needle and thread!

soul.less wonder

Hello all,
Unsure if this is the correct forum. I want to buy a needle and thread, just the basics for reattaching/changing buttons and fixing hems etc. it probably seems like a stupid question but where could i pick up some basic sewing supplies? i'm based in dublin 15.
thanks

belleray

Hickey's or Inspiring Ideas have a wide selection of needles and treads. Failing that for just a basic sewing kit the 2 euro store or whatever tommy became would be your best bet.

wmpdd3

All tesco shops have a sewing section, though some are very small.

bisset

Aldi and Lidl regularly have knitting and sewing stuff. Aldi has some sewing stuff next week , I think.

measurement

I have to disagree about Hickeys.
For a simple needle and thread, they are fine (but Tesco will be cheaper).

If you want to buy sewing machine needles to suit your thread, or fabric, you may be out of luck.
I'm not being fussy about the needles - if your thread is too heavy/thick for the needle, you might be able to thread the needle, but the thread will keep breaking, and you might blame your machine when there is nothing wrong with it.
That's twice I've walked out of there without what I went in specially to buy. I was so fed up I forgot to look at the pattern books.

I was looking for twin needles (1 shaft, 2 needles, to sew knit fabric) which is a fairly standard requirement for sewing knits like jersey fabric. But no twin needles in Hickeys. Not just none in the size I wanted.... they don't stock them.
I went to the Singer shop and came away empty handed again. The needle sizes are hard to follow, and the customer service was, in my opinion, very off-hand. He didn't even get up off his chair to serve me. There was only 1 option (take it or leave it), and I'm sure it was the type I already have, but the size wasn't the normal 75, 80 90 100 etc. It would have been nice if he had offered to explain the conversion of the sizes.

Where does anyone else get their sewing machine needles, apart from the internet?

wmpdd3

Shaws in Waterford has twin needles.

measurement

Thanks for that.

Rancid

measurement wrote: »

...
Where does anyone else get their sewing machine needles, apart from the internet?

Great little shop in Capel Street, Dublin, WM Trimmings, it opened shortly after the Woollen Mills closed and has pretty much all of the same sewing and knitting products.
Address is 137 Capel Street.