Happy 2025 friends! I don’t know how you guys do new years resolutions, but personally I’ve always loved choosing a new hobby, usually an art or craft but that’s just me, to get in to over the course of the next year (this year I chose oil pastels, I’ve been using them since I was a kid but have always been more of a painter so we’ll see how that goes), and with increased awareness on the horrors of the clothing industry, as well as seeing more and more fashion influencers who sew coming into the media, I’m predicting an uptick of aspiring seamstresses (and seamsters? is that correct?). Sewing is one of my favourite hobbies and is, in my opinion, something relatively simple to teach yourself (especially with how helpful the internet is). I’ve been sewing as a hobby since I was about 9, so with a decade of experience I feel at least mildly qualified to give some tips.
Tips For Buying Tools
Sewing Machine
For beginner sewists, I don’t recommend investing in a fancy machine just yet. Most beginner-friendly patterns only require the use of a straight or zig-zag stitch (even I rarely stray from my trusty straight stitch unless a pattern very clearly states otherwise), so it is not necessary to buy a fancy machine until you’re pretty deep into the sewing world. Personally, I only felt the need to upgrade after I started designing my own clothes and self-drafting more often, as well as when I started quilting items, as I wanted a lager machine. The machine I use is the Brother NQ575 (The Trendsetter 2), which I love dearly, but this machine is also a thousand dollars new (thank you Facebook marketplace) and honestly I think I would’ve been overwhelmed by all the features of this machine if it had been my first, so its just not suitable for someone who is just starting. When looking to buy a new machine, I always suggest Facebook marketplace first. The average marketplace sewing machine seller falls into one of three categories: the old lady who’s arthritis has caught up to her, someone who’s recently upgraded, or someone who got a little too ambitious. No matter which way they swing, I have found marketplace machines to be well kept and reliable (and at a fraction of the price of a new machine). If Facebook isn’t an option for you, new machines are available at most craft stores, sewing stores, many department stores (like Walmart), and also Amazon. The best brands to look for are Brother or Singer, these are the most popular brands and, in my opinion, the most reliable.
Pattern
A sewing pattern is a template used to cut and construct fabric while sewing. unless you’re self-drafting (creating your own pattern as you go), almost everything you sew will be made using a pattern. Patterns are sold at fabric stores in catalogs and they come in envelopes containing thin printed paper that will be cut out and used as a template for cutting your fabric. Most pattern catalogs show a difficulty level on the top of the page, so if you’re just getting started it’s best to choose one that’s advertised as being easy. Patterns can also be bought online on websites like Etsy. In my opinion these patterns are often a lot cuter, but they do come as pdf files which you have to print out and tape together, so it does require that extra bit of effort at the beginning. Something I like about Etsy patterns is that they usually come with a YouTube walkthrough of how to put the pattern together, which are a lot more understandable than the more traditional instructions that patterns come with. You can also find patterns at most thrift stores, I always find a ton of cool vintage patterns at the op shops, however, often pieces of these patterns or the instructions are missing, so be aware of that. Some projects do not require patterns, and instead just measuring, including the first project I recommend which is the tote bag.
Fabric
Fabric, the most fun part of sewing! Before buying your fabric you’ll need to know two things: what type of fabric you need, and how much. The information for both of these is written on the back of your pattern envelope if you have bought a physical pattern, or in the item description of digital patterns. Most beginner patterns use medium or light-weight cotton which is very widely available and has a lot of cute patterns! you can get fabric at any fabric store (obviously), most larger-scale craft stores, and my personal favourite, the op shops! Thrifting fabric is without a doubt the most affordable way to buy fabric. Most thrift stores sell labeled rolls of fabric for only a couple dollars, as compared to fabric stores that often sell in-season fabric for over ten dollars per metre. I have a major stash of thrifted fabric that I keep on retainer for whatever project I want, and it’s lovely, especially when late night inspiration hits. Another fun hack for thrifting fabric is to use bed sheets! Flat sheets have a lot of fabric and are available in so many cute patterns! I especially love thrifting vintage graphic flat sheets for sewing kids clothes, I found the cutest ever 101 Dalmatians flat sheet at my favourite op shop a couple weeks ago and I’m so excited to make a dress out of it for my baby niece once she gets a little older.
Thread
You’ll need a thread spool in a colour that matches the colour of the fabric you’ve chosen. If your fabric features a pattern, choose a thread matching the background colour, or most prominent colour if there isn’t a background colour. You will also need an empty bobbin, which you will wind on your machine with the same thread spool you just bought. Winding and loading bobbins can differ from machine to machine, so I suggest reading your machines instruction manual or looking up a more machine-specific YouTube video.
Other Tools
Bolded tools are required, others are not required but can definitely make your life easier, especially in the long run. I could write a whole segment on handy sewing tools, but these are ones that I think to be helpful for someone just starting.
- Pins and Clips (to pin or pinch fabric together)
- Measuring Tape
- Fabric Scissors (NOT just any scissors! Fabric specific scissors are a MUST!)
- Iron
- Seam ripper (to rip out incorrect seams, usually one will come with your machine)
- Rotary Cutter (like scissors that roll)
- Cutting Mat (a mat that you use under fabric when using a rotary cutter)
- Pinking Shears (scissors that pink the edge of your fabric to prevent fraying)
- Extra Needles (technically you only need one unless you break it but trust me you want extras on hand)
- Extra Bobbins (same as needles, do you NEED them? No. But do you WANT them? Yes.)
Tips for Getting Started
- YouTube is your friend! Somebody on YouTube knows how to do that one stitch you’re confused about. A gather? YouTube. Attaching zippers? YouTube. Unsure on how to finish raw edges using a zig-zag stitch? You’ll never guess what I’m going to say…(spoiler its YouTube)
- Don’t be afraid of the fabric store workers! In my years of sewing I have yet to meet a fabric store employee who was anything but helpful. If you’re having trouble finding something or figuring out what you need, don’t be afraid to ask the employees for help!
- More people sew than you know! Finding people who sew is easier than you’d think! Once you find other people who sew, sewing gets even more fun! Having a community around a hobby makes it so much better! Plus then you can share patterns and even have sewing parties! (I use the word ‘party’ very loosely… think three people with sewing machines cutting fabric in a dining room… not so party)
- Practice on paper first. for your first time using the sewing machine, practice sewing straight lines, curves, and corners (without thread) onto a piece of paper. I suggest paper as you will be able to clearly see the lines you’ve sewed, as the needle will leave holes. After getting the hang of it, practice the same thing with a contrasting thread colour onto a piece of scrap fabric.
- Use pins to attach patterns to fabric or fabric to your dress form, use clips to hold pieces of fabric together. Pins take longer and can leave small holes in your fabric, especially when working with more delicate fabrics. Clips are faster, can hold thicker fabrics easier, and are less damaging.
- Pink fabric edges to temporarily finish raw edges and prevent fraying. using a pair of pinking shears on the raw edges of your fabric will leave you with a clean zig-zag that will prevent your fabric from fraying before you finish your raw edges with a zig-zag stitch (or an overlock stitch on a surger if you have one.)
- NEVER use fabric scissors on anything other than fabric! Fabric scissors dull super easily, using fabric scissors on paper even once or twice can destroy your scissors.
- Always pre-wash fabric. Fabric often shrinks after washing, so when sewing you should always wash your fabric first to preserve the integrity of the garment. This can also prevent colour bleeding due to some types of fabric ink.
- Always iron fabric before sewing. Having flat, even fabric is highly important when trying to sew something to a specific proportion. I typically iron before cutting my fabric and then I’ll go over the fabric quickly once more before putting it through my machine, just to make sure it isn’t wrinkled. You should also be ironing any raw edges that you won’t be finishing open after pinking them to avoid bulk.
- Clean your machine often! It’s important that after every one big project or a few smaller projects that you are taking out your bobbin and unscrewing the metal plate underneath your machines presser foot and using the small brush (that probably came with your machine) to dust the inside of your machine and pull out lint. if you don’t do this it can slow down your machine, and you may have to get it serviced more often, which is not cheap. You may also need to oil your machine while you have the plate unscrewed using sewing machine oil. How often you need to do this depends on your machine, however I know that for Brother machines you should oil your machine after 300 hours of use.
- Make sure you’re using the correct needle for your project! Most beginner sewing projects will use a standard needle, which is a size 14/90, which is ideal for medium-weight fabrics. using a standard 14/90 needle on something like denim will break the needle and can cause damage to your machine, since its too thick, However, if you used the same needle on something like silk or taffeta, it will rip your fabric and can even cause runs, destroying whole pieces of cut fabric. if you aren’t sure what needle is right, ask the fabric store employee.
- Don’t get too ambitious! It’s not a bad thing to bookmark a project because you know you won’t be able to make it successfully yet. Start with smaller things and work your way up, sewing is hard and if you overwhelm yourself you’re just going to get frustrated. I also suggest staying away from complicated clothes at first! Things like sleeves, gathers, waistbands on dresses and other small details can make what seams like a very simple clothing item very difficult. For first projects I suggest non-clothing items, like a tote bag.
- Enjoy the process! You aren’t going to be a pro right off the bat, and much with many other art forms, there is always more to learn. I have a decade of experience under my belt and still find myself learning new things every time I sew. If you go into a project only thinking about the end product and not the steps you’re taking to get there, you’re just going to be disappointed. Not every project is going to be a hit, especially not your first attempt (I think my most used sewing tool is my seam ripper). Just slow down a little and try to enjoy the work that you’re putting into each project.
If you are just taking up sewing and have any other questions about it, shoot me an email at [email protected], I’m not an expert, but id love to hear from you and help if I can! Thanks for reading friends!