Here are the exact sewing tools I use every time I sew. These tools make sewing projects easier to accomplish.

I have been sewing for over 20 years and I wanted to share with you the sewing tools I use every time I sew.  There’s not much more you need for sewing crafts to get the job done.  I don’t buy anything fancy.  These are must have items that help the sewing process go very smoothly.

This post is part of a series for beginner sewers. You might also like these posts:
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5 tools you need to start sewing
Guide to sewing machine needles
Understanding Fabric

Must have sewing tools

1. Trimming Scissors are your friend at the sewing machine.  You will be pulling out your project and trimming the thread so often.  Don’t use your big fabric scissors cause they are just too big to use. It’s much nicer to have a small pair that’s easy to pick up and use right away without the weight and bulkiness of larger scissors.  And when my sewing machine gets jammed I need small scissors to get underneath and trim the threads so I can pull my project out.

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2.You need a measuring tape so you can measure something longer than a foot.  Having a flexible measuring tape makes all the difference. Don’t try to get by with a ruler or your husbands tape measure.  Mine goes up to 60″.  This is especially helpful when taking body measurements.

3.For small measurements, I have this sewing gauge that has an adjustable slider.  I use this for things like folding hems over or making marks on my fabric. When I fold hems over for pressing, I use this to make sure the hem is the right size before ironing.  

4.A self healing Rotary Mat is the best way to cut fabric.  They come in so many sizes. I have one that is 36 inches by 24 inches.  I have used this for almost every sewing project. The only time I don’t, is if I’m cutting something bigger than my mat.

5.If you have a rotary mat, you need a straight edge to cut on, I have this ruler that measures 24 inches by 6 inches.  There are lots of different sizes to choose from but this one is the same width of my rotary mat, so they work perfectly together.

6.You also need a rotary cutter so you can cut your material with your rotary mat.  I have used the same rotary cutter my whole adult life and just change the blade out when it starts getting dull.

7.I use pins or wonder clips to keep multiple pieces of fabric together while sewing.  I used pins all the time up until earlier this year when I bought wonder clips. I like the wonder clips because they are quick and easy to put on and easy to take off while sewing.  They are easier to grab with my fingers. The pins are smaller so it’s a little more difficult when I’m sewing to grab the pinhead quick enough to pull it out without having to stop the machine.  The wonder clips are great for bulky items like multiple fabrics stacked or are sewing a quilt square that has big layers. You should have both because there will be times you can only use pins, and times you can use wonder clips instead of pins.

8.I use this magnetic pin holder for my pins and love it.  Before owning this, my pins were held in the little box they come in.  It was hard to grab a pin out from inside that little box. I would usually grab multiple at a time and I just wanted an easier way to handle my pins.  This pin holder is magnetic, so they stay in place on top nicely. When I’m done with a pin, I just hover my hand over the top of it and drop the pins in place.  There is also this nice cover that has holes in it, so if I want to keep the lid on, the head of the pin has a hole for it to pass through. And there is storage underneath for more pins for large projects.

9.It is really helpful to have a marking pen so you can trace patterns in order to cut them out.  Sometimes I skip this step and just hold the pattern in place and cut around it, but I find it easier when I trace the pattern.  This water soluble pen works really well. When I first mark with it, it looks too light, but it gets darker after a few seconds.  To get it to disappear, you just spray it with some water or wipe it with a damp cloth.

10.An iron is another must have when sewing.  There are so many times that you will need your iron for ironing out wrinkles, pressing seams, etc.  You don’t need anything fancy, but make sure it has a steam function.

11.A seam ripper is a must have.  You will inevitably have to rip out a seam that you messed up on.  I guarantee it.  My sewing machine came with this tiny little seam ripper.  Although it’s so hard to handle when it’s smaller than your hand.  So I bought a full size seam ripper.  This bigger handle allows me to have more control since it fits in my whole hand.

If you use these sewing tools, they will help you save time when working on a sewing project.  They have all been very dependable for the last 20 years.  They are also very durable.  I haven’t had to replace any of these items because of damage or breakage.  So these are a great investment for your sewing hobby.  I use just about each and everyone of these sewing tools for every project.  You don’t have to have these to be able to complete sewing projects.  Although, these sewing tools will help you stream line your workflow when sewing.

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