Fabric
Please purchase good quality 100% cotton or cotton blend fabric for beginner projects. Check the front of the book or pattern envelope for suggested fabric types. Allow extra fabric for length alterations, plaids and napped fabric. Figure the yardage you need for the view and size you are making. Fabric comes in different widths and your pattern will list what you need for 45” and 60” wide fabric. 

Please pre-wash all your fabric. Wash and dry as you would the finished garment. You can find fabric caring, content and width information on the end of the fabric bolt. 

Please DO NOT purchase shiny, silky, velvet or extremely stretchy (dance or knits) or heavy fabric. They are hard for a beginner to work with. 

Patterns
Check for your correct pattern size. If in doubt, please contact your Instructor. Patterns may be multi-sized, be sure that your pattern size is included on the pattern envelope before you purchase, it can be confusing. 

Pattern sizes are different than ready to wear. You will usually need one size larger than what you shop for in the store. We will cover this more in class. Misses patterns are for 5’6” women with a B cup. 

Junior patterns are for young slender girls between 5’and 5’6”. Children patterns need to be also selected by height. 

Thread
Please purchase a good quality thread, Mettler, Gutermann, or Zwicky are good choices. Cheap or old thread may be fuzzy and may interfere with the machine tension. 

Please purchase all-purpose thread. You will see a lot of specialty threads for embroidery, quilting, and decorative uses, they are not suitable for garment instruction. 

DO NOT buy bargain basement thread! They have a lot of fluff that catches in the machines and can damage them. They break easily and are frustrating to use. Thread should be one shade darker than the project you are working on. 

Notions
Select the appropriate notions for your garment. You will find a list of notions needed on the pattern envelope. For zippers, a darker shade is better, if not a perfect match is okay