15 Useful Sewing Tools That Will Make Your Life Easier

The 15 useful sewing tools and notions that will make your sewing life easier! I have collected the sewing tools I rely on and believe will come in handy for your sewing projects. They make my sewing life easier and more enjoyable (and yours, too). Check out the items you'll use over and over again on every sewing project.

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People often ask me what machine, tools, etc that I use when I sew. Here’s a summary of the tools I use most and that I like best.

I’ve curated a list of some handy and useful sewing tools that are worth building your sewing kit around. They’re all budget-friendly, will save you so much time, and make projects easier. These are the sewing tools that will get you started, and help you towards your best results.

While you might not find all the fancy stuff here, I've put together a list of useful ones, ones I can safely say will benefit any beginner sewer, helping you out and making sewing more fun. And easier.

They'll help speed up your sewing and make some techniques or tasks a little easier. Check them out and let me know what you think!

15 Useful Sewing Tools And Notions

Sewing Machine

Sewing machine. This one's kind of obvious 🙂 First off, you DON'T need an expensive sewing machine to sew adorable things. I'm including the sewing machine I have and love using, a reliable yet affordable model. Great for beginners too.

My first sewing machine was - EDIT - and I still use it occasionally! even though I've purchased a new sewing machine recently (I'll post about it soon!)

...well, my first sewing machine model was the European Elna, which directly 'translates' to this Janome model in the USA - this model has the same specifications as mine, and the parts and pieces, except for the printed model number. (Also, Janome and Elna brands have the same owner, manufacturing all of its machines in the same factories.)

If you ever consider purchasing this one, let me tell you why I love it: it's precise and sturdy. It will sew through faux leather and multiple layers of cotton with no problem. I've never had issues with bobbin thread tension, even when I keep changing it on projects as I change materials. Stitch width and length adjustment - separately! is a must.

It has a free arm - this is what I cannot live without, and is perfect for all kinds of small crafty items you can find here on my blog.

And it's a mechanical machine (no computerized parts). In the 15 years since I got it, it never broke. All it needed was needle changing and occasional dusting and oiling.

As I said, I love it. I've been sewing all projects on it until just recently, and it's still on my sewing table.

But no matter which sewing machine you buy, keep in mind you (almost) never need the most expensive model 😉 Check out the Janome 2222 in the store.

Quality Thread

Not much to say, you definitely need thread to sew. Make sure it's a high-quality thread, I love Gütermann and Coats (Coats Moon especially, it's inexpensive and it comes in every color I've ever needed!). You're safe if you start off with an all-purpose thread and buy more, but don't stock up on any specialty thread or you might never use it up. 

Scissors

A pair of sewing scissors you'll only use for fabric. While there certainly are some special and precious models out there, you don't need expensive scissors. Just make sure you have a pair just for fabric. These popular Fiskars classics will do the job perfectly 🙂

Seam Ripper

Seam Ripper This little beast gets used more than I'd like, but when it does, it's always on a rescue mission. If it feels like a love-hate relationship when you spot your seam ripper, that's totally normal though! Yet it has saved so many (many!) of my projects that I can safely say I cannot live sew without it.

But be careful! The cheapest $1 ones won't last long, will quickly become blunt, and can leave holes in the fabric. (Ehm you are asking how I know that?) You might want to invest the $3 to get one that gets the job done properly. 

I've recently come across a new, super handy design of a seam ripper - Cindy's seam ripper by Riley Blake Designs. It comes in two sizes, the new medium-large is the size I love best!

Sewing pins

Sewing pins - I use these flat pins. Not because they are super cute (OK, that might be a second reason, haha) - they are thinner and long enough for all my zipper sewing projects! I swap them for wonder clips in some places, but I could not do my projects without them when there's a need for precision!

Sewing clips 

Sewing clips will make your projects easy and quick to sew. Unless you need to mark an exact, specific point on your project (in this case I use pins!), use clips to prevent shifting layers when you sew. As you might have noticed, I like them so much they got a special zipper pouch for storage 🙂 They work like a charm!

7) Machine Needles and Hand-Sewing Needles

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Machine needles - I love the Schmetz brand, and constantly use these - for all the beginner sewing tutorials and sewing projects I make at AppleGreen Cottage blog! Schmetz Universal sewing needles are the ones you are after if you are a beginner and sewing mostly with cotton.

Hand sewing needles - make sure you get them in a set of various sizes.

A Steam Iron

A good steam Iron: I've been using my Rowenta P2 Professional for years now, and am still a fan. Since this exact model has been discontinued, I'm linking to one with features very similar to mine - this Rowenta Focus line is a good one. Mine is just the perfect weight for me and I love that it has a stainless steel soleplate. (I may sound so old-fashioned, but this one works great!!!)

Tape Measure

Tape Measure: if you ever want to take measurements, and you will, you need it. As a compact version, you can get one of those little retractable tape measures - for an extra cuteness factor! Check them out here.

An Ironing Board

An ironing board. You most probably already have one, but if not, invest in a large one. It makes a big difference for me, switching from a compact one to a large iroing board. This one is the approximate size I have, it makes my pressing quicker with less moving items around. And I recently switched my ironing board cover - a good one will help with pressing a lot!

And you can also get a fancy one on Etsy (like one with Ruby star society collection fabric!)

A Seam Roll

Rotary cutter

Olfa rotary Cutter: 45mm is my favorite, and the best to get if you only need an all-in-one size.

One of the most popular tools in the sewing world. But I'll be honest: I spent years sewing and crafting without a rotary cutter and a mat, using only scissors, and it's totally OK if you do so too. But once I got myself the first rotary cutter, I cannot imagine living without one. Seriously, such perfectly straight lines, and so effortlessly!

The cutting will go super quick if you use a rotary cutter. I use these with nearly all my projects here on the blog.

Olfa rotary cutters are my favorite. The blade lasts long, and that is very important because you will spend money on refill blades, the handle is just a one-off purchase!

Cutting Mat

Cutting mat It will make cutting and trimming your fabric quick and easy. A must if you use a rotary cutter. It comes in several sizes, and it's good to have the largest your crafting table can hold. If you lack storage room, get yourself a folding mat (what a great idea for small spaces!) One more thing: some cutting mats have a label 'self-healing'. They will last longer!

I currently use the one in the photo, it's Olfa self-healing 24" by 18" cutting mat. It can hold nearly all my sewing projects and I love it. (But currently, you'll get the largest size at the same price - so if I were buying now, I'd get the largest one instead. Just sayin')

Stilletto Point Turning Tool

While it can be something as simple as a knitting needle, a chopstick, the tip of a small paintbrush, you can purchase a simple tool specifically designed to make your edges, corners, and curves look nice and crisp once turned and finished.

I've finally found my new favorite point turning tool for sewing up these bunting-top bins. It's the Flamingo Stiletto Point Turning Tool by Bev of the Flamingo Toes.

Cuteness! And it makes turning the tiny corners a breeze. Ideal for point turning, detail work, pressing seams, and marking fabric.

A Quilting Ruler

A large transparent ruler. My 6-inch-by-24-inch acrylic ruler is a great size for any project, and if you only want one ruler for everything, get this one. I use it with all my sewing and crafting projects (Also, perfect to square up scrap pieces of fabric!)

Serger

My Janome Serger 

At some point on your sewing journey, you'll get tired of trying to imitate the serger seam on your regular sewing machine (I've done it for ages!) and will want to finally make a baby beanie or headband with seams looking like bought in a store. Raise your hand if you feel this way!

This is my new Janome 990D serger and I love it! The pic is from when I just took it out of the box. Threading has been a breeze - totally easy. Three words: color-coded guides, guys!!! I immediately tested the different tensions. And rethreaded the lower looper, just to see if it was complicated. (It wasn't!) Works perfectly since day one, and I'm happy I got it. I'm linking to the same Janome model specifications - for the USA market.

And also, the bonus package I've found in the box - LOVE it! Great value at affordable price. No need for a more expensive model - especially not if you're a hobby sewist! Check it out in the store.

If you are a beginner, check out my Amazon storefront too - these are the tools that will get you started on your sewing journey.

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Are there any other sewing tools and supplies you couldn't live without when sewing? Let me know in the comments!

More sewing tools that are good-to have