• Norsk
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • FAQs
  • About
  • Projects
  • Videos

Sewing in Norway

  • Start Here!
  • Plus Size Sewing
  • Resources
  • Free Sewing Patterns
  • Shop
  • Contact

Seven Essential Sewing Tools to Buy Now

Product Review· Sewing Basics· Sewing Hacks· Sewing Tools

12 Feb

As I mentioned in my guide on how to get started sewing (and actually enjoy it), you need very few tools besides fabric and a sewing machine to get started sewing. In fact, I bet most of you have many of these tools lying around your house right now, even if you don’t own a sewing machine.

Here is my list of seven essential sewing tools you need in your sewing kit if you want to get started sewing today. If you end up making your way to the bottom, you’ll see the number one tool you should be using NOW to improve your sewing once you get started.

I’ve dropped a few affiliate links in with my summary so if those make you feel icky, feel free to sidestep those and look up the aforementioned products in the search engine of your choice.

  1. Sewing Pins

Sewing pins are one of the real workhorses in your sewing arsenal and for good reason. You can use them to hold two pieces of fabric together, affix patterns to fabric before cutting them out and even mark notches. There are several types of pins out there to use but my favorites to use are the type with colored plastic balls on the top and glass head pins.

The type with plastic balls on the end are easy to keep track of (read: they don’t fall on the floor to get stepped on). Glass head pins are very sharp and great to use for more delicate fabrics or when I need to use steam while holding two pieces together.

  1. Tape measure

I have three tape measures and use them whenever I need to measure something which won’t lay flat on a table.

  1. Sewing machine

A good condition basic sewing machine is all you need in the beginning. It can be used, new or borrowed but a basic – meaning it can sew a straight stich and a zig zag stich – is all you need to get started. I currently use a Singer Quantum 9960 but started sewing using a Singer 1304 that I bought at a local grocery store for about $60. I used that machine until I felt like sewing was a hobby I wanted to invest in and upgraded.

  1. Good quality thread (trust me on this. . .)

Always buy the best thread you can afford – the cheap stuff is fuzzy and will clog up your machine. It also will drag through your garment and start to shred your clothes after a few washes – if it hasn’t snapped or popped your seams first. I use Madeira or Gutermann on both my serger and sewing machine. I buy both brands online in Norway. I also tend to buy Gutermann thread when we travel in Europe or bring back a few rolls of Maderia when we travel in the U.S.

 

  1. Acrylic rulers and straight rulers (meter sticks or yard sticks)

I have several clear acrylic rulers and I tend to use these with a rotary cutter and a cutting mat. They make measuring and cutting fabric very easy but also drafting pattern pieces. I use an expandable meter stick when I need to measure anything flat over 60 cm.

  1. Materials for pattern drafting

Grab a few pencils for patterns drafting, Swedish tracing paper (aka Norwegian matpapir), freezer paper or newspaper to make patterns, clear tape to hold it all together and tailor’s chalk or washable fabric markers to mark your fabric.

  1. Two pairs of scissors (one for fabric and one for paper)

You’ll need two pairs of scissors because cutting paper will make your fabric scissor’s blades dull over time. I bought my fabric scissors at IKEA and the paper ones at a local discount store. Later you can invest in a scissor blade sharpener to keep both pairs honed and sharp. You can also upgrade your scissor collection in time or ask for fancy scissors as gifts.

So what is the number one tool you should be using NOW to improve your sewing? Ready for it? It’s a steam iron. Yup, a steam iron will improve your sewing more than you might think. Ironing with and without steam will help you ease in sleeves, mold bias binding to hems, more easily sew darts and cut straighter pattern pieces from your fabric. We’ve all seen those online sewing gurus who consistently skip pressing or ironing fabric during the sewing process but trust me – for the best garments use your iron during the sewing process.

 

0 Shares

Leave a Comment

« Wedding Dress Sewing Patterns: Non-traditional Patterns
My Favorite Maternity Friendly Sewing Patterns »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hei - I'm Whitney! I am a sewing enthusiast and writer! I also love refashioning old items into something useful. I use this blog to document my sewing adventures from the southwestern coast of Norway. Read More…

Let’s Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Latest on Instagram

Finished just in time for today’s rain shower. N Finished just in time for today’s rain shower. No matter, this joyful #ankarafabrics print is going to take those rainy blues far, far away. Buttons from @simplyfabricsbrixton. Other notions from @stoffstil #stoffogstilstavanger
After a few weeks of losing my #sewjo, I’m nearl After a few weeks of losing my #sewjo, I’m nearly finished my #africanwaxprint #cashmeretteholyoke peplum top. This is the shortened version of the #cashmerettepatterns Holyoke dress pattern and great for wearing over skirts and jeans! Peplum tops almost never work for me but this one has a very defined waist and a larger bust area so I’m sure it’s going to be a winner once finished.
Say hello to today’s #scrapbusting project - #pi Say hello to today’s #scrapbusting project - #pipathepouch from @sewing.masin 😀 This #pdfpattern comes in two sizes and is available for free when you sign up for their newsletter.

I decided not to quilt my fabric and removed the side tabs. I also serged the final two side seams instead of covering them with bias binding.
Let’s just be honest, most maternity clothes are Let’s just be honest, most maternity clothes are pretty sad and joyless (not to mention expensive). So when I found out I was pregnant last year, I decided I was going to make my pregnancy wardrobe on my own. Here is my list of the me made clothes I wore most frequently while pregnant. Many of these patterns are also breast feeding friendly as well.

http://sewinginnorway.com/my-favorite-maternity-friendly-sewing-patterns/
#blackouttuesday #blackouttuesday
Thanks for the great @youtube video @sewspire! I m Thanks for the great @youtube video @sewspire! I made your “ultimate reusable grocery shopping tote bag” but customized it by taking out the internal dividers. I also used French seams on the inside because canvas always frays (like crazy) 🤣 #stayhomeandsew #sewcialdistancing #stoffstildiy
Follow on Instagram
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Popular Posts

Archives

Search

Browse by Category

Disclaimer

This blog currently has affiliate relationships with various online retailers, which give me a percentage of sales if you buy a product through the link posted on my blog. If you are uncomfortable with this, feel free to go directly the company’s web site and search for the item itself.

Finished just in time for today’s rain shower. N Finished just in time for today’s rain shower. No matter, this joyful #ankarafabrics print is going to take those rainy blues far, far away. Buttons from @simplyfabricsbrixton. Other notions from @stoffstil #stoffogstilstavanger
After a few weeks of losing my #sewjo, I’m nearl After a few weeks of losing my #sewjo, I’m nearly finished my #africanwaxprint #cashmeretteholyoke peplum top. This is the shortened version of the #cashmerettepatterns Holyoke dress pattern and great for wearing over skirts and jeans! Peplum tops almost never work for me but this one has a very defined waist and a larger bust area so I’m sure it’s going to be a winner once finished.
Say hello to today’s #scrapbusting project - #pi Say hello to today’s #scrapbusting project - #pipathepouch from @sewing.masin 😀 This #pdfpattern comes in two sizes and is available for free when you sign up for their newsletter.

I decided not to quilt my fabric and removed the side tabs. I also serged the final two side seams instead of covering them with bias binding.
Let’s just be honest, most maternity clothes are Let’s just be honest, most maternity clothes are pretty sad and joyless (not to mention expensive). So when I found out I was pregnant last year, I decided I was going to make my pregnancy wardrobe on my own. Here is my list of the me made clothes I wore most frequently while pregnant. Many of these patterns are also breast feeding friendly as well.

http://sewinginnorway.com/my-favorite-maternity-friendly-sewing-patterns/
#blackouttuesday #blackouttuesday
Thanks for the great @youtube video @sewspire! I m Thanks for the great @youtube video @sewspire! I made your “ultimate reusable grocery shopping tote bag” but customized it by taking out the internal dividers. I also used French seams on the inside because canvas always frays (like crazy) 🤣 #stayhomeandsew #sewcialdistancing #stoffstildiy
My version of the #studiocosturadailytote from #st My version of the #studiocosturadailytote from #studiocosturapatterns is finished ❤️ I made mine from heavy weight canvas from #stoffogstilstavanger and put the external zipper pouch on the inside. #stoffstildiy
I hope everyone out there is taking care and stayi I hope everyone out there is taking care and staying in if they can. I have been feeling very inspired and blessed by all of the kindness I’ve seen extended to virtual strangers online in Norway and it makes me very proud that I live here. I received these flowers last week from @edgargrimberg and @tjeltagirl - two of my favorite humans - for #internationalwomensday, and they are still giving us love. So if you need some brightness in your life today, here it is 😍
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins
© 2023 Sewing In Norway
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Necessary
Always Enabled