Start sewing today with these basic tools. You don’t need anything else to start out.

Would you like to sew, but don’t know what to start with?  Does sewing look intimidating? Are your kids interested in sewing, but you don’t know how to teach them?  I would love to help you get started with this guide to sewing for beginners.  Sewing doesn’t have to be scary or difficult.  There are so many projects you can make as a beginner that will help build your confidence and help develop your skills.  Today, I am sharing with you the first five tools you need to start sewing.  These are the exact tools I use for every sewing project.

This post is part of a series for beginner sewers. You might also like these posts:
What sewing machine should you buy?
What thread to buy for your sewing machine?
11 more sewing tools you should have
Guide to sewing machine needles
Understanding Fabric

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1. First things first, you need a sewing machine.  I have a Singer Brilliance 6180 that I’ve had for about 5 years.  It has 100 stitches, but honestly, I only use the first four on a regular basis.  I love having the decorative stitches though, and it has button hole stitches that make it very easy to sew button holes.  You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a basic sewing machine.  There are a lot of great ones out there that are affordable.  If you find a machine with a straight stitch, and zig zag stitch, that will be great.  For more guidance in finding the right sewing machine for you, go visit my guide to buying a sewing machine to find the right machine for you.  There is a lot of great information about what to look for in a sewing machine.

 

2. For your sewing machine you will need needles and bobbins.  Make sure you buy the right bobbins for your machine. They are NOT universal.  It will ruin your machine if you use the wrong bobbins.  I also use this silicone ring to keep all my bobbins organized and easily accessible.  In your manual, it tells you what size bobbins your machine uses.  

Use needles that are recommended by your sewing machine company. I have a Singer sewing machine but was using Schmitz needles.  When I was having sewing problems and had to call customer service, they said the Schmitz needles were slightly longer than the Singer needles and could be hitting some of the metal pieces inside the machine.  So just be safe and get the right needles also. I have an assortment of needles that I bought at Sewing Parts Online, so I have what I need on hand. In my sewing machine manual, it tells me what kind of needle I need for the kind of fabric I’m using. To learn more about what kind of needles there are and what kind you should have, here’s my guide to Understanding Sewing Machine Needles.

3. Thread is always important.  There are lots of different kinds of thread, and you want to buy the right kind.  It’s based on the kind of fabric you are using. I have an assortment of all purpose thread and 100% polyester that I’ve bought at Joann’s.  And I have cone thread for my serger that I use with my sewing machine also.  I look up in my sewing machine manual which kind of thread to use with my fabric. I usually only sew with cotton fabric and stretch knits, so that’s why I only have all purpose and 100% polyester.  Here is a great guide about what kind of threads there are and which ones you need for which projects.

4. You need a good pair of scissors.  I’ve had a few different brands of scissors, but I love these Gingher Dress Shears.  They cut through fabric so effortlessly.  And if they ever start to get dull, you can cut through a few layers of aluminum foil to sharpen them.

5. Lighting is important so you can see your project well.  Use a bright lamp that you can set on your sewing table so it can brighten up your work space.  I have a standing lamp that has 5 different light bulbs and I can move each one of them individually and point them to where I want.  I also have two of these clamp lights that I can place wherever I need more light.

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I hope this guide to sewing for beginners was helpful to you.  Soon, I will share with you some more sewing tools I use.  Now that you have your tools to start sewing, you can make some of these easy sewing projects.