Five Sewing Notions I Carry in My Purse

Over 20 years ago, when I started sewing, I began to carry things in my purse so I could make a spontaneous trip to the fabric store. It’s been a part of my purse so long, but they’re so handy. I put most of the items in a plastic bag and it takes up about as much room as a bar of hotel soap.

I use this kit all the time. Earlier this spring, I was at the rink and some girls’ dresses came in from a figure skating dress designer out of state. The girls were supposed to try on the dresses and the moms were to mark where the dresses needed alterations. No one had more than a ball point pen, so I pulled out my little kit and went to work.

1. Tailor’s chalk. I use tailor’s chalk, both white and blue, because a) it’s cheap, b) it’s hard to wear out, c) if it breaks in half, the edges are better, d) it’s not permanent, and e) it’s small. To tell the truth, I’ve lost my white bit of tailor’s chalk a year or two ago and I’ve been working with just the blue. It’s great for spontaneously marking a hem or drawing where a new seam line should go. It’s good for outlining potential crystal areas, too. Yes, I have fabric markers at home, but I don’t keep them in my purse. They’re pricey, they wear out fast, I don’t want ink all over my purse, and they’re kind of big. I bet Ice Girl would snag one of those markers out of my purse and take it to school without batting an eye. She won’t take my chalk, though. Don’t use sidewalk chalk or easel chalk. Those don’t work well for marking fabric.
2. Measuring tape. Often you can find a measuring tape in the dollar bins at the fabric store. I pick up several of these because my measuring tapes walk. Either Ice Girl or Ice Dad will be upstairs and need to measure something, but find themselves completely unable to walk downstairs to fetch the mechanical measuring tape. I’m done throwing fits over it. I just pick up a few when I think about it and make sure I have one in my purse. The problem with measuring tape is that it can take over your purse if you’re not disciplined. Every time I put it in my purse, I roll it up and put it in the zip-top bag. If I don’t, it wraps around everything I own.
3. Safety pins. This is just smart. Even if you don’t sew, you’d be surprised how often a safety pin comes in handy.
4. Notebook. I keep a small notebook in my purse (O.K., several small notebooks), with measurements in it. If I take someone’s measurements, I put ‘em in that notebook and carry ‘em around. If I’m at a fabric store, I’ll know which size pattern someone needs or how much fabric I should buy. I also use it for dress sketches so I have some idea of what Ice Coach and I talked about for the next competition dress.
5. Flesh-colored fabric Band-Aids. Again, if you don’t sew, this is still a great item to carry around with you, especially to skating events. First, they’re Band-Aids. You can use them on the walking wounded. Even better, if your figure skater, or someone else’s figure skater, has an enormous hole in her tights, put one of these on the hole. It must be a fabric Band-Aid. No one will see the hole, unless they’re very, very close. I’d love to take credit for this tip, but Reader Ju-Li posted it in a comment on the old blog. Smart gal.

I don’t carry a needle, thread, and scissors in my purse. As most of you know, I hate hand sewing and I’m terrible at it. If I can’t fix something with a Band-Aid or a safety pin, it’ll have to wait until I can sit at my machine to do it. Sorry.

This isn’t sewing related, but they come in handy: address labels. You know those labels that charitable organizations send? Well, I put a sheet in my purse in the protected zipper pocket along with my sewing stuff. When I have to fill out a form for the club or at a competition, I stick one of those on instead. Instead of chucking those label sheets in the trash, I put them to good use and feel very smart every time I do.

So, seamstresses, what’s in your purse? Non-sewing moms: what are you carrying around? Let’s clean out those bags and share the good stuff we find! If you find crumbs, just shake them outside. Thanks.

Photo credits:
Tailor’s chalk (cropped from original): erix! on Flickr.com Creative Commons
Coiled tape measure: Pink Sherbet Photography on Flickr.com Creative Commons
Pacman bandage: Nathal on Flickr.com Creative Commons