Newbie Sewing Pack

Hints and Tips

The world of sewing, fabrics and haberdashery can be a bit overwhelming to start, but with a little research and finding the right community you will be comfortable behind your sewing machine in no time at all!

So buckle in, grab a note pad and get ready to learn about what you will need to get started with your sewing adventure.

What do I need to get started?

Sewing Machine - This seems a little obvious but you're going to need a reliable sewing machine. Make sure it is within your budget and meets what you need it to do. If you're just going basic then you'll probably only need a machine that does straight stitch and zigzag. Straight stitch is your basic stitch that you will use the most, and zigzag is great for finishing edges so they don't fray, and for sewing stretch fabrics.

Second hand machines are easy to find on Facebook Marketplace and if it hasn't been recently serviced you can always take it to your local sewing shop or machine repair shop. They will make sure everything is working, oil all the mechanisms and give everything a really good clean. Some brands of sewing machines are built to last so you won't need a fancy brand new machine to do the job (in fact, the machine I use is close to 16 years old now)

For information about needles you can get for your sewing machine go HERE

And for information on different threads and what best suits your project go HERE

Good, Sharp Scissors- And make sure no one uses them to cut paper or anything other than fabric! (Once you're comfortable you can venture in to getting a decent rotary cutter and a self healing mat)

Thread Snips- These are small, spring-loaded scissors are perfect for quickly trimming thread ends and small fabric edges. I find normal scissors can be a bit awkward when trying to cut off the threads, and the snips can get in nice and close without the worry of cutting the fabric.

Seam Ripper aka Quick Unpick- The most hated tool in the sewing world. But it will make correcting any mistakes much easier. It's sharp points help with sliding under threads and it has a sharpened edge to cut through the threads, allowing an 'undo' aspect of your sewing. Yep its fiddly and you have to make sure your eyes are working well (and don't cry when you've sewn black thread on black fabric)

Pin Cushion / Pins OR Clips- You'll need these to help keep your work together, cause sometimes you just wont have enough hands. There's a couple of different kinds of pins BUT just got for standard ones or quilting pins. They'll have coloured heads so you don't lose them in your project.

Fabric Markers or Chalk- Washable fabric markers or tailors chalk are a fantastic tool for marking out patterns, darts, and seam allowances on fabric. They usually wash out or brush off easily. You can get a fancy specific one from stores like Spotlight or you can grab washable markers from the kids pencil case

Patterns- And a plan of what you want to make. If you need some inspo you can always browse our blog for a bunch of simple and FREE sewing patterns, and of course our Sewing Patterns section on our website so you can support some amazing Australian Pattern Designers. Or you can head HERE for our recommended pattern shops

Fabric- If you're a complete newbie to sewing, I would recommend starting with some woven bases (twill or canvas) as they are less prone to slipping and are easer to maneuver with the sewing machine. Then once you have mastered that, you can venture into stretch fabrics.