What’s in your sewing shopping cart or on your wish list?

If you’re anything like the editors, designers, and artists at Threads, you have wish lists, shopping carts, favorites, or Pinterest boards filled with “someday” projects.

One of these days, when I win PowerBall, I am going to buy everything in all of my shopping carts and then do the same for my colleagues at Threads.

In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to share some of what’s in our carts or on our wish lists. Note: In most cases, there’s a reason these items are not already in our homes—see the PowerBall note above.

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Jeannine Clegg, managing editor, production

Here’s what’s in Jeannine’s shopping cart—learning, sewing, and gifting.

Workshops/classes for sewing and fitting knits, with Pamela Leggett of Pamelas Patterns

Like a sewing vacation, these classes would provide some much needed time off and space to create. Hundreds of students from around the world have attended Pamela’s sewing workshops. They share camaraderie with other sewers from all walks of life while learning expert sewing techniques and the pattern tissue-fitting method.

Organic cotton sateen

A variety of easy-threading hand needles for her mother-in-law to try:

• https://theneedlelady.com/products/pams-most-popular-spiral-eye-needle-set/
• https://www.wawak.com/sewing/needles/hand/bohin-self-threading-hand-needles-size-4-6-8-6pack/#sku=nedbst1
• https://www.sewingpartsonline.com/self-threading-needles-assorted-clover.aspx
• https://colonialneedle.com/collections/richard-hemming/products/hw225

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Steven Fleck, art director

Steven is also all about learning and growing. His list includes ways to make him even more amazing at his job. Personally, I did not think that was possible, but apparently, he does.

Books

• Pattern Cutting for Menswear
• Apparel Design Through Patternmaking
• Masters of Fashion Illustration

Adult learning certificate courses 

• FIT non-credit adult learning course: Current Events and Innovations in Sustainable Fashion
• FIT non-credit adult learning course: Repurposed and Upcycle Design

Procreate Brush Sets

• Fashion Illustration Brushes for Procreate
• 47 Drawing & Pencil Brushes For Procreate
• Procreate Brushes – Pen Brushes For Procreate
• Amazing Watercolor Painting Kit for Procreate

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Carol Fresia, editor

Carol wrote up the reasons for her choices. She gets extra points for bringing up her attempt to make a plaster cast.

Ditto Form

“For years, I’ve wanted a dress form that accurately represents my shape and size,” Carol says. “With the help of Threads Contributing Editor Emerita Judith Neukam, I tried to create a plaster cast, which was meant to be used as a mold for injectible foam.

“You’ll see that my form never came to be—although I do still have the slightly misshapen plaster mold to remind me of . . . my slouchy posture?

“A better option would be the Ditto Form (above), a custom-made, dense foam form that’s generated from a 3D body scan. Like a plaster cast, the Ditto Form captures your posture, shape, and weight distribution, but it’s less messy and less likely to make you pass out. You need to make an in-person visit to one of several scanning locations (Michigan, California, and the Washington, DC, area) to be scanned. The form is truly an investment in your sewing, however: Fitting yourself will never be easier than with a form that duplicates your body.”

Silk ribbon embroidery class

Dutch couture expert Saskia ter Welle offers an online class on creating beautiful, bold stitched motifs with ribbon. She also teaches a full course of couture embroidery, based on her experience learning Lesage-style stitching.

“For me, ribbon embroidery looks like the right place to start,” Carol says. “The class includes photo tutorials, PDF downloads, and video content, and you can learn at your own pace. Saskia teaches the basics—how to transfer designs, select materials, and execute fundamental stitches—but also encourages students to develop their own style.”

Merino jersey knits

I am thinking of soft, supple, warm, breathable tops and turtlenecks, as we move into the heart of winter,” Carol explains. “Merino jersey is the fabric I’m after: Nothing feels as cozy as wool, and this natural fiber doesn’t absorb odors or make you overheat. It’s ideal for garments worn next to the skin as well as for artful layering.”

“Merino jersey from the Fabric Store comes in a large assortment of colors, from neutrals to deep, rich colors to cheerful brights. I’d like to make three or four tops of different colors, then piece the scraps together to sew a multicolored wrap or cascade cardigan.

“The fabric is machine-washable and easy to sew. Even better, it is ZQ certified, and has accreditations from OEKO-TEX, Bluesign, and SA 8000, which together ensure it is produced in the most safe, sustainable, environmentally, ethically, and socially conscious ways possible.”

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Sarah McFarland, editorial director

Sarah’s choice of the Fendi bag is about as perfectly Sarah as can be. I can’t wait to win the PowerBall.

Fendi baguette with embroidery kit

Every VikiSews outerwear pattern

Sarah is right: How could anyone pick? They are all so amazing.