Sewing Materials, Equipment & Supplies

If you are new to the craft of sewing and do not have the essential sewing materials and some of the specialty gadgets, below is an over view of some supplies and what they are used for.

As your skills improve and your projects become more difficult, your need for sewing materials, increase accordingly.

You can find most of your supplies in fabric stores, craft stores as well as in your local sewing machine dealer.

You can purchase supplies online and in some cases you will find items online that you cannot find in the stores.

Try Nancys Notions, I like to look here for information, products, and to see what is current for the home sewer. I also have her catalogue come to my home. It is handy to have as a reference when I am not at my computer.

Sewing Machine Needle

There are a variety of sewing machine needles, that serve a variety of purposes. I suggest having as many packs as you can afford in your sewing materials.

Your sewing machine, if bought brand new may come with a package of standard size 11 or 14 needles. These sizes are called universal, because they are used for most easy to handle light to medium weight fabrics, below I have listed the purposes of each needle, combined with the correct thread and fabric.

All About Pins

I recommend sewing pins with color heads. They are easier to see when sewing, as well as making it easier to see them when you drop some.

Don't use pins that have become dull, they can damage fine fabrics and frustrateyou when using medium and heavy weight fabrics, when the pin is not sharp enough to penetrate the fabrics.

I have added a number of boxes to my sewing supplies. You will find it frustrating to run out of pins, and pins are not expensive, so once again, having a lot on hand will not break the bank.

Pin Holders

Pincushions keep pins secure and keep your pins & needles clean.

The inside of the cushion is filled with natural abrasive fibers. When the pin slides in and out, it removes dirt and debris.

Also available, are wrist pin cushions. The wrist version is very convenient, you always have a place to quickly put your pins.

Magnetic pin holders, are most convenient at picking up loose pins off the floor, trust me you will run into this often. If you spill the magnetic pin holder, you will not risk stepping on that rogue pin that you could not find.

You can also get creative and make your own personalized pin cushions, it is a fun easy way to start sewing a simple project and you can use it after you are done.

I will try often to give hints as to how you can save money, by creating some of sewing materials and equipment your self.

simplicity pin cushion pattern

Sewing needles

Depending on the hand sewing task you are about to do, there is a specific sewing needle to complete the job properly.

Needles usually come in assorted packages for convenience, so you will have the correct sewing needle to use depending on your project.

Here are some examples of hand sewing needles and what their purposes are. Keep in mind, some sewing materials are specific to the task at hand and you may find you won't need all of these tools right away or ever at all. However, as your skills begin to grow and your interests branch off into other areas, you may find some of these materials useful.

Sharps

An all purpose needle, used for general hand sewing. They are the most commonly used needle. They have a sharp point, a round eye, and a medium length shaft.

Sharps do come in varying sizes. #1 would be a large size and #12 would be the finest. It is a good thing to have a multi pack in your sewing materials inventory.

Ballpoint

Best for knits, this needle has a rounded point. It separates the knit loops to avoid damaging the fabric.

Crewel or Embroidery Needles

This needle is a sharp needle, used primarily for embroidery detailing. They are very similar to the sharps, with just one difference and that is the eye of the needle. The eye is larger for threading thicker embroidery threads.

Milliners

The Milliners needle is used for basting and gathering. These needles are long, with a small eye. They are also called straw needles.

Short Needles

Shorts are used for hemming and finishing of a project. They are small and fine, and a little easier to get into small spaces.

Darners

Darners are used to baste and darn cotton fabrics.

Yarn Darners

Heavy-duty needles commonly used for darning.

Beading

Beading needles are long and thin. Used for beading and sequin work on fine fabrics.

Bias Tape Tool

This is a handy sewing tool to have in your sewing materials, for making your own bias tape.

Here is a more sophisticated version of the manual bias tape makers. Again, it is not a necessary item to have, but if you have a few extra dollars to spend it can make light work of some other wise tedious sewing jobs.

Refer to my page on notions for more information

This tool comes in multiple sizes starting with 1/4" wide and increasing in 1/4" intervals, up to 2" in size. Depending on the width of bias tape you may want, it is useful to pick up a few different sizes.

Thimble

The thimble protects your finger from the needle, when hand sewing. Thimbles come in two sizes and should fit snug around the finger. They commonly are metal or rubber. However, these days, you can find some colorful fun variations.

Needle Threader

This handy tool, makes for accurate and easy threading of both hand and machine needles. This is one of those sewing materials that is not essential, however, if your like me and your vision isn't what is was, I do find this gadget to be useful.

Marking Tools

Marking tools are necessary for the transfer of markings from the pattern to the fabric. You will rely on these markings for accuracy when you are constructing your project. There are a variety of marking tools for different types of fabrics.

Below, you will find a few options in marking tools. Please note, although these sewing materials are crucial in helping you create an accurate; well put together project, take caution, however, with any marking tool that could potentially stain or snag your fabric.

Tracing Wheels & Paper

Dressmaker’s tracing paper is special waxed carbon paper that transfers markings like seam lines and grain lines.

Tracing wheels have serrated edges as well as smooth edges. Smooth edge wheels are better for fine fabrics, as they do not penetrate the fibre and possibly damage the fabric.

Chaco Liner

This sewing tool is and an updated version of the tracing wheel. It has a serrated edged wheel encased in the tip of a tube shaped canister. The chalk is inside and has a screw cap for easy refill of chalk. The fine chalk is released when you roll the wheel along a ruler edge or use it free hand. Use to trace the grain lines and other markings. I use it to make an "X" mark when making exact point markings from the pattern.

Tailor Tacking

Tailor tacks can be made with needle and thread, the more common way to make tailor tacks is with needle and thread, shown in the photo below.

This tool is not easy to find. If you are interested in owning one, click on the photo to access the web site that sells them. This is not the website that I used to purchase the one in the photo, they are no longer selling them.

However, I have found a website that sells a product made by Dritz. It appears to do the same task. If you are interested you could purchase one from them. This sewing tool makes tailor tacks a little less time consuming.

Marking Pens

Marking pens look much like a regular felt pen. However, unlike regular pens, fabricmarking pens disappear eventually.

Other types need to be washed away. This is not one of my personal favorites as it can stain when you press, and pressing is an extremely important task throughout the construction of your project. So if you choose to use a this type of marker, use withcaution.

Tailors Chalk & Marking Pencils

Both of these tools are easy to use, but I recommend white when ever possible, because blue and yellow can stain some fabrics. When your fabric is white, use blue and yellow with caution and mark lightly.

Measuring Tools

Good quality, legible measuring tools are very important.You will measure throughout your projects, and accuracy is essential. Most of these tools are not expensive. I have added all of them to my sewing supplies.

Tape Measures

A flexible 60" (152.5cm) tape measure is what you will need. This tape measure is used for body measurement and should not stretch. If your tape measure is old or of poor quality, you risk stretching and inaccurate measure.They are relatively inexpensive, so having a few of them amongst your sewing materials is a good idea.

Yard Stick

The Yardstick is used to measure grain line when laying out the pattern on the fabric. Also used for measuring hemlines accurately. If your yardstick is made of wood, be sure it is smooth with no splinters as not to catch on fine fabrics. It may seem as though some sewing supplies over lap each other in use. In some cases they do, but you will see as your sewing experience increases, how necessary each tool can be.

Clear plastic rulers allow you to see under the ruler. This sewing tool is useful for marking buttonholes and pleats. It's an inexpensive tool to have amongst your sewing materials.

T-square

The T-square is available both in metal and clear plastic. The T-square is used for squaring off straight edges, locating grain lines and giving accuracy when altering patterns. As your sewing skills improve, this is a handy tool to have in your sewing materials supplies. Seam Gauge

This ruler is 6" (15cm) long. Seam gauges have a sliding marker and makes accurate measureof seams , buttonholes, hemline and pleats. It is small and easily used with one hand. I would definitely add more than one to your sewing materials list.

Flexible Ruler

The flexible ruler is a relatively new tool on the market. This measuring gem is flexible, yet, unlike a tape measure it stays inthe shape you need. It comes in different lengths for different project uses, and hasinches on one side and centimeters on the other.

I find this sewing tool, is great for measuring the crotch area, where it will hold the shape of your body,therefore, you can adjust pants and shorts patterns to your curves. This tool is quite easy to find, in most sewing materials and supplies section in your local fabric stores.

Folding Cutting Board

I love this board. I do not have a cutting table per say, so I use this fold out board on my kitchen table to save from scratches from scissors. It prevents fabric from slipping, like chiffon or satin. It is made of cardboard so you can stick pins in it to keep fabric in place. The board has 1" (2.5cm) measurements to help square up your fabric grains. It is 36"X60" (91.4cmX152.4cm) and is easy to store because it folds in three sections.

Pressing techniques do fall under the category of sewing materials and supplies.

However, the need to press as you sew is very important, so I have added a page just on this topic. Click the link to go to this page.