What You Need To Start Sewing

If you want to learn to sew, here is a page for you. This page is all about the basics and what items you need if you’d like to become a sewer. However, before you go out and buy all this stuff, I recommend that you take lessons first to see if you even like it. Generally, you don’t need your own machine or tools to take sewing lessons.
Ok, so you don’t need one for EVERY SINGLE sewing project, and you may have already made one or two hand-sewn things in your life, but if you’d like to be a real sewer, you’ll definatley need a Sewing Machine.

It won’t be sewing at all without the thread. What keeps the earth sewn together? Thread. You can use basic colors like black, brown, or white, but thread comes in as many colors as there are in the world.

Don’t get me wrong, paper is cool, but NOT for sewing. If you didn’t have Fabric, what would you even be sewing together?

It’s totally in. All the commercial sewers have it. It’s the Tomato Pin Cushion! It doesn’t HAVE to be in tomato form, but who DOESN’T want one in that round red fashion? It’s sew cute. Anyway, the pin cushion is a soft, safe world where your pins live. Don’t know what a pin is? Come with me.

That is a pin. They are tiny young things, but they are super useful. Don’t get them mixed up with the needle, the thing you actually sew with. The pin helps keep fabrics in place when you are sewing or will help you cut out patterns. But honey, it you just leave these in a plastic baggy or something, you are gonna go around poking yourself. Scroll up to see where you put your cute grin pins when they are not in use.

Meet Mr. and Mrs. Scissors. Mr. Scissors is very tough and sharp, and he can go flat against the table. He is fabric-only scissors. Mrs. Scissors is kinder and gentle, and is very organized. We use her to cut paper for patterns, cut extra thread, and things like that. She is regular scissors. Now if Mrs. Scissors goes out trying to cut fabric and rick-rack, she’ll just plain hurt herself. If Mr. Scissors goes around doing Mrs. Scissors’s girly jobs like cutting threads and things, he’ll lose his toughness. And then he won’t be able to do the manly jobs like cutting fabric anymore. So let’s keep Mr. and Mrs. Scissors doing their own jobs!


Here are some other essential items. The Seam Gauge, the Disappearing Ink Pen, the Seam Ripper, and finally the roller thing (which also has a name and use, and I know neither of those.)

It’s ok to ask for help, and who better to ask then the Sewing Machine Operation Manual? So, everybody hates reading instructions, I know, but I’ve had to pull this book out so many times it is not even funny, so don’t go throwing the manual away. Keep it and use it.

Most sewing machines will come with an emergency pack which comes with fancy extra presser foots (NOT “feet”) and machine needles and screwdrivers and stuff. Again, don’t go throwing this stuff away. You’ll need it.

Sure, fine, it’s possible to just get on your machine and sew random pieces together, but when you are making something precise, you’ll need patters and instructions. Both these usually come together, and you can buy them at craft stores or bookstores. You can also find them for free online. Or if you don’t have the money or time or you are too lazy, try making your own.

Books and Craft Kits about sewing are availible in bookstores or craft stores.

This pic is sideways, but here are neat-o optional things you can get that will add a special sparkle to your projects.
*Rick-Rack
*Ribbon
*Things to write with
*Thimble (protects your fingers when you are hand-sewing)
My friend makes fun of me because I keep Band-Aids in my box in case I poke myself too hard =) LOL!

When you make things like pillows or dolls or stuffed animals or anything that needs to be stuffed up, you’ll need Poly-fil or Cluster Stuffing. A new, modern, hip word to use when you refer to anything like those is “stuff“! LOL

Store everything but the Sewing Machine itself in a Box. Theses cool boxes are perfect for storing and come with trays to keep organized.

Have a great time sewing!