Ultimate Beginner’s Guide To Sewing | Tools and Materials Needed

Sewing is a favorite pastime that is still very popular today. No matter if you like to hand sew, sew with a sewing machine, or both, you can use it as a positive, creative outlet.

For anyone who is just getting started with sewing, it can seem overwhelming. However, this in-depth guide will outline everything you need to get started, and we’ll go over the basics of comparing hand sewing to machine sewing. The goal is to help you feel inspired and guided as you pick up this craft.

Hand Sewing vs. Machine Sewing

For many people, hand sewing is a dying art form. The sewing machine came in and really took over the task of making a shirt or dress in just a few hours instead of a few days. Time is one large difference, and we’ve evolved from a society that had sewing as a large part of everyday life to one that relies on machines to make the same clothing.

The sewing machine didn’t catch on until it started to get mass-produced in the 1850s, but there were several unsuccessful attempts at creating this machine before this time. Treadle machines came first, and you used your foot to power them. An electric motor closely followed them, and computerized machines took over today.

Machine sewing is relatively convenient and faster than hand sewing. But, you can make your hand sewing just as reliable and durable. Many stitches the sewing machine does closely mirror hand stitches like backstitching, topstitching, and basting or running stitching.

A big difference between the two is the attention you give to produce your project. When you dedicate your concentration, time, and effort into something, you want it to outperform and look better than something you buy. Hand sewing can help you finish your project, but machine sewing with the latest technology opens the door to more sewing opportunities.

Ideally, you’ll have experience doing both. If you have the time, you can hand sew. If not, you can quickly bang out your project on a sewing machine. Either way, you’ll get a finished project you can’t wait to show off.

Materials Needed to Start Sewing

There are several things you need before you start sewing. Once you have them all on hand, you can start working through your projects and getting the hang of this art form. Our list will outline the basic things everyone needs in their sewing kit.

• Sewing machine
• Additional sewing machine needles
• Bobbins
• Cutting board
• Fabric
• Fabric marking pencils or pens
• Iron and ironing board
• Magnetic dish and pins
• Measuring tape
• Needles to sew by hand
• Scissors
• Seam ripper
• Thread

Why You Need These Tools

These are the essential tools you’ll use to learn to sew either by hand or on a sewing machine. It can be expensive, so you can always ask someone you know to borrow some of their items to practice on until you decide whether or not you want to invest in the materials yourself. They can give you tips too.

Sewing Machine

One of the first things you’ll need is a sewing machine, and you should try to go for the best one you can afford on your budget. Don’t go to you local big box store and buy the first cheap machine that catches you eye because it’ll be very limited in what it can do. A cheap machine may be able to hem skirts, repair ripped seams, and take on light crafts, but they won’t do much more.

Instead, look for a sewing machine that is capable of working with the fabric you want, and it should be able to sew through several layers of fabric. The machine should have a few zig-zag and basic stitches built-in, and it should be able to do buttonholes. If you’re not sure, go to a specialty store and ask them to help you narrow down your choices depending on your wants, needs, and projects. Good brands include:

• Brother
• Singer
• Aonesy
• Janome
• Juki

Additional Sewing Machine Needles

When you first start sewing, you’re going to go through a lot of needles as you learn. You’ll make easy mistakes like sewing too fast, sewing over pins, sewing too many layers at once, sew with your machine improperly threaded, and sew with the tension set incorrectly. These mistakes cause your needles to break, and it’s a good idea to have extra sewing machine needles on hand to replace them when they do.

Bobbins

If you sew with a machine, buy some extra bobbins and get in the habit of winding one or two additional ones with matching thread each time you start a project. You don’t want to run out and stop when you’re in the middle of sewing a seam. If you haven’t wound it, you’ll have to remove your project, unthread your sewing machine, rewind your bobbin, rethread your machine, and pick up wherever you left off.

Cutting Board

Your cutting board will serve a dual purpose, and you can get them made out of thicker materials or plastic that you roll up between uses. The cutting board will save you from scratching your table or work surface. Additionally, they have rulers printed on them that make it easy to cut your fabric to your exact measurements. Arteza makes a durable cutting board in several sizes.

Fabric

You won’t need a lot of fabric to start because you’ll be experimenting and seeing which type you like to work with the best. Start with a few pieces of fabric, and try to match the fabric to the project you want to take on. This will help you get a feel for sewing or using your machine.

Fabric Marking Pencils or Pens

Once you cut your fabric to your measurements, you’ll use the fabric marking pens or pencils to create notches, dots, and darts from your pattern. These pens will wash out with water. They help you match up your seams to get a neat and tidy finished product.

Ironing Board and Iron

You’ll use your ironing board and iron from the start to the end of your project to press seams open, press your fabric, and press hems. A steam iron will help set any creases or seams you want in your fabric, and a heavier model means you don’t have to apply much weight. If you don’t have an ironing board, you can use a damp towel instead.

Magnetic Dish and Pins

You’ll use tons of pins to keep your fabric straight as you sew it, so make sure you invest in a lot of pins. To keep your pins organized and in easy reach, put them in a magnetic dish. Bonus points if your magnet dish sticks to your work surface because it’s metal.

Measuring Tape

It’s always a good idea to measure twice and cut once when you sew. This is the reason you want at least one or two measuring tapes laying around to help you keep your seam even and straight. They come in several sizes, and they’re usually flexible without stretching out or deforming.

Needles for Sewing by Hand

Even if you’re someone who plans to sew everything with a sewing machine, it’s still a good idea to have a pack or two of hand sewing needles in multiple sizes laying around to sew hems, buttons, or tack facings. If you have them on-hand and keep them in your sewing kit, you won’t have to stop your project and run to the store if you get stuck.

Scissors

You’ll need a high-quality pair of scissors to cut your fabric, and you want to buy the best ones that suit your budget. Once you get them, don’t ever use them for anything other than cutting fabric. If you use them to cut plastic, paper, cardboard, hair, rubber bands, or anything, they won’t cut your fabric smoothly.

You can find these scissors on Amazon under fabric scissors, tailor’s shears, or dressmaker’s shears. Gingher makes a stainless steel pair of scissors that are eight inches long and have a knife edge that glides through fabric. Singer also makes nice scissors.

Seam Ripper

Whenever you make a mistake during your sewing and have to rip the thread out to start over, a seam ripper is the tool you want. It can take out incorrectly sewn seams, take off buttons, cut buttonholes open, and rip out zippers. Get one or two and have them on-hand and ready to use, especially when you first start.

Thread

Don’t go for a cheap thread when you sew because you’re setting yourself up for a lot of hassle and frustration. Try to get either 100% polyester thread or a mix of 37% cotton and 67% polyester because this is a smooth thread that is less likely to break or pill up. Coats and Clark is a very good brand for a high-quality thread.

Setting Up Your Workspace

Now that you have everything you need for your beginner’s sewing kit, it’s time to set up your workspace. Most people dedicate a small room for sewing because it’s easy to collect a lot of material.

• Pick a room for your sewing hobby that has good lighting, low noise, and it’s a decent size. The bigger the room is, the better.
• Clear out your room, so it’s clean and free of debris.
• Set up your workstation by placing your table and chair in an open area.
• Set up your sewing machine. Set it up in a way so you can guide the fabric with your dominant hand. The bigger the machine, the more you should center it on your workstation.
• Arrange your workstation with your essentials in easy reach. If your desk has drawers, designate different draws for different items like fabric, cutting tools, and needles/pins.

Sewing Projects for Beginners and Advanced Projects

You want to take your sewing slowly and learn the basics before you take on advanced projects. However, there are

Drawstring bag

Bookmark

Laptop sleeve

Headband

Pillowcase

As you get more confident with your sewing, you can move on to more advanced projects. We’ll outline a few challenging sewing projects you can try below.

• Shirts
• Skirts
• Pants
• Curtains
• Chair cushions
• Quilts
• Bedspreads
• Blankets

Bottom Line

Sewing by hand or with a sewing machine is a fun hobby that allows you to create dozens of fun projects for yourself or family and friends. When you get good, you can sell your creations on Etsy without having to leave your home. Buy your tools and dive in today.