Accessories
18 guides. Each one cites its sources and says what we checked and what we didn't.
Presser Feet
- Presser Feet: Which Foot You Need, and Will It Fit?Buying guide
Presser foot types and what each does, from zigzag to walking foot, plus how to check shank height, snap-on fit and stitch width before you buy.
- Walking Foot: What It Does and Which One Fits Your MachineBest of
What a walking foot does, when to use it, how to attach it, and which one fits Brother, JUKI, SINGER (Heavy Duty too), Husqvarna Viking or Janome.
- Zipper Foot vs Invisible Zipper Foot: Which One You NeedBest of
Standard zipper foot vs invisible zipper foot, what each sews, and how to find the right one for Brother, Janome, Singer and other machines.
Needles, Thread & Bobbins
- Sewing Machine Needles: Types, Sizes and Which One to UseBuying guide
Sewing machine needle types and sizes explained: 130/705 H, the 80/12 size chart, which needle for which fabric and thread, colour codes, and when to change it.
- Bobbin Thread for Machine Embroidery: Weight, Pre-Wound Bobbins and ColorBest of
Which bobbin thread an embroidery machine needs: the weight each Brother and Janome manual names, when pre-wound bobbins are safe, and what color to use.
- Class 15 Bobbin: Size, Class 15 vs Class 66, and What Your Machine TakesReference
Sewing machine bobbin sizes from the makers: Class 15 vs Class 66 and 15J, and the bobbin named in Brother, SINGER and Janome manuals, model by model.
- Machine Embroidery Thread: Rayon or Polyester, and What WeightBest of
Machine embroidery thread explained by its makers: 40 wt, rayon vs polyester, bleach and washing, bobbin thread for Brother, and which needle to use.
- Serger Thread: What to Buy and How to Use ItBest of
Which serger thread to buy: Brother's chart by fabric, cones vs spools, regular vs serger thread, woolly nylon for rolled hems, and 5 threads compared.
- Sewing Machine Bobbin Case: Which One Fits and When to Replace ItBest of
Which bobbin case fits your sewing machine: drop-in or front-loading, Class 15, Brother and Janome colour codes, when to replace it, and why not to oil it.
- Sewing Machine Needles for Leather: Which Type and SizeBest of
Which needle to sew leather, faux leather and vinyl: the leather needle's cutting point, sizes 90/14 to 110/18, where makers disagree, and when to stop.
- Which Needle to Use for DenimBest of
Which needle to sew denim: Jeans needles in 90/14 to 110/18, when to go to 100/16, topstitching with heavy thread, twin needles, and why needles break.
Tables & Storage
- Sewing Table: How to Choose One That Fits You and Your MachineBuying guide
How to choose a sewing table: height, flat top or lift, opening size and weight limit, with 10 tables compared by maker figures. Canada shipping notes.
- Sewing Machine Cabinet: Will Your Machine Fit?Best of
Will your machine fit? Sewing machine cabinets compared by lift opening, weight limit, size and storage, from Arrow, Kangaroo, Koala and Horn. Canada notes.
- Sewing Machine Carrying Case: Will Your Machine Fit?Best of
Sewing machine carrying cases compared by interior size, from the makers' own figures, with what machine manuals say about carrying and storing a machine.
- Thread Storage: How to Store Sewing and Embroidery ThreadBest of
How to store sewing, serger and embroidery thread: what thread makers say about light, dust and heat, and 7 racks, boxes and cabinets by maker specs.
Gifts for Sewers & Quilters
- Gifts for Sewers: Tools They Will Actually UseGift guide
Gift ideas for people who sew, built on university sewing-tool lists and maker specs: a beginner's kit, pressing tools, small gifts, and what to ask first.
- Gifts for Embroiderers: What a Machine Embroiderer Will UseGift guide
Gift ideas for machine embroidery lovers, from maker specs: curved scissors, tweezers, thread and stabilizer, a magnifier lamp, and what fits only one machine.
- Gifts for Quilters: Tools They Will Actually UseGift guide
Gift ideas for quilters, built on university quilting tool lists and maker specs: the cutting kit, small gifts, a project iron, and what to ask first.