Let’s take a tour of my needlework sewing basket!

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Hello my friends, I hope you have had a good start to your new year! As usual, I have been busy working on projects related to deadlines. In the midst of busy-ness, needlework is my escape. I made a point to stitch about 15 minutes every last year. I wasn’t able to do it everyday, but I did have 4 finishes last year. Here is one of them. I have shared the other three on Instagram. If you haven’t followed me there, please do. I am able to share so much more there!

Today, I thought we would take a tour and see what’s in my sewing basket that make my stitching SO MUCH more enjoyable!

When I am at home, I use a sectioned Shaker sewing basket. I have tried different methods to store my stitching things, but so far this is my favorite. Any sectioned basket you might have will work.

However, if you are interested in a basket like mine and live in the US, email and let me know. I am in the process of finding out whether I can acquire more to make them available to you! Email me at wendy2@wendysheppard.net. This basket is about 11″ long, and 5″ high (including handle).

Now let’s do our tour!

#1. FLOSS – OF COURSE

This basket has 4 separate sections, allowing me to organize my floss based on projects. I don’t have more than 2 going on at any given time. So, you see the floss in two of the compartments. That way I don’t get my floss mixed up between projects.

Did you know Aurifil makes embroidery floss called Aurifil floss? They come in wooden spools. The sheen and minimal lint that many like in Aurifil’s regular sewing thread are also hallmark of the floss. For me, spools are just easier to organize compared to skeins.

Check out Aurifloss HERE. Aurifil offers ALL the 270 colors for the floss, just like the sewing threads.

Incidentally, my INDIGO collection released a few of years ago is marked 50% off on Annie’s website HERE. There are 5 spools of floss included in this collection.

Read more about my collection HERE and HERE.

#2. SCISSORS AND WASTE BIN

I have been telling friends about the Cohana Scissors and Snips. These are made by craftsmen in Japan. They cut SO SO well. My daughter and I were stitching over Christmas break, and she and I just reveled in that “swoosh” sound when the scissors cut into the floss. I have to say the scissors are an investment, but as I told a friend yesterday, they make me feel pampered! I have the scissors and the mini snips (shown in the basket). Let me assure you the mini snips cut just as well!

Check out Cohana offerings HERE. [Note: the scissors are often out of stock. So, you should reserve them with stores so that you get first dibs when the stores receive new stock of scissors.]

That little basket is what I use to conveniently store floss remnants as I stitch. Then I empty it out after my stitching, keeping it ready for the next time I stitch.

#3. NEEDLES, TAPE, MARKING PINS — LOTS TO UNPACK FOR THIS SECTION

a. Needles

I generally stitch on higher count of linen. So I generally use either a tapestry 26 or 28 needles. I like that their points are just a tad sharp. Some don’t like the sharp point. If you don’t, then, you will want to look for needles with a blunt point.

Check out Bohin needles HERE. A company representative confirmed to me their needles are still made in France.

For stitching over 1 on my linen, I use a short embroidery beading needle size 10. You can get them at www.123stitch.com (one of my favorite needlework stores). They stock my printed quilt patterns too!

b. Marking Pins

I have been on a quest for marking pins for at least 2 years! I finally found them! Marking pins come in really handy when you are trying to count to mark out the next stitching spot while stitching. I was using regular quilting pins for a while, but I didn’t like the round heads because the pins don’t lay flat. Until I found these Tulip pins:

They lay perfectly flat on my linen!

You may purchase them HERE.

c. Tape

I also started using Post-It notes and this nifty see through tape to keep track of my stitching on the chart! GAME CHANGER!

You can raid your junk drawer for Post-It notes, but you might not be able to find the see through tape there. You may purchase them HERE. The tape comes in different colors.

#4. PINCUSHION! 

I like my pincushion a lot. I included it in my Christmas gift guide post last year. 

They are still on sale HERE.

And on that note, here is the latest progress picture on a sampler I am using as a 9th grade prayer project for my daughter. It is a project I stitch whenever I pray for her on all things 9th-grade related.

Thanks for taking a tour with me on my favorite notions for stitching. If you are a quilter and want to dip your toes into stitching, there’s a whole new exciting world out there!

Fat Quarter Shop has a nice cross stitch section for those who want to explore cross stitching. Click HERE to go to their cross stitch page.

And course, you are free to reach out to me if you have any questions. I am no expert, but I am always happy to share what I know.

Have a great day, my friends. Thanks for visiting.