Sewing for Beginners: Tools You Actually Need

A beginner needs about ten basic tools: a sewing machine, fabric scissors, pins, a seam ripper, a tape measure, an iron, thread, needles, a ruler and chalk. You can skip everything else until a project calls for it.

What is the minimum sewing kit?

A sewing machine. A basic machine with straight stitch, zigzag and a few stitch lengths is plenty. You can sew most beginner projects by hand, but a machine is far faster.
Fabric scissors. Buy a good pair of 8 inch (20 cm) shears and use them only on fabric. Paper blunts them.
Pins. Glass-head or flat-head pins are easy to see and will not melt under an iron.
A seam ripper. Everyone makes mistakes. This small tool fixes them.
A flexible tape measure. A 60 inch (150 cm) tape measures body and curves.
An iron and ironing surface. Pressing makes seams crisp. A towel on a table works at first.
All-purpose thread. Polyester thread in a neutral shade, plus one or two colors you use often.
Sewing machine needles. A pack of universal 80/12 and a pack of ballpoint for knits. See the needle and thread guide.
A clear ruler. A 6 x 24 inch (15 x 60 cm) ruler helps you draw straight lines and check seam allowances.
Tailor's chalk or a fabric marker. For marking dots, hems and notches. Pick one that washes or brushes away.

What can I add later?

These help, but you do not need them on day one:

A rotary cutter and cutting mat: faster than scissors for straight lines and layers. A 45 mm cutter is the common size.
Sewing clips: better than pins for thick fabrics such as canvas or vinyl.
A turning tool or chopstick: to push out corners on bags and cushions.
A walking foot: for quilting and slippery fabrics.
Pattern weights: to hold paper on fabric without pins.
Hand sewing needles: for closing turning gaps and sewing on buttons.

What can I skip?

You do not need a big all-in-one kit, a mannequin, or a dozen presser feet. Cheap kits often come with poor scissors and tangled thread. Spend your money on the scissors, the iron and the machine, and add the rest as you go.

How much does a beginner kit cost?

Costs vary by country and brand, so check local prices. As a rough guide, the smaller tools (scissors, pins, seam ripper, tape, ruler, chalk, thread, needles) cost much less together than a machine does. If you do not own a machine, ask friends or check a local sewing group about borrowing or buying used.

What should I sew first?

Pick projects with straight seams and few pieces. Good first projects include a Drawstring Bag (30 minutes), a Scrunchie (15 minutes), a Zipper Pouch (45 minutes) and a Bowl Cozy (60 minutes). All four are free in Sewzy and rated beginner. For more ideas, read easy sewing projects for beginners.

What basic skills should I practice?

Sewing a straight line at a steady speed, with a ½ inch (1.3 cm) seam allowance.
Backstitching at the start and end of every seam.
Pressing seams as you go.
Turning corners with the needle down.
Reading a simple pattern. See how to read a sewing pattern.

Practice on scrap fabric. Draw lines on paper and sew along them with no thread, to build control. Fifteen minutes a day works better than one long session.

How do I look after my tools?

Keep fabric scissors for fabric only.
Change the machine needle after about 8 hours of sewing.
Brush out lint from the bobbin area every few bobbins.
Cover the machine when you are not using it.

Make it with Sewzy

Sewzy gives you 76 patterns, 13 of them free, each with all sizes included, a print-at-home PDF (Letter, A4 and an A0 copy-shop file) and a written step-by-step guide. A size finder and an AI sewing coach help when you are stuck. Sewzy is iPhone only: $3.99 per week or $29.99 per year, with a 3-day free trial. Get Sewzy on the App Store.