At ManMade, we often get emails from guys and ladies asking for help breaking into in the wonderful world of sewing your old stuff. While we're happy to help anyone get started, there are those tips and tricks that can only come with a bit of experimenting and practice.
So, we thought we'd share a collection of these tips, gathered by pros and those-just-getting-started alike. … read more
Every craft and medium requires the right tool for the job. And while most men won't need a Shape-A-Dart for altering patterns to match the proper cup-size, we do love us some gear, and sewing notions are no exception. Here are ten tools - beyond the obvious needle/thread and sewing machine/bobbin combos - you'll never regret buying.
1. Seam ripper. I hate to admit it, but this is the sewing tool I use the most. One doesn't nail every stitch every time, and there's simply no better way to get it out and start fresh. These are also great for ripping apart clothing for fabric hacking and reuse.
2. Tailor's chalk/Marking Pen As a pencil is to woodworking, tailor's chalk is essential to proper seamster-ing. You gotta be able to mark what your doing - where to sew, where to cut, where to pin, and tailor's chalk, in both white (for dark fabrics) and blue (for lighter ones) is my favorite medium, as it rubs right out. They also make markers and pencils for special projects and fabrics - a water soluble pen is handy for special projects (like embroidery) when you need drawing control.
Designer Elizabeth Dilk came up with this sleek sewing kit intended for men who just need the essentials: "Unassuming sewing kit packaged in a 3.5" cube. Contains just the essentials, and directions to replace a button, mend a tear and hem pants. In three tiers, the box contains straight pins, safety pins, sewing needles, 7 types of thread, a seam ripper, tape measure and a packet of spare buttons. Directions are printed on the interior so that losing instructions is impossible."
I'm loving the design of the kit...the color and especially the typeface. Anybody know what it is?
