With the start of the new year, people often take on new adventures, including sewing. Yay! I was asked on Instagram a few times recently what sewing machine I recommend for beginners, so I thought I'd go ahead and share all the tools you need to start sewing your own clothing. And don’t worry, there are only six tools that you absolutely need. I’m a big fan of minimalism and not buying things you don’t need. Click through to watch the video explaining my picks and get links to my fave products.
Sewing Tools for Beginners
1. Sewing machine
My favorite low cost sewing machine is the Brother cs6000i. It’s lightweight, hardworking and comes with a walking foot. (btw, as of writing this, it’s only $142 on Amazon.) There’s also a Brother cs7000i. I haven’t tried it but it looks similar to the 6000 with a few more stitches.
2. Iron
Pressing your garment as you sew is really important for getting a professional looking, successful make. For tips on pressing, check out this post.
3. Pins
Pins are very helpful in holding your fabric together in the right places. And, if you’re using a tissue paper pattern, you can use the pins to hold the pattern to the fabric as you cut. Check out this post for tips on using pins safely.
4. Scissors
You can cut fabric with either scissors or a rotary cutter but when you’re first starting out, I recommend scissors. You will always need to use your scissors so it’s well worth the investment and it’s less costly than a rotary cutter and cutting mat. Remember to only use your scissors for fabric!
5. Flexible measuring tape
When sewing clothing, measurements are very important. So get yourself a flexible measuring tape and use it. Use it to measure your body and your pattern.
6. Seam ripper
Mistakes happen. But when you have this handy little tool by your side, they are usually easily remedied. There’s no shame in needing to use a seam ripper. I use mine all the time.
I hope you enjoyed this video. If you’re not a beginner, don’t worry, I have a few more tool focused videos in the works that are directed towards a more intermediate level sewist. If you haven’t subscribed to my YouTube channel yet, you can do so right here.
