Sewing Essentials for Beginners – 20 Things You NEED

I love sharing simple sewing patterns here on the blog, especially when they are geared toward beginner sewers. Having received minimal formal training in sewing myself, I can appreciate projects that are easy to tackle. I also appreciate basic sewing supplies that help make a sewing project easier. Today I’ve gathered a list of 20 basic sewing essentials that will help start you on your sewing journey!

If you are familiar with this blog, you know I stick to a neutral, classic style with farmhouse & cottage influence. Therefore, my sewing suggestions will definitely be geared toward those type of projects, whether for the home or wardrobe. Hope that’s also your thing!

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So, what supplies do you need for sewing? What do you put in a beginner sewing kit? My list of top 20 must-have sewing supplies will get you started. You can also grab a free checklist of these supplies and more…

Sewing Essentials – Equipment

I will begin my list of basic sewing essentials with the necessary sewing equipment you need to get started on simple projects.

The most important and biggest tool is a basic SEWING MACHINE. It doesn’t have to be a top-of-the-line sewing machine with all the bells and whistles. As long as you can manage a small variety of stitches, buttonholes, zippers, and seams with the machine you will be off to a great start. Just remember to read the sewing machine manual and watch any instructional videos the company has.

I own a Viking Husqvarna machine, but SINGER is also a great brand to begin with. Check out these beginner-friendly options below:

You will also need a dependable STEAM IRON. The steam iron will be able to get out tough wrinkles in your fabric, and is useful when you need to press fabric edges for hems.

Sewing Supplies

Next you will need to gather some sewing supplies in order to work on projects. Also known as sewing notions, below is a beginner-friendly list of sewing essentials that are necessary to have on hand.

• SCISSORS – it is a good idea to have both FABRIC SHEARS and small EMBROIDERY SCISSORS on hand. Sharp FABRIC SHEARS will ensure smooth cutting of your fabrics, while EMBROIDERY SCISSORS are useful to snip threads from the machine & fabric.
• ROTARY CUTTER – another option for cutting fabric is to use a ROTARY CUTTER and CUTTING MAT. These help ensure a straight and measured cut.
• FABRIC MARKING PEN – use a FABRIC MARKING PEN when you need to mark fabric for cutting or to outline a pattern. The ink is washable, so a dab of water removes your mark once it is no longer needed.
• THREAD – I always have a variety of thread colors on hand to load into the sewing machine, depending on the project. However, my go-to color is WHITE THREAD, which is also perfect for neutral style projects.
• NEEDLES – Even if your project will require mostly machine stitching, it is useful to have SEWING NEEDLES available for any finishing touches that must be hand-sewn. For instance, if you need to close up a gap of a sachet by hand since the filled sachet is too bulky for the machine.
• SEAM RIPPER – It is inevitable that you will make mistakes, especially with your beginner sewing projects. Take it from someone who knows! SEAM RIPPERS are such a handy sewing tool for easily ripping out sewn stitches so that you can begin again. I cannot count the number of times I have started to sew a seam when my ‘Right’ sides were not facing each other properly. Sigh.
• STRAIGHT PINS – Most sewing projects will require you to pin fabrics together prior to sewing so that the fabric will stay in place. I love STRAIGHT PINS with big enough heads to grasp.
• PIN CUSHION – although not absolutely necessary, PIN CUSHIONS are a cute & handy place to store your pins instead of the box they came in.
• TAPE MEASURE – Sewing will always require measuring. As the saying goes, “Measure twice, cut once.” FABRIC TAPE MEASURES are flexible and lightweight, which makes them perfect for measuring fabrics.

Sewing Fabrics

Fabrics for sewing projects are some of my favorite things to curate! I love perusing fabric stores and online venues for perfect designs to fit my beloved farmhouse & cottage style. I can never have too much ticking or striped cotton or linen fabrics, and am very partial to blues, grays, and naturals. Click on any of these fabric selections below to choose your favorite:

Sewing Embellishments

It is always fun to embellish your sewing creations with a little something extra. I have been known to add pom-poms, ribbons, and leather tags as embellishments to my sewing projects. They provide a unique designer touch to your creation, and are especially appreciated when the project is received as a gift. No one else will have a apron/skirt/bag/pillow like yours! Although I wouldn’t consider these sewing essentials, they are certainly a nice finishing touch.

Take a look at some fun embellishments you can optionally add to your sewing projects, then be sure to let me know how you incorporate them.

POM-POMS

You can make your own pom-poms with yarn using a POM-POM MAKER, or purchase them pre-made. Faux fur pom-poms are especially fun to work with. Add them to simple shawls or tops of hats.

FELT

Felt fabric is very inexpensive and can be used to add small appliques to a finished project. You can find individual FELT SQUARES for less than a dollar in a variety of colors. I used felt squares for my no-sew FABRIC FLOWERS, which make a great embellishment for a sewn purse or shawl.

RIBBONS

Ribbons are perfect for apron strings, drawstring bag ties, and bunting. They also make lovely embellishments. Here are a few of my favorite picks with classic style:

JEWELRY CHARMS

I have been known to attach small JEWELRY CHARMS to my finished craft projects, whether they are CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS or a CUFF BRACELET. You can easily sew these charms onto a handmade purse or tote bag for a unique touch. Choose a sentiment that resonates with you:

BUTTONS

Smooth wood buttons are perfect for farmhouse style, so they are definitely my favorite. The bigger, the better! Click on the photos below to find these wood buttons…

LEATHER

I always love adding a small touch of LEATHER to my farmhouse style fabric projects. Both my SUMMER SCARF and LONG HALF APRON patterns are embellished with small leather tags.

I have added THESE LEATHER LABELS to my knit & crochet projects, but they would also look perfect sewn onto a simple purse or tote bag.

Sewing Essentials – Patterns

Now that you have an idea of beginner-friendly sewing essentials to have on hand, you can seek out simple sewing patterns to start creating. Simple patterns are top on the list of sewing must haves for beginners.

There are an abundance of simple sewing patterns and tutorials online that will get your creative juices flowing. I also have recommendations of FAVORITE SEWING BOOKS that will provide endless inspiration.

Take a look at the SEWING category on my blog for simple project ideas.

Designing farmhouse style aprons is a bit of a hobby of mine – you can find several beginner-friendly patterns in my ETSY SHOP. Customers have often remarked how simple they are to follow.

I hope this list of basic sewing supplies was useful to you, especially if you are just starting out learning how to sew. Just take it one day at a time, one project at a time, and you will gain confidence in your sewing abilities.

It is ‘sew’ much fun, I promise!

===> BE SURE TO PIN THIS LIST OF BASIC SEWING ESSENTIALS FOR LATER! <===