Last Updated on December 31, 2023
Hello there, fellow seamstresses! Malinda Bailey from TheSewingStuffs here, a seasoned seamstress with over a decade of sewing experience. You’ve come to the perfect place if you’re a beginner trying to get started with sewing or a seasoned hobbyist looking to improve your skills. Here, we’ll walk you through the fundamental sewing notions and sewing supplies you need to kick-start your creative journey.
Sewing notions are all the additional materials you’ll need in addition to fabric to finish a sewing projects. They might consist of zippers, tools, elastics, or even specialty cotton or needles.
What Are Notions in Sewing?
Sewing notions, which can include a wide variety of materials, tools, and embellishments, are the term used to describe the little tools and accessories used to accomplish sewing projects.
This category includes all kinds of auxiliary elements used in the sewing process. Their primary purpose is the convenience of using ready-made clothes, increasing their strength characteristics, and creating a unique design.
Various little things and details add to the finished look of the garment. Some decorate it and serve as decoration. Others perform a functional role – they connect, and fasten. Still, others help in the challenging but exciting sewing business.
What are Some Essential Must Haves Sewing Supplies List?
Join us as we introduce you to my must-have sewing supplies, which have been hand-picked for their functionality and quality.
These sewing supplies are a massive selection of products, and accessories designed for easy production, operation, and clothing design. These include all those sewing gadgets that help to cut and sew.
1. Sewing Needles: The Backbone of Every Sewing Project
Every sewing kit begins with a trusty set of sewing needles. These versatile tools are essential for basic mendings, attaching buttons, and delicate hand-sewing tasks.
You can find affordable options at thrift stores or online shops, making it easy to stock up without breaking the bank.
2. Thread Set
Invest in high-quality polyester sew-all thread in essential colors like white and black. This thread works for a wide range of fabrics and projects.
Having a variety of colors on hand ensures you can match your thread to different fabrics without needing to buy a new spool each time.
3. Measuring Tape
Accurate measurements are the foundation of successful sewing projects. A tape measure with both centimeters and inches is indispensable.
A flexible measuring tape is essential for taking body measurements and measuring fabric lengths. Look for one with both inches and centimeters for versatility in your sewing projects.
4. Sharp Scissors
A good pair of sharp sewing scissors dedicated solely to fabric is crucial. Dull scissors can make cutting a frustrating task, so invest in a decent starter pair.
As you progress, consider upgrading to more specialized scissors for different cutting tasks. Of course, quality scissors are a cornerstone of any sewing kit; we prefer Mundial dressmaking shears for their durability and precision.
Invest in a good pair of fabric scissors. Unlike regular kitchen scissors, fabric scissors are designed to cut smoothly through various fabrics, ensuring clean and precise cuts.
Look for reputable brands like Singer for quality and durability.
5. Sewing Rulers
Transparent sewing rulers are invaluable for measuring and marking fabric accurately. Pay attention to the unit of measurement (inches and centimeters) and ensure the measurement starts right at the edge of the ruler for precision in your projects.
6. Tailor’s Chalk
Tailor’s Chalk comes in various colors and is used for marking fabric without leaving a permanent stain. Opt for multicolored chalk to ensure visibility on different fabric shades.
When purchasing, read reviews to ensure easy removal without damaging the fabric. Choose fabric marking tools that suit your needs, whether it’s tailor’s chalk, wax chalk pencil, or a disappearing marker.
These tools help you mark fabric accurately without leaving permanent stains.
7. Iron for Pressing
A good steam iron is a non-negotiable. We recommend Tefal Express Anti-Calc Iron, ensuring projects receive the professional finish they deserve.
Also, a set of pressing hams and sausages, indispensable tools for shaping and molding fabric is needed. A pressing cloth, often overlooked, is essential to protect delicate fabrics during pressing.
8. Ironing Board
A good press can elevate your sewing projects to professional standards. An ironing board is essential for pressing seams, hems, and finished garments, giving your creations a polished look.
9. Pattern Making and Cutting Supplies
If you plan to create custom patterns, invest in tracing paper, a tracing wheel, and a set of pencils. These tools allow you to replicate existing garments or draft your designs, opening the door to endless creative possibilities.
Pattern making is an art, and having the right tools can make all the difference. In your essential sewing tools include a pattern making ruler, pattern paper, sharp pencils, and a reliable pencil sharpener. Magic tape, a handy invisible tape, is perfect for securing patterns without tearing.
A pair of strong paper’s and spring-loaded snips are invaluable for various cutting tasks.
10. Pins and Pin Storage
Quality pins with glass heads are essential for securing fabric while sewing. They prevent slippage and ensure accurate stitching.
Consider investing in a wrist pin cushion for easy access and storage during your sewing sessions. Pins are excellent for securing fabric layers, especially when dealing with intricate patterns.
However, clips provide a quicker and more convenient alternative. Start with pins and consider adding clips to your collection for added versatility.
11. Seam Ripper
Mistakes happen, Mistakes are part of the learning process and a seam ripper is your secret weapon to fix them. This tool allows you to effortlessly undo stitches and salvage fabric, making it indispensable for any sewing project.
A seam ripper is your best friend when it comes to correcting errors or deconstructing garments for upcycling projects. Opt for one with a comfortable grip for extended use.
12. Various Adhesive or Tapes
Different types of tapes serve specific purposes in sewing. Clear medical tape with perforation marks is ideal for securing zippers in machine embroidery projects.
Paper tape, with low adhesive, is useful for temporarily holding materials together without leaving residue, making it suitable for various fabrics, including vinyl.
Gentle tape with elasticity is great for wrapping machine embroidery stabilizers, ensuring they stay in place and remain organized.
Clear adhesive tape is useful for securing fabric pieces together during machine embroidery or sewing projects, especially on the backside, as it prevents shifting.
Hand Sewing Notions and Supplies
For hand sewing, opt for an assortment of needles – big, small, fat, and skinny – to accommodate different fabrics and projects.
A flexible tape measure, tailor’s chalk in various colors, and a loop turner are indispensable. Dritz 622 Beeswax with Holder is a handy tool for preventing thread tangles, while a homemade leather thimble ensures comfortable hand sewing.
A collection of bias tape makers in different sizes allows me to create custom bias tapes for my projects. Glass-headed pins, available in regular and longer lengths, are essential for securing fabrics during sewing.
For thousands of years, the clothing industry has gradually developed, and the production of accessories has undergone the same changes.
Additional Useful Sewing Tools
Apart from the essential tools mentioned above, consider these additional items for a more convenient sewing experience:
- Lamp or External Light: Adequate lighting is crucial, especially when working on detailed projects. Invest in a good lamp or an external light source to enhance visibility.
- Weights: Use random heavy objects as weights to hold down pattern paper and fabric, ensuring accurate cutting and tracing.
- Tweezers: A pair of tweezers can be handy for handling small threads and intricate details in your sewing projects.
Functional Sewing Materials
These little sewing things are necessary to facilitate our work and to fasten and hold the product at the waist or shoulders.
- Velcro: Some call this tape the familiar word “Velcro.”
- All kinds of fasteners: Small ones are for the bodice of a swimsuit or underwear, and large ones are for fur coats, suspenders, and magnetic ones. Some positions are so beautiful and festive that they may well serve to decorate a blouse or dress.
- Hooks: serve the same purpose as fasteners. Only they are less noticeable. However, this does not affect their functionality in any way.
- Buttons: They are found on almost every product. Usually put or sewn where they want to hide the junction of two pieces of clothing. They are placed on overalls, swimwear, blouses, skirts, etc. Also, buttons are often used when sewing clothes for dolls.
- Elastic: This is not only a linen position put in panties and swimming trunks. There is a wide elastic band and silicone used for sewing swimsuits. An elastic band is used for quilting a dress’s bodice or fitting the product. We also use fasteners and straps, hooks and crossbars, bones, and cups for corsets and bodices in bras and swimwear.
- Reflective tape: We placed it in functional fittings because it decorates clothes and ensures the wearer’s safety. Ready-made straps for swimsuits, lingerie, nightgowns, slips, etc.
- Buckles: Could be attributed to decorative details. But initially, they served to support trousers, skirts, and fit outerwear. Now the buckle can show off on a headdress or a handbag. And do not play a functional role at all.
DIY Sewing Tools – Some non-sewing sewing notions
Now. I am excited to share with you a list of non-sewing sewing notions – everyday items you probably have lying around your house that can transform your sewing studio.
Let’s dive right in and discover these hidden gems!
1. Ice Cube Trays and Muffin Tins – For organizing threads
Ice cube trays and muffin tins are excellent tools for organizing threads, especially when you’re into machine embroidery. Arrange your threads in the order of your design, ensuring a seamless embroidery process. These items can usually be found at discount stores or dollar stores.
2. Magic Eraser and Nail File: For Needle Care Essentials
A magic eraser can be cut into sections to clean needles and remove fusible material residue. Additionally, it can be used to clean cutting mats, keeping them in pristine condition. A nail file can be gently used to file away burrs from needles, ensuring smooth sewing experiences.
3. Shelf Liner: Your Sewing Machine’s Best Friend
Shelf liner has multiple uses in sewing. Placing it under the foot pedal prevents it from sliding on the floor while sewing. It can also be used under embroidery hoops to prevent slipping during machine embroidery projects. This non-slip material ensures stability and accuracy while working on various sewing tasks.
4. Wooden Spoon: as Pressing Assistant
A wooden spoon, when used in pressing, can help set seams effectively. It’s especially useful for pressing open seams or smoothing out fabric. Its flat surface ensures even heat distribution, giving your sewing projects a professional finish.
It can hold down materials as you sew, especially when using tape for temporary holds. Its silicone construction ensures it won’t damage your sewing projects while providing excellent support.
Conclusion
You can’t list everything. And theoretically, it is difficult to say what is needed for sewing. Only during the process will you understand that it would be nice to pierce a hole in the belt with an awl and not with a needle. And with the device’s help, the oblique inlay is much easier to fold and sew.
Both advance seamstresses and intermediate sewists cannot do without various additional notions. These are all kinds of rulers and patterns, crayons and needle threaders, crochet hooks, sewing machine feet and kits for caring for them, thimbles, hoops, and shuttles.
I Like to write and read on fashion, may be that’s why “Fashion says “me too” style says “only me”
