Beginning sewing: supply list

Summary

My friend is learning to sew and had one big question: what do I actually need to get started? So I'm answering it — the real supply list, no fluff. I walk through everything that matters (and everything the internet will try to sell you that's a total waste of money), plus how each thing works and a few beginner traps to avoid.

• The real starter kit: a machine, polyester thread, extra bobbins, needles, good fabric scissors (guard them with your life!), snips, a seam ripper, and pins or clips
• What you DON'T need: a serger, a dress form, 100 presser feet, magnetic seam guides, or that thread-needle/seam-ripper combo gadget
• Beginner tips: read your manual cover to cover, change your needle often, and thrifted or hand-me-down machines work great
• Bonus: a quick threading + bobbin-winding walkthrough and how to sew your first straight stitch (back stitch, always!)

Transcript

Hi. Hello. My friend is learning how to sew and he's got a bunch of questions. So, I am going to answer all of those questions for you, one video at a time. His first question, and it's a good one, what do I even need to get started? So, today we're going to talk about what you actually need and just as importantly, how those things work and maybe even more importantly, what you don't need. Because the internet will try to sell you all sorts of [ __ ] and it's mostly a waste of money. So, let's go. Okay, first thing you need, post-production Sammy here. I just wanted to give you a quick rundown of what you need so that you don't have to stick around for the whole video if you're not into that sort of thing. So, here's what you need to sew. You need a seam ripper. You need a pair of scissors that you guard with your life. You need pins or you need clips. I prefer the pins. You'll also need thread in either neutral colors or your favorite color. You'll need a variety of sizes. You will need um bobbins. You will buy a whole bunch of these and you will fill them all up so you don't get mad later. And uh a machine of course. There's a ton of stuff you don't need. We'll get into all of it. Love you. Okay, back to the video.

A machine. Mine is a Singer heavy-duty 6800C. The C means computerized. Also, Singer sponsors me. If you buy a machine, use code you have time to waste. That's your disclaimer. You don't need one of these. You don't even need a new machine. All you need is one that will turn on and sew a straight line. So if you've got one in the closet that was your grandma's, now is a great time to go get it. If you have a thrift store nearby, go plug one in. If it turns on, buy that baby. You don't need anything new. You don't need anything fancy. Once you have a machine, you're going to want to read the manual from beginning to end. You're going to feel overwhelmed. It's going to feel scary. Your machine might not have come with the manual. That's what Google is for. Find its name, and then go read the manual. It will set you up for success in ways that no video I record for you ever could.

The next thing you're going to need is a bobbin. You're going to probably want to get a whole bunch of these guys. I prefer the metal ones. They just seem to last longer, but these clear ones make it a lot easier to see when your bobbin is about to run out. If you've ever watched any sewing content, you know the number one complaint is the bobbin always runs out before my project is done. So, you're gonna want to have a bunch of these and go ahead and fill them all up so you're ready to just drop them in and keep moving when you do run out. You'll need thread. I recommend getting a polyester thread because even though we love cotton, we love natural fibers, that polyester thread isn't going to break as easily. It doesn't get brittle as quickly and it's going to last a lot longer. I recommend getting neutral colors just to get started. A black, a white, a gray, and you can use them for everything. You also will need needles for your machine. They come in all different sizes and they are disposable. There's a rule that you're supposed to change your needle every 6 to 8 hours or every new project. I recommend changing it before it breaks because sometimes when it breaks, that little [ __ ] will pop straight up. Needles come in all different sizes — the bigger the number, the thicker the material it can handle. So if you're doing lightweight fabrics you really only need an 80 or a 90; if you're doing denim or quilts, go up to 100 or 110. I have this handy gadget called So Remind Me — a friend of mine makes them — and every time I change the needle I adjust it so it shows what needle is in there.

So we got polyester thread, a variety pack of needles that you will change often, and your machine. You also need scissors. Good fabric scissors. You will guard these with your life. You will put them in a special box tied with ribbon so that nobody uses them on paper or carrots or some weird [ __ ] in the kitchen. You want these only to ever touch fabric. Mine are — surprise, surprise — Singer, but they're not new. I got these at an estate sale and they are the best scissors I have. Related to scissors, you're going to want these little snip guys. These are great for when you're pulling your project off the machine — you can snip those loose threads super easy. I thought I wouldn't need these and then I bought them and they changed my life. Get you some. This is a seam ripper. This will become your best friend. Everybody who sews uses a seam ripper. These are made for when you make mistakes and you need to pull out the threads. The little red bit is what's meant to go under the thread, and this little piece here is what cuts. We can do a whole video on seam ripping. It's a thing that I do a lot.

Scissors, snips, seam ripper, machine, pins. You will need either clips or pins or both. I prefer pins. This type is my favorite — super thin, little flat heads, all metal. These are great because you can iron right over them. If you get the kind with plastic tips, you can melt the plastic right to your clothes and be super [ __ ] mad about it. You're going to stab yourself a few times. You also should get a pin cushion or one of these little magnetic guys. Both of these were thrifted or estate-sale purchases. I love to get sewing kits at estate sales. Nana has the best stuff. If you don't want to buy any of this stuff, use safety pins. Don't use tape. Tape is a terrible idea. I also bought this thing that threads a needle on one side and is a seam ripper on the other. If you see this, don't buy it. It's a piece of junk. You're also going to lose your stuff — sewing comes with a free goblin — so it's not a bad idea to get doubles of some things. I have these heat-erase pens for tracing outlines on fabric; when you iron, it disappears. Another option is Taylor's chalk. You also need a tape measurer — I prefer the soft ones so you can measure yourself and your garment. Oh, an iron. You're going to need an iron. It does not need to be fancy; it just needs to steam and adjust the temperature. And you need fabric — tons and tons of practice fabric. I always save my scraps because you never know when you might need them.

So honestly, that's about everything you need. Here's what you don't need. You don't need this little magnetic seam guide from Temu or wherever — in theory it keeps your stitches straight; in practice it doesn't work for [ __ ]. You also don't need 100,000 presser feet. As long as your machine has one, you're good to get started. A few other things you might want: elastic, if you're going to make a lot of stretchy stuff. You also don't need patterns — you can trace the clothes you have to make new ones. You don't need a serger; you can get one eventually, but not right now. You also don't need a dress form — use your body. Let me show you how to use a few of these things. I already have a video posted about how to thread your sewing machine, but here's a quick rundown: you put your thread on top, make the tail nice and long, and run it through the channel, behind a hook, down, around, over this hook, back down, through the thread guides, and then through the needle itself. Some newer machines have a built-in needle threader. Make sure your bobbin is threaded and dropped in the right way — mine is a top loader. It should be shaped like a P when you put it in, not like a Q. Then wheel it toward yourself while holding the end of your thread, and it will pull the bobbin up. Now you're ready to get started. Hell yeah.

Let's talk about a quick straight stitch. You get your fabric, make sure your machine is on, the foot is up, and you have a straight stitch on — the one that looks like the line down the center of the road. The most important thing to remember: every time you start a line of stitching, you back stitch. Every time you're done with a line of stitching, you back stitch. If you're not sure if you need a back stitch, you back stitch. This is what ties the knot so these guys don't come undone. You place your fabric where you want it, drop the foot, back stitch, and then press the gas, which is your foot pedal. You may guide the fabric, but you should never be pushing or pulling. You just let the machine do the work and you're there for moral support. When you're done, hit the back stitch button a couple times, lift the foot, and pull it over. Most important thing: back stitch at the start, back stitch at the end. You're all set. So I think we're in a good place for you to go to the store or the thrift, get the things, and then come back, because we're going to make something. See you soon. I love you. Thanks for being here. Thanks for wasting your time with me. Waste more time by liking and subscribing and watching another video.