Best Sewing Supplies for Beginners: A Simple Shopping List
SEWING

So, you're ready to dive into the wonderful world of sewing? That's fantastic! But with so many tools and gadgets out there, it can feel a bit overwhelming knowing where to begin. Don't worry, we've got you covered. This post provides a curated shopping list of essential sewing supplies for beginners. No fancy jargon or expensive equipment, just the simple must-haves to get you started on your sewing journey. With these basic tools in hand, you'll be stitching up a storm in no time! 🧵 ✨
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1.) Wool Pressing Mat - $17.99 $14.98

This mat is an absolute necessity and is the exact one that I use every single day. Prior to purchases this mat, I would sometimes in a hurry try to iron on my workspace surface and ended up both leaving a burn mark on my desk and ruining on of my self healing cutting mats. Not only am I protecting my surfaces, but this mat really works to help flatten the fabric quickly! I am extremely impressed by how much time it saves being able to quickly and efficiently press at my desk. It is especially awesome for getting hems perfectly ironed flat! Don't just take my word for it, this mat has an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars with over 3,000 reviews.
2.) Mini Iron for Sewing/Quilting - $26.97

This is another product I use every day and appreciate this for ironing hems. The small size makes it easily portable and so much easier for making my small projects such as wallets and keychain loops. The only thing I have mixed opinions is that there isn't an auto shut-off on the iron so be careful to triple check that you have unplugged it after a project. While working on projects however I do enjoy that it doesn't shut off and stays hot as I need it. It is 100% worth the price and I can't imagine working on my projects without it.
3.) 100 Pack of Sewing Clips with Tin - $7.99

I can't recommend these clips enough, especially this specific set with the adorable tin. I am obsessed with the mini tin and handle. It looks adorable, keeps the clips organized, and makes them portable as I've brought them to teach sewing kid's sewing classes. I used these clips with a group of second grade Girl Scouts and it was a hit. Everyone was asking about them as their parents were used to pins. Instead of pins, use these to clip fabrics together before sewing. They are easy to remove as you are sewing and work amazing on projects such as wallets, coasters, linens, etc. For sewing clothing, I still use pins but for everything else these are absolutely the way to go! This is another incredibly high rated product on Amazon with an average of 4.8 stars with over 1,000 reviews.
4.) Magnetic Pin Cushion - $8.98

This was the product I didn't know I needed it until my brother gifted it to me for my birthday. I absolutely love the bright color choices. I have the neon green which looks so cute on my sewing table. Although I am all about sewing clips, I still use pins for sewing garments. Wave this around your sewing table and it will easily gather your pins. I love that it keeps them all together with easy access and looks adorable in the process. You won't regret having one of these!
5.) Colorful Tailor's Chalk - $5.85

You will want this chalk on hand for marking fabric. The size is perfect and easy to grip for tracing lines against a ruler. The variety of color is bright and easy to see while sewing and quilting. When you are finished, it easily rubs right off. It has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon with over 4,000 reviews.
6.) Hot Ironing Ruler for Hemming - $8.99

I am always on the lookout for ways to make hemming easier and absolutely love this rulers! You can measure the hem and iron the fabric flat right on the ruler. This saves me time from first measuring and marking then ironing.
7.) Magnetic Seam Guide - $6.99

I know, I know, another hemming product! My biggest challenge when I started sewing was getting a straight hem so I have fallen in love with the products that helped me achieve just that. This product is awesome. It helps you measure out the seam as called for in your pattern. The magnetic guide goes onto your sewing machine and keeps the edges of the fabric aligned for achieving a perfectly measured hem.
8.) Plastic Snap Kit with Pliers - $16.99

This set is something you will absolutely want on hand if you are making any pouches, wallets, glasses case. Easily attach colorful plastic snaps that match your fabric with this kit. I love how easy it is to attach a snap and is a necessity for any beginner that isn't ready to tackle buttons or zippers quite yet.
9.) Button Hole Cutter Set with Mat - $9.90

If you are sewing buttons, you will need a button hole cutter to cut out the center. I love this set because it also includes a small cutting mat perfectly sized to slip under the fabric while you make your button hole. I also use this tool for making the holes to attach magnetic snaps.
10.) Set of 100 Magnetic Snaps - $11.99

These snaps are wonderful to have on hand for sewing projects. The add a professional touch to wallets, purses, and glasses cases. The only reason I don't use these on every project is that they are pretty heavy so you will want to make sure to use them for leathers, faux leather, or quilted projects. My favorite projects were made with these and I love how easy they are to use.
11.) Medium Weight Fusible Interfacing - $15.99

Interfacing is something I use in nearly every project. I have 1-2 rolls of this on hand at all times. Before discovering these rolls, I used to buy it in the store and I would pay around $4 per yard. This roll has 30 yards for $16 and is well worth the price! It is also extremely easy to use and store.
12.) Rainbow Zipper Roll and Pulls - $13.99

Zipper rolls are another thing I wish I knew about sooner. I was ridiculously buying single zippers in fabric stores. One zipper usually cost over a dollar and more often than not was close to $5! A zipper roll comes with 5 yards of zipper. A lot of my projects are small wallets and pouches so 5 yards goes a long way. My daughter is obsessed with this rainbow zipper roll and requests it all the time. You can easily buy more zipper pulls and get way more than 10 zippers out of this roll. I usually purchase assortments of zipper pulls on Temu and love the different designs available.
13.) 20 Assorted Lace Zippers - $11.90

I love having unique zippers on hand for different projects. This is a great price for 20 assorted lace style zippers. These will look adorable for different projects are are fun to have at the ready for trying out new designs.
14.) 80 Piece D-Ring Keychains - $11.99

These d-rings are perfect for adding clasps to miniature wallets, card holders, eye glasses cases, pencil holders, and other small accessories. This pack is perfectly sized for 1 inch and works well for sewing accessories. I also like how it has assorted colors to select for your project.
15.) Set of 5 Glass Pattern Weights - $12.99

These pattern weights are amazing for keeping your fabric in place while using a roller to cut out your pattern. Using these significantly reduces the time it takes to prepare your pattern pieces so you can focus on sewing.
I hope you enjoyed this sewing list of simple sewing essentials.