This beginner sewing series is for the person who has never sewn or for the person who hasn’t sewn in a while and would like to sharpen their sewing skills. I will walk you through a series of posts that will help you get started and help you make wise choices, save time and money when buying your sewing supplies and creating your projects.
A little about me
I have been sewing for many years and first started sewing in high school in a home economics class. Our assignment was to learn how to make a very full gathered skirt with a waistband and a side zipper.
This project became increasingly difficult because of the full gathering of the skirt. I kept breaking the double thread gathers and had to start over many times. If only I knew then what I know now, that would’ve never happened. Eventually, the skirt took a life of its own and although it was far from perfect, I was very proud of it and wore it often. I made a lot of mistakes and although my teachers did a great job, we were just one class of about 30 students and they had at least 5 classes that size. I do not regret that class, because it launched my sewing adventures.
In these series, I will show you how not to make a mistake, and if you do, how to fix your mistakes. I will also, help you start a project from start to finish, that you will be proud of.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. You will find my full disclosure here.
My Sewing Experience
I have been sewing for many years and some of the projects that I have sewn are clothing, costumes, communion dresses, quilts, prom dresses, home decor projects, alterations, dog clothes, you name it and I’ve tried it.
Sewing can be fun, addictive and very productive and lucrative. In this post, I will discuss the basic supplies you will need to get started.
Supplies
This is a list of supplies although not all-inclusive, but it’s a good start.
- Sewing Machine
- Thread
- Thread Case
- Scissors
- Straight Pins
- Pincushion or pin magnet holder
- Long Ruler
- Rotary Cutter (optional)
- Seam Ripper
- Cutting Mat
- Disappearing Marking Pen
- Weights
- Fabric
- Sewing Machine Needles
- Iron/Ironing Board or Pad
- Starch and Sizing Alternative
Thread
The thread is one of the most important items in your box of sewing supplies. A good thread is very important and worth spending a little extra. This is not where you buy cheap or at a bargain. My go to thread is Aurifil cotton 50 wt, this thread has less lint and will not shred while you’re sewing. The 50 wt thread is versatile, strong and thin, and results in remarkably flat and crisp seams. You can find this thread here.
I usually buy white, light grey and black. Very seldom, do I use any other colors. Grey is a neutral color and you can use it on almost every color of the fabric.
Thread Case
A thread case is very important. Threads need to be protected from light and dust. If the thread is kept out in the open it eventually collects dust, it also dries out and becomes brittle. I have threads in my thread case that are at least 10 years old.
The picture above starts from left to right with the green weights, Best Press sizing and starch alternative, Aurifil 50wt cotton thread, magnet pin holder with glass head pins, disappearing marker, sewing needles, and seam ripper.
Scissors
A good pair of scissors is very important also, but in the beginning, it’s not necessary to buy a very expensive one. I have bought a variety of scissors throughout time and some have been quite expensive. Starting out with a pair of Gladim Fabric Scissors is perfectly fine. You can find one here.
Straight Pins
I love, love glass head straight pins. You can iron over them and they don’t melt. They are also very sharp and easily penetrate any type of fabric. These are the ones I buy here. If you do not want to buy the glass head pins, another good option is these. If you choose to buy them somewhere else, make sure they are sharp straight pins.
Pin Cushion or Pin Magnet
Any pin holder will do, this is definitely a preference here. My recommendation is a pin magnet holder. In the event you spill your pins, you can easily pick them all up with this magnet pin holder. You can buy one here.
Long Ruler
A ruler or some type of measuring device, such as a measuring tape is very important. I suggest the ruler like this one because it’s sturdier than a measuring tape and can give you a more accurate measurement. You can also use it to square your fabric and cut sharper cleaner lines.
Rotary Cutter
Frankly, I don’t use scissors to cut my fabric anymore, I only use a rotary cutter. For me, this borders on necessity than a splurge. My suggestion is to buy your scissors first, then once you get more experience and decide you want to continue to sew, then buy a rotary cutter. This is the only one I suggest and they come in many sizes. Personally, I use the smaller one, since my hands are very small. Don’t forget to buy an extra pack of blades, if you hit the rotary cutter on the ruler and depending on the cutting mat, they can dull in the middle of a project. These are the ones I recommend.
Cutting Mat
There are many cutting mats available, ranging in price from $7.99 to several hundred dollars. if you are a beginner its not necessary to buy an expensive cutting mat. I started with one like this.
Disappearing Marking Pens
A marking pen is important also, this is a tool that you will always use. There are many different types, some will wash away, others will iron away and some will fade away with time. Be mindful of what you are buying. I do not like the ones that you iron away, because I press my projects as I go and I accidentally put heat on my marks and they disappear. I like to use these marking pens.
Weights
I love my weights! I use these weights instead of straight pins when cutting out a pattern. You can cut closer to your pattern without the impeding of the pins.
You can also buy some 2-inch washers at your local home improvement store and stack 2-3 together and use them as weights. However, these are the ones I use and have lasted for years.
The picture above going from left to right, is a straight ruler, scissors different sizes, rotary cutter different sizes, and extra cutting blades. Also, below the supplies, you can see my cutting mats.
Fabric
Fabric choice is very important for a beginner. It’s important to the type of project also. For instance, as a beginner, you would not want to start sewing on knit fabric or any stretchy fabric. These fabrics among others are very difficult to work with and require special needles and most of the time require a Serger. A Serger is a machine that uses interlocking stitches to sew on particularly difficult fabrics.
My suggestion is to start with a nice 100% cotton fabric, you will have to press as you go, but you press as you go when you sew anyway. As a beginner, I never started out with fabric from your local large chain stores. I do shop at JoAnn’s for some of my fabric choices. If you can find a local sewing shop, they usually have fabrics specific for projects and you can buy remnants while you are learning.
Sewing Machine Needles
A good sewing machine needle is just as important as your thread. It’s good to start with a universal needle or a Microtex needle. The size of the needle is also very important for your sewing project.
This site will give you some quick information on which needles you will need for the type of fabric you are using. Please click here. This information will give you an idea of what each needle is needed for each fabric and project.
Iron and Ironing Board
An iron and ironing board is necessary when you sew. It keeps your fabrics neatly pressed and keeps your stitching very neat. It also melds your sewing thread into the fabric. A steam iron is mostly what the majority of people own, however in some projects you cannot use steam, such as in quilting. Steaming actually stretches your fabric and in quilting, every block has to be precise.
Starch and Sizing Alternative
Best Press is the best starch and sizing alternative. This is a light, clean and fresh smelling alternative to starch. You can find that here.
Above is my sewing machine, it is a Bernina 830 series and I am blessed beyond measure. This is one of the top of the line machines that Bernina produces and it is an amazing sewing machine to sew on. As I stated earlier I started out with a $100 Singer sewing machine to learn on and that was perfectly fine, it got me to where I am now.
Sewing Machine
I saved the best for last, a sewing machine is the most important investment in your box of sewing tools. It will also be your most expensive investment. If you can borrow one from a relative or friend just to get you started, that is what I would suggest.
However, if you want to buy one you can find them on E-Bay or the local FaceBook Market. You can also go to your local sewing machine store and see if they have floor models for sale. There is a really great bargain in a floor model. In fact, some of these machines do not have much use on them, since they are demos. I actually bought a smaller 300 Bernina series floor model to take with me on sewing retreats and really got a great bargain on the price.
These are the things I do recommend when buying a machine:
- Zigzag stitch
- Reverse stitch
- Needle down (not necessary, but great to have)
- Stitch length regulator
These suggestions above, are the must-haves, in fact, I started out with a Singer that had all of that and more for $100. I now own a Bernina, which is a higher end sewing machine and I have to admit I am really spoiled with this machine. It has everything that an experienced seamstress needs. It’s computerized and has wonderful software for the embroidery module.
Be sure to stay tuned for the next sewing series and I will be discussing how to thread your machine and how to care and use the machine and how to maintain your machine.
Future posts will focus on making a project from start to finish, using sewing techniques to make you successful. Whether you are interested in home dec, crafts or clothing you will be successful after completing these series.
Enjoy XOXO
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