Where to get a decent sewing box?

doubledown

Hi all,

My wife recently started a dressmaking class and she loves it. She hinted that she would like a sewing box (and kit) for Christmas. I tried to buy one online but they don't deliver to Ireland.

Can anyone recommend a place in Dublin to buy a good sewing box? Or is there a particular one you could recommend?

Many thanks.

looksee

After over half a century of sewing my own instinct would be - a sewing box is a much overrated item. They look very pretty with all the bits and pieces in but when you start using them:

1 the contents are usually very poor quality
2 you very quickly end up with bits and pieces that don't have a dedicated space in the box
3 see 1

I know it is not as pretty, but most serious stitchers would use something like a smallish toolbox, the kind that opens in layers. Go to a sewing shop and buy
good shears, ordinary scissors for cutting paper, small pointed scissors, stitch ripper, pins with coloured plastic heads, mixed needles, a good cloth tapemeasure, a few spools of decent thread in black, white, beige, grey. No point buying random colours, they are almost never right and you buy them as you need them.

A good pair of shears (which are ONLY used for cutting fabric) can be quite an expensive item, so the selection above will cost more than you think, but much more useful than a pretty sewing box.

username123

I have a sewing box thats really just a jumble of thread, needles, scissors etc in a pretty fabric box!!

Much better would be one of those aluminum style vanity cases with layered shelves, like this:


I have a few of these for make-up, jewellery, nail stuff - they are pretty hard wearing. I got mine on ebay years ago. I think Argos do them as well.

Jellybaby1

I have one of those 'tool-box' kind of sewing box but mine is made of wood, which I bought at a jumble sale. I have seen them at second-hand auctions, they go for around €20 depending on the condition. You always run out of storage space when crafting anyway. My buttons started off in the sewing box, but now I have them all in several jam jars, a different colour in each jar! They look nice on a shelf.

doubledown

Thank you all!

denmar

Cath Kidston do some lovely sewing baskets.
http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/searchadv.aspx?SearchTerm=sewing

Susie564

denmar wrote: »

Cath Kidston do some lovely sewing baskets.
http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/searchadv.aspx?SearchTerm=sewing

+1

I got one of the twin lid ones from my sister as a Christmas present and I love it! But would agree with other poster if you are buying "stuff" buy it individually not in a kit.

Blacey

username123 wrote: »

I have a sewing box thats really just a jumble of thread, needles, scissors etc in a pretty fabric box!!

Much better would be one of those aluminum style vanity cases with layered shelves, like this:


I have a few of these for make-up, jewellery, nail stuff - they are pretty hard wearing. I got mine on ebay years ago. I think Argos do them as well.

Seconded. These are brilliant and much better than the pretty but too small to be useful sewing boxes you see in the likes of Hickeys