Essential Sewing Supplies to Get You Started Stitching

Sewing machine

First and foremost, you will need a sewing machine. Many of my students have been given machines from relatives or friends; others own machines that have sat in the back of their closets, unused, for years. That’s great! Use what you have; if not, let’s talk about the best beginner machines.

I recommend skipping the “toy” models and investing a little more to buy something more reliable. A real machine will last longer, and if you decide sewing is not your thing, you can easily sell it. The Brother CS7000x is a great user-friendly beginner machine. Thanks to its safety features, it’s a good choice for teaching children.

The Singer Heavy Duty 4452 is able to take a bit more abuse. It can sew faster, 1,000 stitches per minute, and through more layers of fabric. Artists and sewists looking to penetrate medium to thick canvas, leather, denim, and other heavy fabrics should invest in an industrial model like the Juki DDL8700. Just keep in mind that industrial machines are heavy and not easily moved.

If any of these machines cost more than you can spend to start a new hobby, you can find gently used machines on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, or ask friends and family. Many sewists have old machines they no longer use and would be happy to sell for a good price.

Brother CS7000X Computerized Sewing and Quilting Machine

Singer Heavy Duty 4452 Sewing Machine

Juki DDL-8700 Industrial Straight Stitch Sewing Machine

Scissors

Next you will need a good pair of fabric scissors. Using dull scissors will make even the most patient of sewists want to give up before they start.

The Fiskars 8″ Paper and Fabric Scissors are a great starter choice. They are very affordable and cut very well. If you can spend more, the Gingher 8″ Dressmaker Shears are extremely sharp and will outlast many other scissors without needing sharpening. When you have heavy-duty cutting to do, the Gingher will be worth the extra cost. For little hands or for smaller, more delicate cutting, use the Fiskars 5″ Sewing and Craft Scissors.

Always be careful when cutting, especially with children. And never cut anything other than fabric with your new sharp scissors. You will be tempted—because who doesn’t want to use the sharpest scissors in the house?—but this will make them dull faster. I hide mine away from my family and write FABRIC ONLY on them just in case someone finds them.

Fiskars 8″ Paper and Fabric Scissors

Gingher 8″ Dressmakers Shears

Fiskars 5″ Sewing and Craft Scissors

Thread

When it comes to thread, quality thread will work best with your sewing machine. Some of the cheaper threads have fibers that will snag on your machine, causing the thread to break in the middle of stitching. Look for brand names such as Mettler, Gutermann, and Coats & Clark. Polyester will be the strongest thread, but if you don’t want to use plastics look for a smooth or silk-finish cotton thread.

You can start with a basic pack of thread like Gutermann’s 10-spool set, or go to your local fabric store and pick up one black and one white spool. You can also buy a larger variety pack like the Silk Finish 28-reel thread kit by Mettler. With a larger selection you will be able to use the closest color match, not worrying about going to the store for each project.

Most of the time your stitching will be hidden inside a garment or stuffie, but where there will be topstitching, you will want to choose a color that will match or complement your fabric. When choosing your thread, unspool a bit of it and lay a single strand over your fabric. This way you can best see how the topstitching will look.

Gutermann Thread Set, 10 Spools

Mettler Silk Finish Thread Kit, 28 Reels

Needles

New machines usually come with a spare needle or two, but you should have an assortment of needles for each project that you start. The rule of thumb is to change your needle at the start of a new project or after eight hours of sewing; this ensures that your needle won’t become dull and damage the fabric.

I have to admit that when I started sewing, I used the same needle for more than a year, until it broke. I was so upset when it broke because I thought I needed to bring my machine to a repair shop. That was not the case at all: Changing a needle is as simple as gently releasing a screw, slipping the old needle out, placing the new needle in, and tightening the screw.

Most machines will take “universal” sewing needles, and you can get a variety pack Schmetz’s 10 pack with a few different sizes to work with different fabric weights. When working with knits or jersey fabric you should use a ball point needle like the Schmetz ball-point jersey machine needles, and when working with denim use Schmetz’s jean and denim machine needles.

Schmetz Universal Machine Needles

Schmetz Ball Point Jersey Machine Needles

Schmetz Jean & Denim Machine Needles

Pins

Pinning patterns and fabric in place makes sewing much easier. When it comes to pins, buy a name brand. I have made the mistake of buying cheaper pins in the past, and many of them were dull and would damage the fabric.

Some people love to use beautiful pins that make them happy when they look at them, like Dritz’s Pearlized Pins. When working with delicate fabrics and knits you will want a finer pin to avoid damaging your fabric. Dritz Extra-Fine Glass Head Pins will be perfect for this.

Safety pins are also useful to have for quilting, holding a hem in place, pulling elastic through a waistband, and so much more. Fiskars’s assorted safety pins pack has three different sizes for all your needs.

Dritz Pearlized Pins, Long, 120 Count

Dritz Extra-Fine Glass Head Pins

Fiskars Assorted Safety Pins

Pincushion

So many pins, but where do you put them? You will want a pincushion to hold them all in one place. In fact, an easy beginner sewing project is to make your own pincushion. You can find tons of free beginner pincushion projects online.

When I started to sew, my grandmother gifted me the classic tomato pincushion. She had one too. They are perfect for those of us who love the nostalgia of sewing and want a retro look.

I still have my tomato, but about 10 years after I began sewing my mind was blown when someone showed me you could pick up pins with a magnet. From then on, I have always had the Dritz Ultimate Magnetic Pin Caddy nearby when sewing; my pin cleanup takes seconds.

For the best of both worlds, the Singer Magnetic Pal is a magnetic wand that can be used in conjunction with the more traditional pincushions. It even comes with a few pins to get you started.

Dritz Tomato Pin Cushion

Dritz Ultimate Magnetic Pin Caddy

Singer Magnetic Pal

Seam ripper

Seam rippers are a sewist’s best friend. There will always be mistakes that need fixing when you sew. When used correctly, seam rippers allow you to remove stitches efficiently without damaging the fabric.

To use a seam ripper, slide the pointy end under a stitch and cut it with the curved blade, repeat this every fifth stitch or so, then gently pull apart the fabric. Some areas may need a bit more seam ripping than others. Your sewing machine may already come with one, so check before purchasing.

The very basic Dritz Sew 101 seam ripper will fit easily into your sewing box. You can also find models that are more comfortable to hold, like the Dritz Large Ergonomic Seam Ripper.

Dritz Sew 101 Seam Ripper

Dritz Large Ergonomic Seam Ripper

Fabric tape measure

When sewing you will need to measure fabric, patterns, bodies, and more. Every sewist needs a fabric tape measure handy. I have one attached to the side of my cutting table and typically have a second around my neck when I am working. You can buy iBayam’s 60″ double -scale ruler as a two-pack.

Retractable tape measures are amazing as well. No more rolling up your tape measure when it’s time to clean up. Fiskars offers a set with both a seam ripper and a retractable tape measure. You may want to buy a few tape measures in case one breaks or you misplace one. With SmaringRobot’s multipack you get three retractables and one standard.

iBayam 60″ Double-Scale Soft Measuring Tape, 2-Pack

Fiskars Seam Ripper and Measuring Tape Set

3-Pack Premium Retractable Measuring Tape + 60″ Soft Measuring Tape

Iron

Most sewing will require some ironing to remove the wrinkles in your fabric and flatten out your seams. If you don’t already own an iron, the Black+Decker IR40V is a great value and has three-way auto shutoff.

The Rowenta Access has a stainless-steel sole plate, auto shutoff, and a retractable cord. The stainless-steel sole plate means that the iron will heat evenly, and because it is not plated in another material, it won’t eventually peel.

If you have already decided you are really serious about sewing and have a generous budget, then consider the Reliable 5100IS. It is a professional iron with a 3/4-gallon water tank and provides pressurized steam, which is the fastest way to iron.

Black+Decker IR40V Iron

Rowenta Access Steam Iron

Reliable 5100IS Professional Ironing Station

Ironing board or mat

You will need a safe surface to iron on as well. My grandmother, who taught me how to sew, had an ironing board, but she always ironed on a folded towel on a table. I prefer a full-sized ironing board or a mat, but if you’re interested in ironing on a table, you can buy a small and affordable ironing board like the Amazon Basics tabletop ironing board.

For those who have the space to store larger equipment, the Bartnelli Pro extra-large board is a very sturdy option. Having a larger space to iron on means you will move your fabric less and work more quickly.

A wool pressing mat is a great alternative to an ironing board, especially if you don’t have the space to store a board. Made in the USA, Gypsy Quilter’s 17″ x 24″ mat can even be tucked away in a drawer. Note, though, that you should not use a pressing mat on your good furniture without a protective barrier between surface and mat, as the steam will damage polished wood.

Amazon Basics Tabletop Ironing Board

Bartnelli Pro Ironing Board

Gypsy Quilter Felted Wool Pressing Mat

Tools storage

All of these supplies—but where will you put them? The typical way to store art supplies in a tackle box will do the trick for your sewing tools too. Try Sjqecyfv’s attractive and affordable three-layer tackle and sewing box organizer. You can look for it in other fun colors to fit your style and decor. Most crafters have some variation of this Amazon Basics three-tier rolling cart to store supplies if the tackle box won’t cut it.

However, the ultimate storage for quilters and sewists is the Dreambox 2 from Create Room furniture. It looks like a basic armoire when closed but opens up to a completely customizable storage space, equipped with a fold-up table, space for your sewing machine, and lighting. It will help you organize all your tools, fabrics and other art supplies.

Sjqecyfv Sewing Box 

Amazon Basics 3-Tier Rolling Utility Cart

Create Room Dreambox 2

Alternatives and upgrades

All the items in this article thus far have been the more standard options, but they are not the only options. There are many good tools and gadgets out there that you can purchase as alternatives to, or in addition to, the ones you already have. Here are a few of the most popular.

If you hate pinning, you don’t have to use pins! Fabric clips are often used by quilters to hold the thicker layers of a quilt together. They are also great with certain art projects or for fabrics like leather and vinyl that you don’t want to poke holes into. Otylzto’s pack of 100 plastic clips from Amazon has fun colors and a storage case.

Alternatively, pattern weights can be used while cutting. Instead of pinning your pattern through a few layers of fabric, simply lay the pattern over the fabric and place your fabric weights on top. You have to be very careful not to shift anything around. Usually when cutting with pattern weights you will also use a rotary cutter (see below), not scissors. This ensures you won’t be lifting the fabric and accidentally moving it. A 4-pack of Dritz weights should be enough weights for a simple pattern. Buy 1 or 2 more packs for for a pattern with lots of parts to it.

My rotary cutter and self-healing mat are my favorite upgrades to my sewing room. If you have never seen one before, a rotary cutter looks and functions like a pizza cutter. You can lock the blade in a cutting position and firmly press down onto the fabric while rolling the blade along. The OLFA 45mm Ergonomic Rotary Cutter is compact and a fan favorite.

Make sure to have extra rotary blades handy for when your blade gets dull, or if you accidentally roll over a pin. The OLFA RB45 five pack should hold you over for a while. When ordering, check that you’re getting the right size replacement blades for your particular rotary cutter.

Rotary cutters are super sharp (and should carefully be used by adults only), so always use a self-healing mat under your fabric while cutting to avoid carving into your tabletops and dulling your blade. I prefer a larger cutting mat and recommend the OLFA 24″ x 36″ green double-sided mat.

Otylzto Premium Plastic Clips, 100 Pieces 

Dritz Pattern Weights, 4-Count

Olfa 45mm Rotary Cutter, Pack of Five 45mm Blades, and Cutting Mat

Resources

Now you have all your tools, but how will you learn how to sew? Depending on your learning style. you may be able to teach yourself to sew from YouTube videos or an instruction book.

I may be partial, but my book Sewing for Kids: 30 Fun Projects to Hand and Machine Sew is a good book for beginners. There are 15 hand-sewing and 15 machine-sewing projects, along with all the basics on how to get started and grow your skills. It was written with children in mind but is also an great resource for adults. The Sewing Book is another excellent book for learning to sew.

If you don’t think you can teach yourself, look around your neighborhood for a sewing school, quilt shop, or even a fabric store that may offer classes.

Alexa Ward, Sewing For Kids: 30 Fun Projects to Hand and Machine Sew

Alison Smith, The Sewing Book