The Best of Madam Sew Bundle: Our 10 Favorite Tools (Extra Large Pressing Mat)

This is the original Best of Madam Sew bundle, our ten favourite tools in one box, with one upgrade: the 17 by 24 inch Extra Large Wool Pressing Mat in place of the standard mat. It covers every corner of your sewing room, from a brighter, quieter machine to straight seams, crisp pressing, and tidy storage, so it suits a beginner setting up and a seasoned sewist alike.

Light your machine bed with the light strip, quiet your machine on the muffling mat, and keep your foot pedal in place on the pedal mat. Set your seams with the seam guide ruler, mark with heat erasable pens, and press hems on the hot hem ruler and the big wool mat. Then tidy up with the red binder bag, the red project bag, and a large lavender quilt storage bag.

Ten favourites. One box. A bigger pressing mat.

Why You'll Love It

• A Bigger Pressing Surface: The 17 by 24 inch wool mat is about 10.5 inches longer than our original, with room for quilt tops, borders, and hems, and it presses crisp from both sides.
• A Brighter, Quieter Machine: The light strip's 24 dimmable LEDs light your machine bed with no shadows, and the muffling mat cuts down vibration and noise.
• Your Pedal Stays Put: The pedal mat keeps your foot pedal from wandering on hard floors or carpet, so you can focus on your sewing.
• Straight Seams and Neat Hems: The seam guide ruler and magnetic guide keep seams even, and the 10 inch hot hem ruler lets you fold and press a hem in one step.
• Everything Stored Away: The red binder bag holds patterns and tools, the red project bag holds your current project, and the large quilt storage bag fits three queen size quilts.

1. Sewing Machine Light Strip

• Size: 12 inches long and 5/16 inch wide, with 24 dimmable LED lights
• Light: Clean white light with a subtle hint of blue or purple, shining straight onto your machine bed so there are no shadows
• Fits: Any sewing machine. Trim it with scissors to fit long and short arm machines and quilting machines
• Installs in seconds: An adhesive backing, so you just peel and stick, with no tools needed
• In the set: The light strip with a 98 inch power cord and dimmer switch, a USB adapter with a US plug, 4 white hook and loop cord organizers, 5 adhesive cord clips, and user instructions
• Good to know: Outside the US, any USB charger, like the one for your phone, works with it

2. Sewing Machine Pedal Mat

• Size: 7 by 10 inches, 0.3 inch (8mm) thick
• Material: TPE rubber
• What it does: Keeps your foot pedal from sliding around on hard floors and carpet, and protects your flooring from scratches
• How to use it: Place it logo side up and wavy side down, then set your pedal on top. Nudge it into place with your foot, no crawling under the table
• Care: Wash with soap and water, dry it completely, and keep it out of the sun

3. Sewing Machine Muffling Mat

• Size: 15 by 20 inches, 0.3 inch (8mm) thick
• Material: TPE rubber
• What it does: Cuts down your machine's vibration, movement, and slipping, so it runs quieter and your work surface is protected from scratches
• Fits: Under most sewing, embroidery, and serger machines
• How to use it: Place it logo side up and wavy side down, then centre your machine on top
• Care: Wash with soap and water, dry it completely, and keep it out of the sun

4. Seam Guide Ruler with Magnetic Seam Guide

• Ruler size: 5.5 by 2.5 inches, in sturdy, see-through fluorescent yellow green plastic
• Needle holes: 16 holes for seam allowances from one-eighth inch to 2 inches. Lower your needle into the hole you want to set your seam
• Extra markings: One-eighth, one-quarter, and 1 inch markings, a 45 degree line, quarter and half inch lines, and a quarter inch pivot cross for marking corners
• Magnetic seam guide: Steel with a strong magnet, about half an inch by 2 inches. It sits on most needle plates or metal machines to guide your fabric
• Good to know: For quarter inch seams, place the magnetic guide in front of the presser foot or move your needle to the right. For seams narrower than a quarter inch, use washi tape instead

5. Heat Erasable Fabric Marking Pens with Refills

• Contents: 4 pens (white, black, red, and blue) plus 4 refills, one for each colour
• Tip: A fine 0.7mm point that draws a thin 0.35mm line
• How they erase: The marks stay as long as you need, then vanish with the heat of your iron
• Works on: Nearly all fabrics. Use the white pen on dark fabric; white ink can take a few seconds to show up
• Good to know: Test on a scrap of every fabric first, as faint ghost marks can appear on some. Marks can come back in very cold conditions, so skip them on the top of a show quilt. Store capped and tip down, and use within 5 months

6. Carry-All Binder Bag, Red

• Colour: Red
• Size: 13.25 by 4.5 by 11 inches, with 10 inch handles
• Material: Durable polyester, polyurethane, and stainless steel
• Binder: A built in 1 inch, 3-ring binder for patterns, instructions, and any hole punched pages
• Pockets: 7 built in clear zip pockets for tools and notions
• Good to know: Easy to carry, stack, or hang. The extra binder pockets for the ring binder are not included

7. Project Bag, Madam Sew Red

• Colour: Madam Sew Red
• Size: Two pockets, a large back pocket of 16 by 16 inches and a small front pocket of 10 by 16 inches
• Material: Durable, tear resistant, waterproof mesh PVC, with nylon handles and binding and a nylon and metal zipper
• Features: See-through mesh so you can spot your project at a glance, and a front slot with a two sided project card for labelling
• How you use it: Holds cut pieces, quilt blocks, patterns, threads, and notions. Carry it by the handles or hang it from a hook, hanger, or door knob
• Care: Dust out the inside, wipe the plastic with a damp or soapy cloth, and dry it fully before using it again

8. Hot Hem Ruler, 10 inches

• Size: 10 inches long by 2.5 inches wide
• Material: Stiff felted wool that resists heat and will not warp, so you can press right on top of it with a steam or dry iron
• Markings: Clear grid lines for hems from one-eighth inch to 10 inches, with 45 degree lines for mitered corners (neat, angled corners where two hems meet)
• What it is for: Measuring, folding, and pressing hems, folds, and pleats in one step
• Good to know: The wool keeps your fabric steady while you fold and press, and it is light enough to take anywhere

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

• Size: 17 by 24 inches and half an inch thick, about 10.5 inches longer than the original mat
• Material: 100% felted New Zealand wool, naturally fire resistant
• How it helps: The dense wool absorbs your iron's heat and gives it back through the fabric, so seams and hems come out crisp and flat, with no puckering or stretching
• Weight: 34.5 oz (980 g), light enough to take to class
• Includes: A clear vinyl storage bag that closes with 2 snaps
• Good to know: Steam and moisture can seep through the mat, so protect wood or other sensitive surfaces underneath

10. Quilt Storage Bag, Large, Lavender

• Size: 23.5 by 20 by 11 inches (60 by 50 by 28 cm), our largest size, which fits three queen size quilts
• Colour: Lavender
• Material: Breathable PU coated polyester with zero odour, to keep quilts fresh
• Features: A clear front window so you can see what is inside, a strong double zipper, and two heavy duty handles
• Holds: Quilts, blankets, fabric, duvets, pillows, and clothing
• Good to know: It folds away flat when you are not using it

• Stick the light strip onto your machine, trimming it to fit if needed, then plug it in and dim it to suit.
• Place the muffling mat under your machine and the pedal mat under your foot pedal, both logo side up and wavy side down.
• Set your seam with the seam guide ruler, and place the magnetic guide on your needle plate to keep it straight.
• Mark your lines with the heat erasable pens, testing on a scrap first.
• Fold and press hems on the hot hem ruler, and press seams and blocks on the extra large wool mat.
• Keep patterns and tools in the red binder bag and your current project in the red project bag.
• Pack finished quilts and spare fabric into the lavender quilt storage bag.