size to tuck in your kit for quick reference. Students love it when I bring it to class.

Embroidery Stitches at a Glance: Carry-along reference guide, by Janice Vaine

Find a used copy of Embroidery Stitches at a Glance at AbeBooks
Find it on Amazon

The Ultimate Sashiko Sourcebook: Patterns, Projects and Inspirations, by Susan Briscoe‍ ‍

Simply Sashiko: Classic Japanese Embroidery Made Easy (With 36 Actual Size Templates), by Boutique-Sha

I’m still working my way through the many patterns in sashiko. I’m fascinated by how complex a combination of the simplest stitch, the running stitch, can become. These are the two books I return to, and I recommend them if you’re as interested in learning this as I am.

Find The Ultimate Sashiko Sourcebook on Amazon

Find a used copy of Simply Sashiko here
Find Simply Sashiko on Amazon.

Threads &
Fabrics

Muslin Fabric

An affordable fabric for making samplers and learning to stitch is unbleached muslin. I do not launder mine, so it maintains a crisp hand and gives good body for your work. This wouldn’t work for things that will be laundered, since the fabric will shrink. I double it up on samplers so the back threads don’t show through the front.

I prefer the Premier Muslin 3.2 oz from Dharma Trading Co., but it’s readily available at most fabric shops.

Order muslin from Dharma Trading Co.
Order muslin from Amazon.

Sashiko Fabric & Thread

My fabric of choice for sashiko stitching is a 45% cotton/55% linen blend from Shibori Dragon. It’s the perfect weight and drape, has a nice even weave and is very easy to stitch on. It comes in a number of colors, but I always choose the navy.

My sashiko thread of choice is Olympus because of the variety of colors. The variegated threads are especially fun. Daruma has a very nice white as well and is of equal quality.

Navy Blue Sashiko Fabric at Shibori Dragon
Olympus Sashiko Thread at Shibori Dragon
Olympus Sashiko Thread at Amazon
Daruma Sashiko Thread at Shibori Dragon
Daruma Sashiko Thread at Amazon

Indigo-Dyed Thread

I wasn’t able to find indigo-dyed thread, so I dyed my own. When I shared it with friends and in workshops, I was asked for more, so I made more.

I use DMC 3, 5 and 8 and a poly core cotton as bases.

The stock can run low, but I can always dye more if there’s a need. You can add your name to the waitlist, or if you have a specific time frame, message me with the specifics.

Shop my hand-dyed indigo threads

DMC Pearl Cotton

As DMC tells you on their website, Pearl Cotton is “reputedly the most beautiful floss in the world!” It comes in four weights; 3, the heaviest; 5, my personal favorite; 8, a very versatile thread with many applications; and 12, the finest. Size 3 comes in 66 colors, 5 in 183, 8 in 210 and 12 in 39. They also come in skeins, pictured here, or larger balls, pictured below.

Pictured here is size 5.

If you want the best selection of colors, go to the DMC website
If you want DMC Pearl Cotton delivered quickly, go to Amazon

Lighter-Weight Threads

The lighter weights of DMC thread definitely have a place in your kit. Pictured here are sizes 8, 12 and tatting thread, which is super fine and needs to be at least doubled up. You can see the difference in the strand weight as they overlap.

DMC Pearl Cotton and tatting thread at the DMC website
DMC Pearl Cotton and tatting thread at Amazon

6-Strand Embroidery Floss

This is where my stitching life began. Good old DMC 6-strand embroidery floss. One of my favorite memories as a child was going with my granny to the “five and dime” where there was a wall of floss next to a wall of preprinted embroidery fabrics. I made tea towels, “sacques” for my baby cousin (I still don’t know what those were), hand towels, pillowcases and bridge cloths (tablecloths the ladies used for their Thursday Bridge get-togethers). Today there are more than 500 shades available, a lot more than on the wall at the dime store!

It comes in 6 strands, which can be used as is or easily split into thinner weights.

There are endless ways to store your thread, but I usually go with an old bookmark from the library or a card that once held seam binding. I’ve tried those little plastic bobbin holders, but it took too long to wind. So I just keep it in the hank until there’s a small amount left and wind it on whatever is closest at hand.

DMC 6-strand floss at the DMC website
DMC 6-strand floss at Amazon

This is by no means an exhaustive list of thread possibilities. The good news is that just about anything will do. If you can get it through the eye of the needle, you can use it. There are endless possibilities. Even better, mix and match threads, sizes and weights for dynamic stitchery.