On the go
 

I was wonder what makes a complete sewing box?


seems like everytime I go to my mothers house which a Is 1 1/2 hour away. Seems like I over pack with supplies


i want to make a sewing box that I can just pick up and walk out the door with. What would you put in your box. If it was up to me I would take everything lol
lol i am planing on leaving town for a week and will take the quilt I am working on and of course machine but don't have a lot of room in car with all the baby stuff lol just need a perfectly packed box help

pack:
1 clean pair of socks
1 clean set of undergarments
1 clean t-shirt
1 clean pair of jeans
1 pair sneakers
1 set jammies, robe & slippers
laundry detergent

plus as much of your sewing room as you can cram into the car.

if hubby and kid(s) don't fit, tell them to fly or take the bus. LOL LOL LOL

I was thinking the same lol.

Take only one project & what you think you'll need for that project only. Also think about getting duplicates of things on sale so that you can leave them there.

For me it is needle, thread and RIPPER.

Hysterical!!!!!!

It is a good idea to take more than one project...sometimes you need a break from the project and go on to another project. I have taken as many as 4 or 5 projects in different stages to a quilt retreat and I rotate among them.

Having duplicates of your tools and leaving them at your mom's home for later visits is a great idea!!! One less thing to pack and you won't forget anything, too.

Very true. Like the ideas after baby go to bed will see what I can come up with

I have one of those paper boxes (the heavy duty ones that reams of paper are shipped in). In it I can fit my thread box, bobbins, scissors/cutting tools, rulers, marking tools, spare needles, my iron, and typically enough of a project or two to keep me busy. It takes a bit of planning (I used to take all my fabric bins, etc and it would often feel like it took more time to pack and unpack than was spent working) but its totally worth it. So while travelling somewhere else to quilt, I have my sewing machine, one box of supplies, and a mini ironing board.

I to have to agree with QuiltnNan!!!!! So funny!!!

YES!! :D

And if that won't work, then spend an hour in your sewing room doing what you do, and when you use something, put it in the bag. So, fabric, thread, scissors, ripper, machine (if needed) with foot pedal, extra needles and rotary cutter/mat/ruler (if everything hasn't already been cut). Plus any other stuff that falls in...

I tend to bring needle turn appliqué with me when I go somewhere. Then, you only need thread, needle, scissors, fabric and instructions.

My 1st quilt: Labor Day weekend trip to the cabin in N. Minnesota 2011. Packed sewing machine, fabric, thread, ruler, rotary cutter, seam ripper, scissors, pattern, etc. Continually kept running through a mental picture of everything I would need. Part way up to the cabin, I asked dh if he liked what I was wearing. He looked puzzled, and then replied it was "okay." Good, I told him, as he would be seeing me in it all weekend. I packed for my sewing project, but had not packed any clothes or food! Good thing we keep some clothes at the cabin, and go out to eat up there quite a bit!

Wow love all ideas.

Well I'd definitely have to include several seam rippers...;)

Go buy yourself a tackle box, plastic, the largest you can carry. As you can afford it, add your favorite tools. I have only to pick it up and go and it is so convenient to not have to try to duplicate tools when I am in a hurry or under stress to get ready to leave. My tool box is about 15 years old and metal, but the plastic ones are nice nowadays too.

I don't mind so much picking up the stuff to go, looking forward to the trip or class but coming home and having to put all that stuff away again, I hate it. I think that's one reason why I quit teaching sewing. Draaag all that stuff out and draaag all that stuff back in again.

I had the same problem with overpacking. I now have a small sewing basket that I keep packed just for traveling to classes, etc. I supplied it mostly from duplicate items that had found their way into my sewing room. In it I have:
1 dark and 1 light marking pen/pencil
a seam ripper
scissors
tweezers
stiletto (spelling?)
extra bobbins
extra needles
neutral light and dark thread
rotary cutter and extra blade
pins
pressing and appliqué cloth

Then I put my machine, feet, cord, foot pedal, small iron, ironing pad, cutting mat, ruler and project into my rolling machine case and I am ready to go. If I were going for overnight I guess I would include my toothbrush and some clean underwear...

I have a tote at my both my DDs homes packed with duplicate sewing tools. I keep a small pretty bag in the glove compartment of my car filled with hand sewing projects. Right now it's hexes and yo yos. I have a tote filled with tools to take to classes and workshops, those tools have my name all over them and I keep it in the trunk of my car.

I have a basket ( 10"W, 12 1/2"Land 7"D) which holds my travel iron, water container for it, the smallest spray bottle of Best Press, a pencil container of marking pencils, an insulated glass with lid and straw, and a tin box (4 1/2"L, 8 1/2"Wand 2 1/2"D) that holds extra rotary blades, filled bobbins and some empty extras, small scissors, extra machine needles, pins, a pen, a pencil, a small sticky note pad, blue tape, a 120" tape measure, sticky tape for my ruler a small notepad, a calculator, a purple thang, a brush to clean my machine and a snack zip lock bag with band-aids in it. It's called density packing. I also have a mat carrier that holds my rotary cutting mat, an ironing pad, my rulers and my rotary cutter. a sewing machine case that holds my sewing machine that has a bendable light attached to it, my foot pedal, electric cord, foot lifter and sewing machine manual. I bought 3 of the scrap book square deep container with handles when they were on sale at Jo-Anns in which I put my projects. I use one or all three depending on how long I'm going to be gone. Oh and I don't forget my clothes.

Years ago in one of my classes we made a padded book with a small cutting board on one side, fine grit sandpaper on the other side and enough batting on the outside to be able to use it as a small ironing area. I have traveled a lot with that.

Ignorance here - what's the fine grit sandpaper for?

Trust me on this one, double up on the seam ripper and needle threader. Packed my box and left them behind, big mistake! My job allows me time to hand sew during my shift and I have 2 sewing boxes each packed with the same items for grab and go. When time and your budget allows, build a second box just for travel and sleep overs.

Patrice - LOVE this!! my DH tells me if there is no room after the golf clubs & accessories go in, he'll tell whomever we visit that I said HI! same for my sewing stuff - FIFO - first in & first out. Blessings. Kathy

We have a home in Ga. as well as Fl. so we are in between a lot. I like you seem to always have a project with me. This is my travel kit (I've really tried to minimize it over the years).
1. Needles (hand & machine)
2. Thread (light & dark)
3. Scissors
4. One ruler that can be use for cutting or squaring up (6 x 12)
5. Rotary cutter
6. Pins
7. Seam ripper
8. Mat with pressing board on the on the other side
9. Travel iron (if I'm going where there may not be one)
10. Marking pen (dark & light)

I keep these in a bag that hangs behind the door in my quilting room. So if someone says go all I have to put in is what project I'm working on and grab the machine. Also, another thing is clean and oil your machine before u leave and also change out the rotary blades if you plan to do a lot of quilting. Happy quilting!!!!

Nancyw,
What kind of bendable light do you have attached to your sewing machine? And where did you get it? Thanks.

Showed this one to DH and he rolled his eyes, chuckled and asked what about the DOG ? LOL

I have a small Janome and made a case for it(Lots of pockets) and the usual sewing stuff that Iwould need at home. plus a small sheet of stabalizer just in case. and the primary sewing thread colors but 2 of the tan and black. It is my grab and to to the kids or quild etc. Some of you ladies are so funny and makes my day............Love Ya lots and hugs to you all.

fine grit sandpaper to help pull your needle through the fabric if it gets stuck. also bees wax helps with thread easing through fabric. if hand sewing.

Kaelynangelfoot, I like your list. I would add marking pencils/pens, painters tape and the one item I most often forget.... a good long extension cord. I keep a basket by my sewing area with all of my day by day necessities. Three cheers for the Longaburger Market Basket Some are crammed into a zip-lock bag while others just live in the basket. I can grab it and go any time the opportunity arrives. I enjoy quilting away from home with others, so having the "basics" ready at a moments notice is important to me.

Last minute thought..... I also have a tube of good hand cream, a hair clip to keep the hair out of the way when FM and one little piece of chocolate for emergency purposes only.

If Mom has a sewing room, don't bother with the basics (scissors etc). Just take your project and the thread to match - and maybe your own sewing machine. Leave the kids and DH at home!

Love it!
SandyQuilter (not sandyquilter)

Hi, I have an old wooden box about 10''x 7'' that was made by a long departed friend as a jewelry box. It has several compartments into which I manage to fit the following- Scissors , quilting cotton,pins,thimbles,tape measure,pincushion.needles,beeswax,marking pencils,etc.etc.In fact it is a joke with friends and family that it is as much a part of me as a limb.Then I would include my project and machine cotton-- machine if needed plus 1/4inch foot.Best of all a bottle of wine - or two ! Oh I forgot, rotary cutter ,mat and at least one ruler. Did anyone mention kitchen sink!!!!!!

I have a tool box that has the tray in the top that I can put tools in and can put fabric and thread etc in the bottom. Works pretty well and doesn't take up a whole lot of room.

We were told to use the sandpaper for tracing pattern pieces. The sandpaper holds the fabric and it doesn't stretch as you trace around your pattern pieces. Guess that mostly for hand piecing and maybe applique.

The most important thing I have in my togo bag is money. So I can buy the things I forgot to bring.

I have a quilted tote I carry with me that has embroidery blocks, thread, needle and scissors. I carry it in the car so if I see I have time to embroider I just pick it up and bring it everywhere. Sometimes you do more waiting than anything so it helps me accomplish more things in my day. I don't stop to embroider at home except on the machine so I still have blocks coming out and seem to get more done.

too funny! sounds like something I would do. lol

It doesn't matter how carefully I plan and pack, I always manage to leave out something I need. Fortunately, my quilting friends have my back. One of them always has whatever I forgot.

It is for holding fabric stable when drawing lines for cutting, sewing or tracing template. I don't use it too often but it works well.