If you want to start sewing and are on a limited budget, or want to start small to see if you like it, (trust me, with a little practice you’ll love it!) then these are the basic sewing tools and equipment you will need to set up a beginners sewing kit. You can often save money by buying a kit with quite a few of these items bundled together.
Beginners Sewing Tools and Equipment
Many new sewers ask themselves what are the best sewing tools and equipment to have in a beginners sewing kit?
Sewing Tools can be divided into:
- Pins and Needles
- Sewing Thread
- Cutting Tools
- Measuring Tools
- Marking Tools
- Pressing Tools
- Miscellaneous Tools
When you are on a budget, look for kits with numerous items rather than purchasing everything individually.
Pins and Needles
Pins and needles is one of the largest categories but don’t worry as they are all small and inexpensive.
These can be broken into:
- Hand sewing needles
- Machine needles
- Safety pins
- Thimble
- Pins
- Pincushion
Hand Sewing Needles
Most of my digital sewing patterns have little or no hand sewing but there will be a time when you always need a hand sewing needle handy. Just get a small pack of assorted sizes. These are usually labeled universal needles which just means all-purpose.
Further Reading: Types of hand sewing needles
Machine Needles
Start with some Universal needles suitable for a wide variety of woven fabrics. If you will be sewing knits then you will need stretch needles. Needles come in different sizes so make sure you match the needle size to the thickness of your fabric.
Machine needles often come in packs of assorted sizes which will save you purchasing full packs of different sizes.
Further Reading: Machine needle sizes and uses guide
Safety Pins
when setting up your sewing tools and equipment kit, buy a small pack of assorted sizes of safety pins. These are commonly used for threading elastic through casings and turning tubes of fabric the right way out.
If you are sewing tulle or quilts, they can be handy to hold thick or multiple layers of fabric together.
Thimble
While not absolutely necessary, a thimble can protect your fingers when hand sewing. They are generally included in starter sewing supplies kits.
Further Reading: What is a thimble?
Pins
Pins are an essential part of sewing tools and equipment as they hold your seams in place. Plastic ball headed pins are cheap to buy and come in packets of assorted colors. If you have a little more to spend consider buying glass head pins as they won’t melt if you accidentally touch them with the iron.
Further Reading: Types of pins for sewing
Pincushion
You will need somewhere to keep all your pins safe. The white pincushion in the picture below has a magnetic base to hold your pins in place. Magnetic pincushions are great for running along the floor if you ever drop your pins.
If you’d like something fancy then try making this colored felt one yourself with my free felt sewing cushion pattern.
The red pincushion in the photo is called a tomato pincushion can be found cheaply at most fabric stores. It normally has a small strawberry attached which contains sand for sharpening your pins.
Sewing Thread
Even though you are setting up a beginners sewing kit on a budget, invest in a good quality thread like Rasant, Gutterman, Mettler or Coats and Clark.
Cheaper threads get fluffy and break easily which will only frustrate you in the long run. Start by purchasing some basic colors for your kit such as white, cream, black, blue, red and pink. Then purchase other specialty colors only as you need them.
Further Reading: Types of sewing thread
Cutting Sewing Tools and Scissors
Sewing Scissors
For your basic kit, you will need a large dressmaking pair and small sharp embroidery scissors or thread snipper.
It is also a good idea to buy a cheap pair of scissors for cutting paper patterns so you don’t dull your good dressmaking shears.
Pinking shears cost a little more but can be a good option for finishing seams if you don’t have a serger (overlocker). If you have a serger I’d save my money on pinking shears as although they look pretty, they won’t get used very often.
Further Reading: Cutting tools for sewing
Seam ripper
Hopefully, you won’t use it too often but it is a fact of sewing that at some stage you are going to make mistakes. This happens to even experienced sewers so don’t be discouraged if you have to use yours at lot at first.
Further Reading: How to use a seam ripper
Rotary Cutter
A rotary cutter looks a little like a pizza cutter and is used mainly in quilting to cut perfect straight edges.
If you plan on quilting then add a rotary cutter, spare blades and a cutting mat to your sewing tools and equipment list. For sewers who would like to be sewing clothing, you don’t really need this tool.
Measuring Sewing Tools and EquiPment
Ruler
Get just a regular clear ruler preferably with both inches and centimeters on it. There are lots of fancy quilting rulers available but if you are just starting then something simple will do. Clear rulers allow you to see the fabric through it. This green one cost just $1!
Measuring tape
Measuring tapes help you take accurate body measurements. One that has both inches and centimeters is handy in case you are sewing from patterns from different countries.
Don’t purchase a measuring tape that is too thin or made from plastic as it will stretch when you are trying to take your measurements giving you inaccurate results.
Further Reading: How to measure for sewing
Seam gauge
A seam gauge is a small measuring device designed to measure small hems, seam allowances and markings. It is the ruler on the far left of my photo below.
When you are starting out this will make it much easier to measure small increments and hems with a seam gauge.
Marking Sewing Tools
You will need a method of transferring markings onto your fabric. The cheapest marking tools are usually chalk pencils which come in packs of a few colors like white, blue and pink.
Disappearing pens are a little more expensive but do a good job of accurately transferring markings.
Further Reading: The best tools for marking fabric
Pressing Sewing Tools
When sewing you will need a steam iron and an ironing board. You probably have these already in your house so I don’t expect this is an extra expense.
Further Reading: How to press fabric for sewing
Miscellaneous Tools
Lighting
One of the last things in your beginner sewing kit is great lighting. If you don’t have the budget for a lamp, try positioning your sewing table near a window. Sunlight is free! It will make sewing so much easier.
Dressmaker Dummy
Many sewers think they need a dressmaker dummy but when you are starting out this is not strictly necessary. A dummy is great to have long term if you are sewing regularly or sewing as a business. I have to admit I do like the look of my dummies in the corner of my workroom but if you are on a budget, save it for later.
Further Reading: Dressmaker dummy guide
Sewing Machine Feet
Most sewing machines come with a few feet so you shouldn’t have to spend much money on these. If you are looking to have some fun, consider some of the aftermarket feet kits you find on Amazon or eBay. These are inexpensive and can broaden your horizons with many different specialty feet.
Further Reading: 10 Best sewing machine feet
Extra Bobbins
Your sewing machine will come with 5 or so bobbins but a few extra always makes your sewing life easier. You will frequently run out of bobbins as you sew and having some extras already wound in different colors will make you so happy.
Pattern Weights
Occasionally you can’t pin a fabric as the pins leave marks. In these instances, you would normally weight the pattern down with pattern weights and then start cutting. Unless you have a large budget, don’t bother purchasing store-bought pattern weights. You can use any tin in your cupboard instead.
So now you are all set with the basics of a beginners sewing kit it is time to start sewing!
Do you have any tips for other beginner sewers out there? We’d love to hear your ideas for creating a beginners sewing kit on a budget.
treasurie says
Hi Carmen, thank you for reading 🙂
(Gracias por leer)
Carmen Mariani says
Hola! Felicidades por tan valiosa labor y las técnicas fáciles que se nos presenta, excelentemente buenas.
-translated: “Hello! Congratulations for such valuable work and easy techniques presented to us, excellently good.”