Needle, thread, & scissors. That's all you need to start sewing! Learn basic stitches like a straight stitch, back stitch, blanket stitch, and ladder stitch. These can be used for many projects. As you progress in your sewing journey, you can get additional tools along the way.
Thread is very important. Not all threads are created equal. An old or poor quality thread will cause your machine to have trouble. This happens because the little loose fibers get stuck inside your machine. That frustration can be avoided. A good quality thread will hold up to the job and make sewing fun. I personally like Gutermann Mara 100 all purpose thread.
Needles come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. There are needles for general sewing, stretchy fabric, thin fabrics, and thick fabrics. The needle type and size correspond to the fabric and thread. If you are mostly sewing cotton fabric, a great place to start is with universal 80/12 needles. I like Organ machine needles. They come in packs of 10 at a reasonable price and work great. That will cover most of your sewing projects. As you work with other types of fabrics, you can get the appropriate needle and thread for a specific project. My favorite for hand sewing is Bohin betweens quilting hand needles.
I have designated fabric only shears. My paper scissors are for cutting out patterns. Embroidery scissors for cutting threads. Pinking shears for cutting fabric that you don't want to unravel. It looks pretty. Applique scissors for cutting delicate hems. Rotary cutter for cutting layers of fabric (45mm for straight cuts and 28mm for curves).
I like to have as many bobbins as I do thread. That way when I need a certain color of thread, it has a bobbin of its own. No need to empty one of a different color. I wind them at the speed I like to sew, not faster nor slower. That way it has a good tension to work with and is less likely to have issues when sewing.
Colorful, fun pins come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are easy to find if you drop them. I've done that many times. You can use a magnetic pin holder to collect pins. Glass head pins are great because they can be ironed over without melting. Sometimes clips are easier and quicker to use. They are also great for fabrics that you don't want holes in.
A point turner is quite handy for pushing out corners. I use a metal chopstick for that purpose. Works great.
Mistakes will be made no matter how experienced you are. There are also times when you need to sew and then unpick. For example, when you sew on a zipper. There are many types of seam rippers. Pick the one that is most comfortable for you and the job you are doing. Remember they do not last forever and need to be replaced often. It's much easier to unpick when they are sharp.
Accuracy in sewing requires measuring. Did you know that measuring tapes can become stretched over time? I found this out the hard way! I would take my measurements with a measuring tape, and then use a ruler to make a pattern. My sewing project would not come out right. Check your measuring tape against a ruler to make sure it is still accurate. A fiberglass measuring tape won't stretch. If you are not a big fan of fractions, like me, work in centimeters. It's much easier.
A wool pressing mat and a wood tailor's clapper are some of my favorite pressing tools. Not only does it protect my table from heat damage, it helps get those nice, crisp, hems on pants and jeans. Saves me time and effort. As a bonus, it looks pretty. I am able to pin into the mat for certain projects. When I don't need it, it is easy to store away and make more room on my table.
An expanding sewing gauge is handy for so many things. Measure out evenly placement of buttons, buttonholes, pleats, and more.
Happy sewing!
Enjoy this fun sewing tools crossword puzzle.