22 Must-Have For Sewing Enthusiasts In 2022 – The Ultimate List

Sewing is a great and rewarding hobby. It is the foundation of many fabric crafting hobbies like quilting and embroidery. Learning how to sew will allow you to make many creations, from dresses, purses, floor mats, and more.

But like any other hobby, you need to have the right tools and materials to create beautiful projects. There are a lot of tools and supplies for swing. Yes, this hobby does not only need threads, scissors, and needles. So, without further adieu, here are the 22 must-have items for every sewing enthusiast out there.

1: Sewing Box

Sounds ridiculous? But hey, you need to organize your needles and other sewing trinkets. This sewing box is your handy organizer for your small items for sewing. Those little things that are vital to your crafting days.

Imagine losing your needle threader? Or you can’t find the straight pins for securing the seams? These instances are only a few of the troubles you can encounter if you don’t have a good sewing box.

The sewing box is often not given the recognition it needs. Many times crafters only see what is inside the box. The only time they notice its value is when they lose a needle or the buttons for their projects.

Now that you know how important your sewing box is, keep them clean and organized. There are a lot of gorgeous sewing boxes in the market. Some have this easy-to-carry handle so you can bring it anytime and anywhere.

2: Ruler and Tape Measure

SEWING Rules! Seriously, a sturdy ruler and reliable tape measure are important for accurate measurements. You don’t want to create a misaligned quilt or super tight dress, right? This is why good quality measuring tools are vital for sewing.

You can buy these at school supplies stores, hardware stores, and even in supermarkets. Choose the ones made with hard plastic and aluminum for your ruler, so they won’t break that easy. For a tape measure, get the one made of soft PVC-like material with vivid calibration.

3: T- Square

Use this if you don’t want to go back to “square” one! Having a T-Square is crucial for projects that need perfect angles and corners. Think about your quilts, for instance. To make beautiful and aligned quilts, you need to square them well using this tool.

You will have a hard time binding off your quilts if you don’t use a T-square. The same goes for your other sewing projects. If you don’t want to encounter hassles in your sewing journey, a reliable T-Square is necessary.

4: Tailor’s Chalks

You need this not because you miss your high school days! Tailor’s chalks are a staple in sewing. You need these to draft or draw your pattern. You also use these to make lines on your fabric. These are common if you want to sew tops, dresses, trousers, and bags.

Tailor’s chalks are washable and non-toxic, so you need not worry that they will mess your fabrics. They have vivid colors to allow you to see the lines of your pattern on the fabric. Using these chalks are helpful if you use fabrics with lots of designs and patterns. Every seamstress needs these colorful tailor’s chalks.

5: Scissors and Shears

You may have been sewing for quite some time now, but do you know the difference of scissors from shears? To shed some light, scissors are symmetrical and have blades of six inches or less. They have a handle with two holes – one is your thumb and the other one is for your index finger.

Shears look like scissors but with longer blades and larger finger holes. One hole fits your thumb while the other one fits three or four fingers. Shears are best for cutting fabrics. Anyone who is into sewing, scissors, and shears are part of your necessities.

6: Zigzag Shears

These are shears with serrated blades. These pairs are useful for preventing your fabrics to fray. Having zigzag shears help you save on your fabric. When your fabric does not fray, you will not have to make a wide seam allowance.

These shears also create that zigzag cut which makes a unique texture on your fabric ends. Some sewing enthusiasts stitch on this zigzag pattern and use them as embellishments. You too can use these zigzag shears in more ways than you think. So, keep a pair in handy.

7: Seam Ripper

Mistakes happen. The same applies to the sewing process. If you are a beginner, you are likely to encounter mistakes in your projects. Even seasoned seamstresses encounter occasional mistakes, too.

Don’t fret because seam ripper is here to the rescue. It allows you to unthread your erroneous stitches with ease. The great thing about using a seam ripper is you don’t damage your fabric. Unlike using scissors that can tear or scratch the material.

Seam ripper must always be accessible when you sew. Because whether you are a starter or a pro, mistakes can happen.

8: Rotary Cutter

When all shears fail, use the cutter! Although shears are best for cutting fabrics, rotary cutter works wonder. This rotary cutter allows you to cut long straight lines on your fabric with ease.

You can also use a rotary cutter to cut thick fabrics which can be challenging for shears. It also leaves clean edges on your fabric. As long as you keep the blade chiseled and sharp, you always get crisp and no-fray fabric ends.

9: Cutting Mat

Although cutting mats are oftentimes more useful for quilters, you must have one. A sturdy and self-healing cutting mats are like the sister of your rotary cutter. You need this sturdy surface to operate your rotary cutter.

This cutting mat provides the flat and steady surface for your fabric as you roll your rotary cutter. Never use your regular table as a substitute for your cutting mat. The blade of your cutter can damage the surface of your table.

Cutting mats have a calibration of some sort to help you check if your fabric is level or straight. This also guides the cuter in making straight and even cuts on your fabric.

10: Threads

When you are into sewing and crafting, threads are inevitable. You need them – lots of them. Sewing will not happen without threads. Choose threads that are sturdy and colorfast. This ensures that your stitches will not split that easy.

Using colorfast threads is necessary to avoid the colors from bleeding. There are lots of quality brands out there – Brother, Anchor, and DMC to name a few.

11: Needle Threader

If you have shaky hands, this one’s for you. You cannot avoid using the old fashion way of sewing – that is to sew by hands. This can be a challenge for those with shaky hands. If you are guilty of this, then this needle threader is a lifesaver.

This little tool makes a big difference in your sewing experience. Forget those frustrations threading your needle, this handy tool works like a breeze.

12: Straight Pins and Safety Pins

These little wands work like magic. As a sewing enthusiast, you know how useful these pins are. They help you hold the folds of your fabrics. They keep fabrics in place as you stitch it either by hand or by a sewing machine.

Straight pins and safety pins are inexpensive. But you cannot deny its usefulness for every fabric crafting project.

13: Pincushions

Since you are going to need tons of pins, you might as well get a pincushion. This spongy tool keeps all your straight pins in perfect shape. Never lose a pin with this trusty pincushion.

This cute and soft cushion helps you organize pins in a safe space in your sewing box. You can say goodbye to occasional pricks and hurts with this tiny pincushion.

14: Emery Bags

This may look like a pincushion, but it is not. An emery bag is great for sharpening needles and pins. This little bag is full of sharpening goodies inside. You stick your rusty pins and needles and sharpen them like new.

Most sewing enthusiasts do not know about this emery bag. Now that you know its function, grab one for your sewing kit.

15: Fabric Comb

Just like ladies, fabrics must never have a bad day! If you are working on fabrics with lots of loose fibers like wool, this fabric comb is a practical gadget. Imagine your frustrations when your wool projects have messy and tangled fibers. You may remove them by scissors, but that can cause damage to fabrics.

Wool will always have those fibers sticking out no matter what. All you can do is to use a fabric comb to keep them neat and polished.

16: Buttons, Zippers, and Hooks

These are staples when sewing. You cannot avoid these little peripherals in sewing. Most projects need either a button, a hook, or a zipper. These must always be available in your sewing kit, in case the need arises.

17: French Curve and Hip Curve

Curves are beautiful. The same goes for making your sewing patterns. If you are going to sew dresses, tops, and trousers, you will need these curvy tools. French and Hip curves help you create smooth curve lines on your pattern.

Take the case of the crotch area of the trousers pattern or the armholes on your shirt pattern. These projects will need you to use these tools.

18: Pencil, Sharpener and Eraser

Just when you think you can leave school stuff behind, you will need this bunch.

Whether you like it or not, this group plays a vital role in sewing. You will always need them whenever you get the measurement of your subjects. You also need them to record the details of your projects.

19: Beeswax or Paraffin

You can use either of the two. They make your threads waterproof and neat. The beeswax or the paraffin seals in the fibers of the thread. You only need to run the thread on any of these waxes and they are ready for use.

Using these waxes keep your threads free from annoying tangles and knots. They also make threads more durable.

20: Textile Adhesive, Baste Spray, and Masking Tape

These things are essentials in sewing. There are instances that you need to make fabrics adhere for easier stitching. Textile adhesives and masking tape are common to regular sewing projects.

You use them to adhere to fabrics or secure seam folds. Meanwhile, baste spray is common for quilting. As a whole, these things make sewing a little less complicated.

21: Iron and Ironing Board

You may not consider this combo as sewing must-haves, but indeed, they are.
It is necessary to press your fabrics before sewing them. This is because fabrics often come in rolls and folds when you buy them at the textile stores.

If you want to make accurate measurements and cuts, press your fabrics beforehand. Ironing out the folds and creases should always be your first step in sewing.

22: Needles and Sewing Machine

Need we say more? Needles are the origin of sewing. These little pointed sticks make it possible to stitch fabrics, do embroideries, and more. Without needles, then there will be no sewing.

When you want to go full-on with your sewing, have a few sets of needles. Buy several sizes to suit every sewing need of your fabric and project. Besides, needles are sewing’s best friend.

A reliable sewing machine makes sewing more convenient and faster. It allows you to finish your projects faster than by manual sewing. Any sewing machine is fine, but if you can have the one with more features, the better.

A walking foot is a great investment for your sewing machine. So, make sure to have one. You never know when you will need one. You might need it soon on a quilt or a coverlet.

These 22 must-have items are common sewing tools. They are not something new, especially among sewing enthusiasts. Some beginners even know some of these things but are not familiar with their uses. Now that you know how useful they are, grab one for your kit.