Must Have Sewing Supplies
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As the weather warms up I tend to put my crochet hooks down and start gearing up for more sewing. I figure it’s the perfect time to share my must have sewing supply list with you. After spending the past 20 plus years sewing and creating, these are the tools that I turn to again and again no matter what I’m making.
Fabrics
I use a wide range of fabrics depending on what project I am working on. Some of my favorites are quilting fabrics, home decor fabrics and of course faux leather for my project pouches. Every sewing project will require different types of fabrics and most of the ones I use can be found at local craft stores or online at Fabric.com. I tend to keep a fairly large selection of fabrics in my stash so that when I get the urge to sew something up I’m ready for it.
2. Fusible Fleece
Fusible fleece was something I discovered shortly after starting to make bags and pouches for craft shows. I use it to give my pouches a bit more stability without creating too much stiffness. You can find it at your local fabric store with other interfacing. I buy Pellon TP971F by the bolt from Joann’s. I love that I can just iron it on to the back side of my fabrics. It’s especially helpful when using quilting fabrics to give your piece structure.
3. Cutting Mat, Clear Rulers and A Rotary Cutter
These cutting tools are a must, especially if you plan on doing any kind of quilting. When I first started sewing I would just use scissors to cut my fabrics, but once a friend introduced me to rotary cutting I never went back. It makes cutting basic shapes like squares and rectangles so much faster. Always make sure to use a self healing cutting mat with your rotary cutter so you protect your work surface. The clear acrylic ruler makes it easy to measure and cut at the same time. You can find all these things at your local fabric store or online at Amazon.
4. Tailor’s Chalk
This by far is my most highly recommended sewing supply. I’ve been using tailor’s chalk since my first job when I worked at an alterations place. It makes marking fabric so much easier. If you’ve never heard of it before it’s just a waxy square that you can use to mark on fabric. The best part is that it just irons off! I find it works so much better than the fabric marking pens and one box will last you a long time. I get mine from Amazon.
5. Turning Tool
As you might know I make a lot of bags and pouches. This turning tool comes in handy when I need to push the corner of a pouch out and get a nice crisp point. It also doubles as a creasing tool too.
6. Exacto Knife or Seam Ripper
Everyone is bound to make a mistake in sewing every once in a while so you’re going to need a way to easily pick out your seams. You can use a basic seam ripper or an exacto knife. I prefer an exacto knife because it gets the seam out quicker. Plus it helps that you can easily replace the blades when they get dull instead of having to buy a whole new tool.
7. Zippers
Almost everything I sew lately has a zipper in it, like my zippered project pouches. My favorite zippers are the metal antique brass YKK brand. I get mine exclusively from ZipIt Zippers on Etsy. They have the best selection and can even do special orders if they don’t regularly carry a specific size or color that you want. They have a huge range of zippers from plastic teeth to metal and their prices are the best I’ve found. Definitely give them a try if you ever need zippers.
8. Thread
This one is a given, but I’ve learned over the years that they quality of thread you use in your machine is very important. My favorites are Aerofil for basic sewing and Gutermann upholstery thread for top stitching on faux leather. I tend to use mostly polyester thread for sewing because it holds up better over time. Thread is one thing that I’d say it’s okay to spend a little bit more on because poor quality thread can ruin a project and even damage your sewing machine.
9. Sewing Machine
Again, this one is a given. If you are just starting out then a basic home sewing machine will be fine. I started out using a Singer home machine. The nice thing about these sewing machines is that you are able to do more advanced stitches which can come in handy when needed to repair holes or work with knit fabrics. Now that I work mostly with thicker fabrics, like the faux leather, I use a semi industrial machine from Baby Lock. It was a big investment, but was totally worth it. The quality of stitches is amazing and it let’s me continue to work with the fabrics I like best.
So there you have it, my list of must have sewing supplies. These are things I use regularly for all my sewing projects and I highly recommend all of them if you are wanting to do more sewing. I’d love to hear from you and know what your go to sewing supplies are. Comment below and let me know!
Stay tuned for more sewing patterns and tutorials coming later this year.
Happy Sewing!
Meghan
