My Favorite Sewing Tools for Beginners

Hello Everyone! You may not know this, but in my free time, I teach small group sewing classes in my home. With Christmas quickly approaching, I am often asked about my favorite sewing tools. It is no secret that I love Amazon, so I will include the Amazon links to the products that we use in sewing class, but you can buy many of these same products at Jo-Ann Fabrics, Wal-Mart, or any of your local craft stores.

Sewing Machine

Okay, let’s first start with the sewing machine. There are so many options out there, but for my classes we use the Brother CS6000i. However, that machine is hard to find currently. Going forward I will be purchasing Brother CS7000X

I have had great luck with this machine in class and I feel like it is a good beginner friendly machine, especially for kids. The features that I most like about the machine are the drop-in bobbin, the speed control, and the fact that it will not sew with the presser foot up.

Sewing Needles

Sewing machine needles do not last forever, in fact the sewing machine needles need to be replaced regularly. Depending on how often you use your machine or the nature of your project could determine how often you change your needles. With that said, using a dull needle or the wrong type of needle could be a reason you machine is not stitching properly. There is a lot to be said about sewing needles, so if you do have questions feel free to reach out to me.

In my classes, we typically use Universal Needles or Jersey/Ball Point Needles. Universal needles are used on most woven (think quilters cotton) fabric. Jersey Needles are used for stretchy/t-shirt fabric.

Sewing Scissors

Something that I tell everyone when they come to my classes, that fabric scissors are for cutting fabric only. Cutting paper with fabric scissors dulls them considerably and will make it really hard to cut fabric with over time. There are many options for fabric scissors out there, the biggest thing is to make sure they are made for fabric… and keep them out of your kitchen junk drawer 🙂

Sewing Clips

If you have sewn with me, you will know that I love using sewing clips instead of pins. They are easier to manipulate and they hurt less than pins :).

Seam Ripper

The tool that every one needs, but they hate when they have to use it 🙂 You guessed it, the seam ripper. We all make mistakes, and the seam ripper is what allows us to undo our stitching so that we can correct our mistakes. Many sewing machines come with seam rippers, but it does not hurt to have an extra one, plus I like the seam rippers with a bigger handle.

Magnetic Pin Cushion

Even though we try to avoid it, we do need to use pins while sewing. One thing that has helped keep my sewing room organized, while also keeping pins off of the floor are these magnetic pin cushions.

Tailors Chalk

When I teach classes, I have the kids trace the patterns with tailor’s chalk before cutting the fabric. I always tell the kids that cutting is one of the most important steps in sewing process. If you cut it inaccurately then you will have a hard time sewing it correctly. My hopes with having them chalk it out first is will give them a clear line to cut without having to deal with the pattern paper.

Tube Turner

We use these Dritz Quick Turn tools a lot in class. We use the purple tube and the stick to turn fabric tubes (think scrunchies). We also you the sticks to poke out corners. This is one of my most used sewing tools.

Acrylic Ruler

I use an acrylic ruler a lot when making patterns. Often times tutorials or patterns just give you the measurements of the fabric, and you need to cut it out yourself. Depending on the types of projects you are working on, you could get a 3″ x 18″ ruler or a 6″ x 24″ ruler.

That Purple Thang

Last but not least, That Purple Thang. This is one of those tools that I originally bought because so many people told me it was their favorite tool. I bought it not really understanding its purpose, but since then I discovered why everyone loves it. It serves many purposes. It can help poke out corners, thread ribbon/elastic through a casing, and you can use it to push thick fabric through the machine (which I use a lot with the kids because they are not allowed to put their fingers too close to the presser foot).

Ok, that is a good start. I want to add that there are so many gatchets out there and although they all have their purpose, they are not all necessary. The more you sew, the more you will discover what tools you find helpful and what things might not be necessary. If you ever have any questions, feel free to reach out to me.

Happy Sewing!!

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