Best of Madam Sew: Essentials Edition (Red Organizer)

Ten everyday favourites for the sewist, covering cutting, measuring, marking, pressing, and a little fun with a flower stitch foot, all kept together in a red organizing system. This Essentials Edition pairs a big wool pressing mat with spring-loaded scissors, a 6 by 12 inch ruler, marking pens, clips, a protective cloth, a red project bag, and a red binder bag.

Cut with less hand strain using the spring-loaded scissors, measure and cut your pieces with the 6 by 12 inch ruler, and mark any fabric with the erasable pens, including four white pens for dark fabric. Press everything flat on the 17 by 24 inch wool mat, keep delicate fabric safe under the protective cloth, and hold your layers with the clips. When you want a little fun, snap on the flower stitch foot and stitch circular flower designs on your machine. Patterns go in the red binder bag and your current project rides in the red project bag.

Ten tools. One red kit. The everyday essentials, plus a little joy.

Why You'll Love It

• Cut With Less Hand Strain: The spring-loaded scissors open the blades for you after each cut, so long cutting sessions are easier on your hands, for right or left handed sewists.
• Measure and Cut Smaller Pieces: The 6 by 12 inch non-slip ruler is the handy mid-size for marking and cutting strips and smaller pieces.
• Mark Light or Dark Fabric: The four-colour erasable pens mark light fabric, and the extra four white pens show up clearly on dark fabric. The marks vanish under the iron.
• Press Crisp and Keep Delicate Fabric Safe: The 17 by 24 inch wool mat presses seams flat from both sides, and the protective cloth lets you iron silk and velvet without shine marks.
• A Little Fun, Too: Snap on the flower stitch foot, set your machine to a zig-zag, and it turns the fabric to stitch circular flower designs from one-quarter inch to 1 inch across.

1. Extra Large Wool Pressing Mat, 17 by 24 inches

• Size: 17 by 24 inches, the long version of the standard mat
• Material: 100% natural felted New Zealand wool, naturally fire-resistant
• How it helps: The dense wool holds the iron's heat and sends it back through the fabric, so seams and blocks come out crisp from both sides
• Includes: A clear vinyl storage pouch
• Good to know: Steam can pass through the mat, so protect wood or delicate surfaces underneath

2. Spring Loaded Fabric Scissors, 9.5 inches

• Length: 9.5 inches
• Blades: Precision-ground steel that cuts the full length of the blade
• Handle: A soft, no-slip grip with a spring that opens the blades for you after each cut, so there is less hand strain on long cutting sessions
• Safety: A slide lock holds the blades closed for storage
• Handedness: Works for right or left handed cutting

3. Non-Slip Quilting Ruler, 6 by 12 inches

• Size: 6 by 12 inches, in sturdy acrylic with an anti-slip coating
• What it is for: Marking and cutting smaller pieces and fabric strips for sewing and quilting
• Good to know: The handy mid-size ruler, between the small square and the long 6 by 24

4. Flower Stitch Presser Foot

• What it is: A spring-action presser foot (also called a daisy foot) that turns the fabric for you to stitch flower and circle designs
• Size: 3 by 3.5 by 1 inch, made of zinc alloy, plastic, and foam rubber
• What it does: Set your machine to any zig-zag, pick your stitch and thread colour, and it stitches circular patterns from one-quarter inch to 1 inch across
• Fits: Snap-on, low-shank machines, including Singer, Brother, Janome, Babylock, Kenmore, and most home machines. Pfaff, Bernina, and high-shank machines need the matching adapter

5. Heat Erasable Marking Pens with Refills

• Contents: 4 pens (white, black, red, blue) plus 4 refills, one for each colour
• Tip: 0.7mm fine point
• How they erase: The marks vanish with the heat of your iron at about 180F, with no washing needed
• Good to know: Store them tip-down with the cap on, and use within 5 months. Marks can come back if the fabric gets very cold

6. White Heat Erasable Marking Pens, 4 pieces

• What it is: A 4-pack of white heat erasable fabric pens, with fine tips
• Best for: Dark fabrics, where white shows up clearly
• How they erase: The marks vanish with the heat of your iron, with no washing needed

7. Sewing Clips, 50 pieces

• Count: 50 clips per box, in mixed colours
• Size: 1 inch long by three-eighths inch wide, opens to half an inch
• Made of: Plastic body with a steel spring (contains nickel)
• Features: A flat base with seam marks at one-quarter inch, three-eighths inch, and 3/16 inch, and a firm grip for holding layers, binding, and hems without pins

8. Protective Ironing Cloth

• What it is: A see-through mesh cloth you lay over fabric before you iron
• What it does: Lets heat and steam through while keeping the hot iron plate off the fabric, so you avoid shine marks, scorch marks, and flattening
• Best for: Delicate and textured fabrics like silk, nylon, corduroy, and velour
• Heat: Use up to about 300F. Keep to lower settings on delicate fabrics
• Care: See-through so you can watch what you are ironing. Reusable and machine washable

9. Carry-All Binder Bag, Red

• Size: 13.25 by 4.5 by 11 inches, made of polyester, PU, and steel
• Colour: Red
• Binder: A built-in 1-inch, 3-ring binder for patterns and papers
• Pockets: 7 clear zip pockets for tools and small bits
• Handles: 10-inch handles. It stacks, and it hangs on a hook or door

10. Project Bag, Madam Sew Red

• Colour: Madam Sew Red
• Material: Strong, tear-resistant mesh PVC that keeps water out, with nylon handles and a nylon and metal zipper
• Big back pocket: 16 by 16 inches. Small front pocket: 10 by 16 inches
• Features: See-through mesh so you can spot your project, a slot on the front for a name card (card included), and handles to carry or hang it

• Cut your fabric with the spring-loaded scissors, letting the spring open the blades between cuts.
• Measure and cut strips and smaller pieces with the 6 by 12 inch ruler.
• Mark light fabric with the four-colour pens and dark fabric with the white pens.
• Hold your layers with the clips, and press each seam on the 17 by 24 inch wool mat.
• Use the protective cloth over delicate fabric like silk or velvet.
• For a decorative touch, snap on the flower stitch foot, set your machine to a zig-zag, and stitch a circular flower design.
• Keep your patterns in the red binder bag and your current project in the red project bag.