Sewing Tools all Beginners Need

Sewing Tools all Beginners Need

I talk so much about sewing and patterns and we do all these tutorials. But what if you are BRAND spanking new? What if you don’t have any sewing stuff and you really want to get started. This post lists all the sewing stuff that I recommend and use on a daily basis. I have a craft room FULL of sewing supplies and I have tried ALL the sewing accessories. These are my favorites that I recommend with all my heart. I promise I am not recommending anything that I don’t use each and every time I sew!

Sewing Tools all Beginners Need

This post links all of these supplies through Joann Fabric and Craft Stores. I did this because they have amazing coupons so you can get your supplies at a great price, which is crucial if you are just starting out. You will love that you can fill up your cart online with these supplies and they will get them all ready for you to pick up at the store. That saves you from having to walk through the store to try and find the things that I am recommending. They didn’t pay me for this post, I just really love that I don’t have to wander around and I can shop from my couch!

If you don’t have a Joann or don’t want to shop there you can find these supplies and more of my favorites on my Amazon Store where I share all of my favorite sewing tools and equipment!

What do I need for a beginner sewer?

Here are all the things you need, scroll down for an in depth discussion of each of these sewing tools plus my recommendations on which specific sewing tools to get.

• Sewing Machine
• Thread
• Rotary Cutter
• Clear Ruler
• Self Healing Mat
• Scissors
• Seam Ripper
• Pins
• Clips
• Heat Source and Pressing Mat (aka Iron and Ironing Board but that isn’t what I actually use! See below for more details!!!)

Sewing Tools & Equipment

Sewing Machine

A sewing machine!! There are lots of great options but I have two introductory Brother machines and they are both fantastic. If you are new check out this post about the best sewing machine for beginners.

The Brother Cs6000i is the machine that I most frequently use. This is an introductory machine and I do all my sewing on this since I want to make sure all my projects and tutorials are accessible to newbies who are not using a super fancy machine. I have always been able to do everything I want on this introductory machine (read: I have never needed a super fancy machine to make what I wanted to make.)

There are a few features that I want you to make sure your machine has if you are just starting out. A stop/start button, a presser foot warning if the foot isn’t lowered, and a speed control toggle. You can read more about why these are important in that beginner sewing machine post but those are the three things that I find most important for a new sewer.

Thread

This may sound like a no brainer but good thread is super important! I almost always use Guterman Thread and it is great. This is a place where you don’t want to scrimp on cost. You get what you pay for and cheap thread will break or clog up your machine.

Rotary Cutter

The rotary cutter is by far one of the most important things that you will need for your sewing projects. There are a few different types but I recommend the one linked. If you struggle with bad wrists or hand control you can get THIS adjustable rotary cutter which I also have and recommend.

Self Healing Mat

A self healing mat goes hand in hand with the rotary cutter. This is another place where you might be tempted to go cheap. I assure you the cheaper you go the faster you are going to have to buy a new mat! The better brands are self healing and will last you a good long time as long as you don’t cut in the exact same spot over and over. The second thing I want to suggest is that you get a fairly good size mat. The bigger your mat the straighter your cuts will be because you won’t have to fold the fabric as much or move it around when you cut.

Ruler

A clear cutting ruler is one place where you can go for the cheaper option. The few things that you should look for are a clear ruler so you can see the lines on your cutting mat, a ruler that is a good length, at least 24″ is best, and a ruler that is fairly sturdy so you can run your blade along it without accidentally shaving the ruler itself. I like the one picture below 🙂

Scissors

Let’s talk about scissors. You definitely need a pair for your sewing kit. You want to have a pair of scissors that is meant only for fabric. Using scissors on paper dulls them and dull scissors will not cut fabric nicely.

You can go for a middle of the road scissor, especially when you are just starting out. This pair is totally acceptable and will work great.

If however you are just past the beginner phase and sewing is definitely for you I would recommend a pair of scissors that is a step up. These Ghinger scissors are great and will last a long time as long as you cut only fabric with them and get them sharpened regularly.

Seam Ripper

Ok I have news for you…you are going to screw up! Everyone screws up no matter how long they have been sewing. So a seam ripper is crucial!! You might be tempted to go with a tiny seam ripper that came with a kit but this ergo seam ripper has a nice sharp blade and it is comfortable in your hand. It is only a few bucks and it is totally worth the price! This is the exact one that I use DAILY!!!!!!

You might want to grab two, I can’t tell you how often I am looking for a seam ripper and cannot for the life of me find it! I recently found one in my husbands bathroom drawer, he had squirreled it away for rogue thread removal!

Easy Press (or Iron)

So you have to have a heat source for your sewing. An iron will do the job, but if you plan to sew a lot and think you might dip your toes in other crafting areas I highly recommend the Cricut EasyPress 2. The 6″ x 7″ press is the perfect size to sit right next to your sewing machine on your sewing table. You need the pressing mat that goes with it but that is also totally worth the space it saves. I LOVE not having an ironing board clogging up my floor space! Plus like I said if you plan to do any sort of vinyl crafting you are killing two birds with one stone.

Pins and Clips

PINS!! – You must have pins in your beginner sewing supplies! But you know what I don’t use and never have that you can save your money on…a pincushion! I like the length of these pins and the colors are fun right? You don’t need a ton of pins because you won’t use them as often as you will use your clips…

Wonder Clips – These clips will change your sewing life. I use these clips almost exclusively when I am sewing. There are so many amazing applications where they work better than pins. Plus you won’t be constantly stabbing yourself and bleeding all over your projects, which is a huge plus in my book!

What should be in a beginner sewing kit?

A sewing kit is something you carry with you in your purse for sewing emergencies, like repairing a button or fixing a hem. If you are looking to create yourself a small hand sewing kit you will need slightly different supplies.

• Hand sewing needles
• Snips
• Thimble
• Thread

Do you still have questions about sewing tools? Share with me in the comments below.