The world of sewing can feel a bit intimidating if you are unsure of how to navigate your way around a sewing machine or don’t know the difference between a Tailor’s Ham and a Bodkin. Panic no more. We’ll give you the names of the most important sewing tools, and their uses, so that you can stride into your first sewing class as a confident beginner.
There are many tools used in sewing, and while some of the ones needed will depend on which type of sewing interests you, there are some that are needed for every type of sewing.
Today we’ll look at the sewing tools most commonly used in general sewing which will give you a good grounding.
What Are The Different Types Of Sewing?
Sewing is a type of needlework, which incorporates all crafts using a needle. Sewing requires thread and either a sewing machine or a hand sewing needle.
Popular sewing crafts include:
- Dressmaking
- Embroidery
- Home sewing
- Patchwork
- Quilting
Here at The Goodlife Centre we offer workshops covering many sewing skills – but more on those later! First let’s share some knowledge to build up your confidence.
What Sewing Tools Are Needed To Get Started?
If you’re just getting started with sewing, then this guide will cover the sewing tools that you will need as a beginner. We’ve broken them down by their function to keep things organised.
Measuring Tools
These are the tools that are needle for measuring purpose in sewing.
- Tape measure
- Ruler
Tape Measure
This is a narrow one metre long piece of plastic coated fabric. It has markings on the whole length – usually in both centimetres and inches – and is used for many tasks such as measuring the body in dressmaking, the length of fabric pieces in home furnishing sewing and many more.
It’s an essential sewing tool!
Ruler
A ruler provides the straight edge that a tape measure can’t. Longer is better for when you need to cut or mark long straight lines, but as long as the edge is solid and not flexible, you’re good.
Other Measuring Tools
There are other measuring tools used in other needlecrafts, like a graders ruler for quilters, but as a beginner to sewing, you’ll not need that yet.
Cutting Tools
Cutting tools are required for cutting paper and fabric. Here’s a recommended list:
- Fabric scissors
- Paper scissors
- Seam ripper
- Snips
Fabric Scissors
We have a rule to only cut fabric with dedicated fabric scissors, which will help to keep the blades nice and sharp. There are many types of scissors available, and all will cut fabric, but some will cut better than others.
Tailor’s shears have longer blades to cut more fabric in one cut, while scissors with shorter blades are better for cutting curves.
Remember though – we only ever cut fabric with our fabric scissors!
Paper Scissors
Which leads us nicely onto paper scissors! Paper blunts the blades which is why we suggest having separate scissors for cutting paper!
You’ll need paper scissors for cutting paper patterns, which are commonly used for dressmaking.
Seam Ripper
We all make mistakes and a seam ripper is your steadfast friend in fixing them. Even professionals have a seam ripper in the sewing kit for when those seams have come out puckered and need redoing.
Snips
While you could use your fabric scissors to cut your threads when a stitchline is complete, snips are smaller and faster.
Sewing Tools
We’re now onto the actual tools which will help you create the stitches used in sewing:
- Presser feet
- Sewing machine
- Sewing needles
- Thimble
- Threads
Presser Feet
This is the small ‘foot’ attached to the presser bar on your sewing machine. It holds the fabric against the feed dog. A sewing machine will always come with a standard presser foot, and usually several more specialised presser feet, such as a zipper foot or a blind hem foot.
As a beginner, you’ll likely only need the general one for getting started, but it’s good to be aware of others, as they can speed up your sewing later on when you have more experience!
Sewing Machine
It goes without saying that a sewing machine is the fastest way to sew something. While we strongly believe in some good slow sewing here at The Goodlife Centre, we also recognise that a sewing machine is an essential tool for many who sew.
Start out with a basic sewing machine that will sew a straight stitch and a zigzag stitch which is all you really need for getting started. And remember that a second hand sewing machine is just as good as a new one when you’re starting a new hobby!
Sewing Needles
There is no sewing without sewing needles! And similar to machine presser feet, there are many different types of sewing needles that will help you to sew different types of fabrics, whether by hand or using a sewing machine!
Thimble
If you’ll be hand sewing instead of machine sewing, you’ll want to consider adding a thimble to your sewing kit. It will help to protect the skin when you’re pushing that needle through the fabric.
Threads
Finally, we need thread in order to create a stitch, and there are many types of thread available to use.
Pressing Tools
Anyone who sews will tell you that for a professional finish, you’ll need to press, press and press! So here are a selection of pressing tools you’ll need to add to your kit for a good finish to your projects:
- Iron
- Ironing board
- Tailors ham
Iron
A steam iron is best, but as long as it gets hot, any iron will help. This is used to set the stitches when a stitch line is sewn, but also to press fabric before sewing, and sometimes our paper patterns too if they’re a little crinkled.
Ironing Board
You can get away with a pressing mat if your workspace is small, but an ironing board is a great tool for pressing lengths of fabric!
Tailor’s Ham
Used more in dressmaking than any other sewing discipline, a tailor’s ham will help you to press and retain any curves in your projects. Collars and bust darts are common areas that use a ham for pressing.
Other Sewing Tools
All of the above are highly recommended sewing tools to have in your sewing kit whether a beginner or a more experienced seamstress, but here are a selection of other tools that are handy to have:
- Bodkin
- Fabric marker
- Fabric weights
- Measuring gauge
- Pins
- Pin cushion
Bodkin
Useful for pulling elastic through channels of fabric, or turning through strips of fabric.
Fabric Marker
Either a tailor’s chalk or a disappearing pen work well for transferring markings from a pattern to fabric. You could also use a tracing wheel with carbon paper.
Fabric Weights
You don’t need dedicated fabric weights – a can of baked beans will do! – but they are useful for holding a paper pattern in place when cutting out fabric.
Measuring Gauge
A very basic tool, but one that I use extensively. It’s helpful for adding on seam allowances, positioning fabric for more complex seam methods, measuring buttons and so much more.
Pins
Some people suggest pins are unnecessary, but for a beginner, they’re very useful for holding two pieces of fabric together so that sewing can be as accurate as possible. Avoid the ones with glass beads at one end – they can get caught under your presser foot if you’re not fast enough to remove them and cause a lot fo damage to your sewing machine.
Pin Cushion
Again, not essential, but can be great for speedy access to your pins when you need one quickly.
Learning To Sew
You now know which sewing tools you really need for a beginner, but what about learning to sew? Luckily we have some great sewing workshops here at The Goodlife Centre and can help you get started and feel confident before you invest time and money into the different tools needed!
Beginner Sewing Workshops
Learning as an absolute beginner can be done online, but attending an in-person workshop is one of the best ways of getting guidance when you need it and asking those burning questions as they come up.
Our Intro To Machine Sewing workshop is the best for beginners, and you’ll leave feeling confident about using a sewing machine and with an idea of which type of sewing machine you should buy to further your skills!
Home Furnishing Sewing Workshops
By far our most popular sewing workshops, the home furnishing workshops we offer range from sewing a piped cushion to the more advanced curtain and roman blind workshops.
Take a look at our home furnishing sewing workshops!
Dressmaking Workshops
Many people start sewing because they want to make their own clothes, and our dressmaking workshops are perfect for this.
We offer a series of clothes making workshops or an altering and fitting workshop for those with a little more experience.
Embroidery Workshops
Finally, we also offer a freehand machine embroidery workshop too, which is more creative sewing and a great one for those who are more familiar with a sewing machine and want to expand their skills and creativity.
