Sew Right Sewing Machines

In The Works: Mary Ann's Paddington Baby Quilt

Teammate: Mary Ann
Project: Paddington Baby Quilt

Welcome to our inaugural feature, "In The Works" where we share the current projects of the team at Sew Right. Everyone on the team is an avid maker and still loves to sew after hours!

We're kicking off 2023 with Mary Ann's project. She is working on a gift for a family member who will have a baby arriving soon. Mary Ann did not want to buy any additional fabric and worked exclusively from her stash. Many years ago, she made a pair of baby quilts for her nieces. She saved the pieces from this adorable Paddington fabric. When digging into her stash, Mary Ann found these remaining pieces and they were enough to complete an additional quilt! She even had several blocks sewn. While also stash mining, she found the perfect piece of batting! Now, all she has to do is complete the quilting and her gift is done. How amazing that all this was from items in her stash?

Have you found surprises in your stash?

Local New York City and Long Island Sewing Groups and Guilds

Looking for a group to sew with or share your passion for sewing and quilting? We've compiled a list of local guilds and groups in New York City (Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Bronx) and Long Island. Want to add your group to the list? Make your submission here!

Group Name *Click link in name. to access group website	Meeting Location	Activities
ASG North Jersey Chapter	Many meetings are virtual. Full chapter meetings meet in Clifton, NJ.	Each meeting is different. Sometimes we sew for charity, have show and tell or listen to an educator. Twice a year we host a virtual educator on a variety of topics. This past year we hosted Pamela Leggett, Katrina Walker who talked about Bojagi and Lorraine Henry who introduced an innovative method of pattern alterations for fit.
Bayside Historical Society Open Sew at The Castle	The Castle in Fort Totten Park 208 Totten Ave Queens, NY 11359	Do you sew, quilt or embroider? Join other sewing enthusiasts in an afternoon of creating and socializing.
Crazy Friday Sewing Party Email: reneecolwell AT gmail DOT com	New York Sewing Center 246 West 38th St New York, NY 10018	Open sew session: machines, assistance, and instruction are provided by NY Sewing Center. Snacks and cocktail of the evening provided by me.
Evening Star Quilters	Mineola Community Center 155 Washington Ave Mineola, NY 11501	Speakers, show & tell, 50/50, share table, charity sews (sewing machines used only at announced events,) announcements about guild or multi-guild challenges, other activities, and upcoming shows in the quilting community. Quilt show every 2 years.
Great South Bay Quilters	Joyce Fitzpatrick Senior Center 50 Irish Ln East Islip, NY 11730	Doors open at 6:30, business meeting at 7, followed by program (demos, speakers, etc.), show and tell, raffle prizes.
Huntington Quilter's Guild	Christ Lutheran Church 189 Burr Rd East Northport, NY 11731	Our regular meetings are focused on demonstrations of special projects, techniques, and presenting guest lectures. In addition to our regular activities, members are encouraged to bring projects for show & tell, and chances are sold for books to be raffled during the meeting.
Long Island Modern Quilt Guild	Mid Island JCC 45 Manetto Hill Rd Plainview, NY 11803	Monthly guild meetings, Guild activities including challenges, swaps, and exchanges, Members-only retreats and sew-ins, Private speaker engagements, Hands on workshops
NYC Metro Modern Quilters Guild	The Center 208 W 13th St New York, NY 10011	We’re a local guild based in New York City and we currently have around 80 members. We’re an inclusive guild and we gladly welcome everyone with an interest in quilt making – including beginners, experienced quilters and everyone in between. We support all styles of quilt making and our guild is a place where everyone is free to explore their own creativity.

5 Essential Tools for Quilting

Before you even start sewing a seam, it’s important to assemble a kit of essential tools so that are at ready when you need them. Chances are, you already have a few of these items, but we’ve rounded up our favorites. It’s also a great way to put together a starter kit for a new sewist or quilter.

1. Rotary Cutter & Cutting Mat

Ok ok… technically these are two items, but they go together! You can’t have one without the other. This pairing is today’s quilter most used item. The rotary cutter is the quickest and easiest way to cut precisely and accurately. The cuts made by a rotary cutter are usually neater than those made by a scissor. Please use care when changing a blade. The blades are extremely sharp! When not in use, it’s a good practice to lock and close the rotary cutter. Do not cut on a surface without a cutting mat. The cutting mat protects your blade AND the surface you ar cutting on. They are available in a range of sizes and can cover an entire tabletop or a smaller space.

The Quilter’s Select rotary cutter is great because it’s ambidextrous. You can use it with your right or your left hand. The Olfa splash cutters are also fun and will brighten up any tool kit!

2. Acrylic Rulers

A quilter can never have just one ruler! However, there are basic ones that are versatile and should be in everyone’s kit. Everyone should have a 6”x24” ruler to cut down yardage and a large square (we like a 10”x10”) is adaptable for multiple cuts as well.

These from Quilter’s Select rulers have a uniform grippy surface on the back that keep the ruler steady and prevent it from slipping while you’re cutting for the most accurate cuts.

3. Large Shears

Although you have a rotary cutter, sharp tailor’s shears are useful when cutting non-standard shapes. Keep these sharp by only reserving them for cutting fabric, NOT paper or anything else. An easy way to identify your large shears is by tying a ribbon to one of the handles.

These Kai dressmaking shears are comfortable to hold and cut through fabric like butter.

4. Embroidery Scissors

Didn’t we already list scissors? Trust us, these are different and also super necessary. You’ll want to keep a pair of sharp embroidery scissors beside your sewing machine at all times to snip threads and trim patchwork pieces.

We love the Karen Kay Buckley’s Perfect Scissors. They’re sharp and have a micro-serrated blade. Plus, they come with a sheath to keep the protected when not in use.

5. Seam Ripper

Nobody likes mistakes, but when you a have to unpick a seam, make the task easier with a good seam ripper that’s sharp and ergonomic. You can take out a seam in seconds if done with the right tool!

We always have multiples of the Clover seam ripper at all our sewing stations. The handle allows for a comfortable grip and the tool is sharp and easily cuts through threads.

What Sewing Machine to Buy?

The best thing about visiting Sew Right Sewing Machines in person is the chance to demo our selection of sewing machines. We are a full line distributor of sewing machines and carry the most trusted brands in the industry: Bernina, Baby Lock, Brother, Husqvarna Viking, Pfaff, Janome, and more! It's important to buy the best quality machine you can afford that match your skills and interests.

We often get asked, "What sewing machine should I buy?" This all depends on several factors:

What is your budget?
What do you like to make now?
What would you like to learn and make in the future?
Do you plan to travel with your machine or will it mostly remain in the same space?
Do you prefer a variety of accessories or a simple straight stitch?
Do you plan to embroider?

We've compiled a list of other considerations, but don't let this overwhelm you! When you visit us, we are happy to walk you through and help you find the best machine for you!

The Basics

Sew on the machine! When you visit, you will get a chance to sew on any machine you are considering. We will provide sample fabric or bring your own.

Start/stop button. Do you want to manually lift the presser foot or would you like an automatic button?
Bobbin. Where is the bobbin located and is it easy to wind a bobbin? Does the bobbin hold a standard amount of thread or a jumbo amount? Quilters may want an extra large bobbin.
Threading. Can you easily thread the machine?
Needle. Can you easily remove and insert it?
Feeding. Does fabric feed evenly under the needle? Do you want an additional feeding system for more control?
Utility stitches. What are the basic stitches you use the most? Does the machine have all of them? Some to consider: join seams, overcast edges, topstitch, hem, zigzag, and more.
Throat space. How large is the throat? Do you need a larger throat space for special projects or quilts?