Shabby Chic Storage Cabinet
SHABBY chic furniture has taken over the high street stores.
From Wilkinson’s, to John Lewis, people are craving the rustic style.
So i thought this would be a great opportunity to create a video tutorial to show all of you crafty people how to make your own shabby chic furniture the cheap way.
Crafting can be an expensive business, especially you go to the chain stores on the high street for your supplies. So here are a few tips as to where can get some fabulous discount deals.
1. Go to your local market. Market prices are always much cheaper as the traders aren’t trying to make a huge profit, just simply selling good quality goods without advertisement and shops to pay fund, plus you can also barter for your trade.
2. Check websites such as Amazon and E-bay, as they also have big big discounts and the good get delivered straight to your door.
3. Search for discount supplies online. If you subscribe to newsletter for Hobbycraft and Overstock.com, you will get notifications for the sales events, and often they have catalogues with sales products advertised in them.
4. If you buy in bulk from places such as Boyes, then the price often would work out cheaper.
5. In the sales in all sort of stores such as Wilkinsons and Boyes, they always have an end of occasion sale, whether it be for Christmas, Hallowe’en or Easter. You should choose these times to stock up on supplies for the following year. Even different seasonal colour felt fabrics and buttons etc are discounted, so they don’t necessarily need to be used for a specific season.
Often over time, I always realise I should have something in basic sewing kit but for some reason or other, I don’t. So I always have to run out to the shops at last minute.
So I thought it would be helpful to newbie’s to show you how to ensemble your essential sewing kit.
First of all you need some sort of sewing box. There are lots of cute designs all over the web, on sites such as amazon and eBay, but if you don’t buy online, or you can’t find one that you like then you can always nip into Boyes or Wilkinsons as they usually have something basic, even if its just a Tupperware container.
Sewing Basket
One you have you chosen container, you must start with pins and needles You will always need a range of sizes based of the fabric you are using and the size of the project you are working on. You have at least a small box of pins as they always go missing easily and this allows you to work on more than one project at once.
Pins
Pins and Needles
Next you need some sewing/ craft scissors. These should not be used to cut anything else, including paper, as it will blunt the blades and they will not be any good to cut the tougher fabrics. However, it may be a good idea to keep a second standard pair of scissors for cutting out patterns etc.
Scissors
Now, I would definitely recommend getting a thimble. Even the cheap plastic ones are good. This prevents you from getting any nasty stab wounds. It happens to us all at some point.
Thimbles
Thread. I believe that one should always carry black and white threads. These basic colours can be used for anything and everything. Then I would suggest a navy blue and red and then all the primary colours. But for the most essential threads, I would just stick to black and white, in perhaps a variety of thickness for different fabrics and needles.
Black and white threads
Next, I would suggest a tape measure and a 15cm ruler. You must use accurate measurements so you definitely shouldn’t guess.
Tape measure
Now, if anyone is like me, you will be bound to make a few mistakes once in a while, but that’s okay. You basically need to buy a quick-unpick. The name says it itself.
Quick- Unpick
If you see any buttons lying around or if you ever take them off a garment, then you should always keep them in your sewing box. Never throw them away.
Buttons
And final some tailors chalk and a pencil, to mark out patterns and so on.
Pencils
Et Voila! You have the basic sewing kit!
Making Something Outta Nothing 