Of course, the best way to buy sewing supplies would be in a store. Preferably a comfortably large, clean, well-stocked, well-staffed store that served you cupcakes while shopping and let you swim around in fabrics, threads and beads…ahem- at least that’s my fantasy.
Unfortunately, that is not the reality for many of our readers. That’s why we’ve opened BuySewingThread.com for people who don’t have helpful retailers close by. Zede (my mom) and I run Zede’s Sewing Studio in Columbia, MO, but recently we’ve been expanding and welcoming stitchers to our community from Australia, Russia, France, Scotland, etc. BuySewingThread.com is where we, the experts from Zede’s Sewing Studio, are selling our favorite sewing products to our ever-growing sewing community.
Of course, if you have a super supportive and friendly local shop that carries the products you love- buy from them! If you don’t support them, they won’t be around to help you in the future. But if you find yourself at a loss for where to find Sulky Blendables or Madeira Aerolock serger thread- we can be of service!
So…how do you make sure you’re getting what you want when buying online? It can feel like a gamble sometimes. Here are a few recommendations:
1.) Purchase a thread chart- If your online retailer has thread charts available, which we do at BuySewingThread.com, purchase the one that you plan on using most. And don’t just purchase any thread chart- purchase one with some real thread on it! Some threads only come in a few colors- but Floriani threads come in 360+ colors! This leaves a lot of room for interpretation- I’d definitely recommend a Floriani thread chart if you like to use their threads for embroidery. Then, when you re-order, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting.
2.) For embroidery thread, purchase three variations on each color. This is excellent advice for the beginner embroiderer, whether shopping online or in the store. Are you going to stitch out a teddy bear- I bet you 5 bucks you need three browns- one foundation color, then a lighter color for highlights and a darker color for shading. Stitching out a flower? You’ll most likely need 3 greens for your stems/leaves and three pinks or purples or blues- depending on what type of flower you’re stitching out.
3.) Buy products that you can trust. Every single product on BuySewingThread.com has our seal of approval. We sew…everyday. We teach…everyday. We service machines…everyday. We know that quality products matter. Beware bargain thread- whether online or in a store. A lot of times, it’s cheap for a reason- it’s not high quality. You spent money on your machine and time on your project- don’t use crappy thread to save a few pennies.
4.) Buy from nice people. Like I said, use your local retailers and support them! But when you buy online, make sure to buy from a supportive site. We’re new to this, but we’re bringing years of sewing-oriented customer service to the table. So, let us know if you have a problem on the site or if you have a question about a product. We want to help!
Happy Sewing and Happy Shopping!
Speaking of buying from local shops, my daughter reports that JoAnn’s has a “closed until further notice” sign on their door today! I hope we keep a fabric shop in town.