BASIC TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR BAG MAKING

Date June 1, 2022
Category
creative, handmade, sewing projects, artistic,crafting, work from home, handmade, sewing, teaching what you know, writing
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BASIC TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR BAG MAKING

Okay so your happy, willing and ready to jump into this beautiful craft that is bag making .But before you get to the actual sewing your going to need some  basic tools and equipment.

Please don’t do what I did, as a beginner sewist and bag maker. I went out and bought tools without doing my research first. Some things are still sitted in my craft room five years later and have never been of any real use to me. So without any further rambling on my part, let’s get into it.

Sewing machine

Whether your going to be treadling or using electricity to power your machine, it needs to be able to sew through thick layers of fabric. It could be a vintage machine, domestic or industrial while buying one make sure you

  • Test it out with thick layers before paying for it.
  • Make sure it comes with a strong motor.
  • A sewing machine with a rotary hook system is preferable but not mandatory.
  • It should be able to accommodate size 18 needles and above.

Personally I use a geminy TL82, it’s a semi industrial sewing machine and can sew through bulky layers without needing any assistance most times.

Geminy Tl82 I love it because I can attach a motor to it or use the treadle when there is a power cut.

Presser feet

The basic presser feet you will need are

  • Straight stich foot, for sewing your straight and curved seams.
  • Zipper foot for installing your zippers
  • A Teflon foot for sewing some fabrics like faux leather and vinyl.
Presser feet you will need for bag making

Sewing tape measure

  • Get one that has both metric and imperial measurements. The one I use is 60 inches long, but those of 120 inches really come in handy as well.

I also have a video where I show you how to read your tape measure, you can find it here

https://youtu.be/DLXmTUcQaZ0

Please use the link above to access the video

Rulers

  • A long Ruler of about 60 inches will do for projects. I myself find that length to cumbersome to work with. I use one that is 24 inches long.
  • You will also need French curves, for drafting out patterns and making curve shapes.
Long rulers and French curves

Chalk

  • This will come in handy for marking your measurements and transferring them to the fabric from patterns.
  • You can buy tailors Chalk where they sell sewing accessories, get a Chalk pen or use good old blackboard Chalk.
  • Just note that whatever you use should be able to rub off easily.

Scissors

  • Fabric scissors are what you are looking for, Your paper Scissors just won’t make the cut. (lol see what I did there).
  • If you want to use your pair of Scissors for a long time then never use your fabric scissors for paper or plastic projects.
  • You will still need to get paper Scissors for drafting and cutting out your patterns.
Fabric scissors and a pair of snips for cutting thread ends.

Needles

  • Not just any sewing needle will do, you need strong neddles to go into your sewing machine. Trust me having your needles bend or break because they are not sturdy enough for your project is very frustrating.
  • The needle size also matters, I never go below size 18 when I am sewing, your type and size of thread will also determine the needle size you use.
  • Hand needles will also come in handy for those hard to sew places that your machine can’t stitch.

Threads

  • When sewing bags it’s better to use heavy thread that does not easily break, This thread will help your bags last longer. You could use heavy polyester thread or topstiching thread.
I use nylon fishing twine thread for my sewing, it’s strong and the finish is shiny and beautiful when you topstich with it.

Pins and clips

  • You will need to pin your work as you sew through the layers. Some people prefer clips others use pins though pins tend to bend when fabric layers are many.
  • I use binder clips I buy from book shops they are not so pricey and they do the job perfectly.

Seam ripper

  • You are bound to make mistakes along your learning journey and that’s okay. This little tool will help you rip out the seams without ruining your fabric so you can fix your mistakes. Whether your new to sewing or a seasoned bag maker this is one tool you can’t do without.
Seam ripper
  • Other tools like a flat iron, screw drivers, a pair of pliers and a punching tool for fabric are also very useful.

I could go on and on about the many types of equipment and tools you can use in your bag making,but the list I have written above is for the basic requirements you will need to get started.

These are the tools I started with and they are the ones I mainly use to this day. Please share any tool or equipment that has helped you in your bag making journey in the comment section below so that we can help out anyone starting out on there sewing adventure.

Don’t forget to subscribe for more blog posts and tutorials on bag making and cartonnage, I will be publishing once a week.

There is a community of beginner bag makers where we can share ideas and learn from each other. You can find it here

https://www.facebook.com/groups/693376571743193/?ref=share

For more tutorials on bagmaking and cartonnage projects don’t hesitate to checkout and subscribe to my YouTube channel. I am just starting out with recording and am bursting and bubbling with excitement. I have a lot I want to share and learn from you as well, I belive this will be a fun and educational ride I hope you can hop on board so we can take it together until next week have a good day or night.

https://youtube.com/channel/UC54gcdjCP-Obz6jIts-Q7GA