Basic Sewing Kit

Scissors ~ Pins ~ Needles ~ Tape Measure ~ Thread

FREE SEWING GUIDE ~ No1. BASIC SEWING KIT

This guide is the first in a series on sewing, tailored primarily for beginners and hobbyists eager to expand their knowledge of textiles and sewing techniques.

Collecting together tools and supplies is essential before starting any project. Here I have put together an easy reference guide for a basic sewing kit to help you get started. There are a few optional extras, I consider them essential parts of my sewing kit, (because they make life easier) but if you don’t have them, don’t worry you can start without them.

Pins & Needles

Needles in different sizes (sharps for everyday use), glass headed pins (easier to see in your work and not so easy to lose), safety pins. Optional extras: Doll needle (longer for working with stuffed toys), curved needle (for closing seams), tapestry needle (for yarn knit/crochet)

Threads

Sewing thread in a range of colours, start with some neutrals, (beige grey, black, white)
I like Coats Moon polyester thread (general sewing), Coats Duet and Gutermann threads are also good. I also use Coats Nylabond, a very strong thread great for doll making.

Scissors

You can get away with one good general purpose pair of scissors to start but eventually you will want several pairs in different sizes, for different purposes. Fabric scissors (I have some Ikea ones at the moment but I also like Fiskars), paper scissors (cutting paper makes scissors blunt so keep a separate pair for paper patterns), tiny embroidery scissors for mobile sewing.

Ruler (or tape measure), Pencil & Pen

Optional extras: Chop stick, Forceps, Disappearing fabric marker & glue stick.

I use a ruler when working on a small scale (doll making) and a tape measure for dressmaking. I use a pen or pencil for pattern making and marking fabrics if the marks will be hidden (cutting lines), I use the disappearing fabric marker if the marks will be visible (embroidery on a face), forceps are essential for turning small items (they are a game changer for doll making), chop stick for turning and stuffing, glue stick to temporarily hold fabric in place (Appliqué)