Melanie’s Recommended Sewing Supplies

Useful supplies for sewing lessons, Take & Make kits and your next creative project. Start with the basics you need, then add tools as your skills and projects grow.

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Taking a lesson? You do not need to buy a full set of supplies before starting. Materials for small projects are included in your first two classes. If you own a sewing machine, we prefer to help you learn on your own; a machine can be provided if you do not have one. Ask Melanie what you need for your lesson.

Start here: beginner essentials

Choose one option where alternatives are listed. You do not need every item on this page.

• Fiskars 8″ fabric and craft scissors — A right-handed option for cutting fabric. Keep a separate pair for paper.
• Fiskars 8″ left-handed scissors — An alternative with true left-handed blades.
• Dritz ergonomic seam ripper — For removing stitches when a seam needs another try.
• Dritz 60″ tape measure — For taking body measurements and measuring fabric.
• Dritz sewing gauge — For checking small measurements such as hems and seam allowances.
• Dritz tailor’s marking set — A set of fabric-marking tools. Test markings on a scrap first.
• Dritz tailor’s chalk — white and blue — An alternative for marking cutting lines and sewing details. Test on your fabric first.

Thread for your sewing projects

Our Take & Make kits do not include thread. All-purpose polyester thread is a useful starting choice; select a color that suits your fabric. Some links are multipacks.

• Gütermann Sew-All thread set — 20 colors — An all-purpose thread assortment for projects in different colors.
• Coats & Clark all-purpose polyester thread — black, 6-pack — A multipack of black thread for sewing and hand stitching.
• Coats & Clark all-purpose polyester thread — white, 6-pack — A multipack of white thread for sewing and hand stitching.
• Gütermann natural cotton thread — white, 2-pack — A cotton-thread option for projects calling for cotton thread; this is different from Sew-All polyester.

Pins, clips & pin storage

Choose pins or clips to suit your project, plus one storage option if needed.

• Dritz extra-long color ball pins — 250-count — For holding fabric pieces together before sewing.
• Dritz flat flower-head pins — 50-count — Another pin option for sewing and patchwork projects.
• Multipurpose sewing clips — 100-pack — An alternative to pins for holding project edges and layers.
• CampTek jumbo sewing clips — 50-pack — A larger clip option for bulkier sections of a project.
• Dritz tomato pincushion with strawberry emery — A traditional place to keep pins between steps.
• Dritz magnetic pin bowl — An alternative for keeping pins together on your work surface.
• Dritz sewing machine pin magnet — An optional pin-storage accessory; check the product’s placement instructions for your machine.

Machine & hand-sewing needles

Use the needle type and size that suit your fabric, and check your machine manual for compatibility.

• SCHMETZ universal machine needles — 80/12 — A general sewing option for many everyday woven-fabric projects.
• SCHMETZ Microtex sharp machine needles — 80/12 — A sharp-point option for projects calling for Microtex needles.
• Dritz assorted hand-sewing needles — 50-count — A range of styles and sizes for hand sewing.
• Dritz hand-needle compact with needle threader — 30-count — An alternative assortment with a compact case and threader.

Rotary cutting & quilting tools

Optional tools for patchwork and cutting straight pieces. Use a rotary cutting mat and suitable ruler with your cutter.

• OLFA 45 mm quick-change rotary cutter — aqua — A rotary cutter option for fabric cutting and patchwork.
• OLFA 45 mm replacement blades — 10-pack — Standard replacement blades; check compatibility with your cutter.
• OLFA 45 mm pinking blade — An optional blade for a decorative zigzag edge. This is not a standard straight-cut replacement blade.

Helpful tools for bags & finishing

Optional extras that can help with drawstring bags, lined pouches, corners and small details.

• Metal bodkin drawstring threaders — 4-piece set — For feeding cord through the casing of your drawstring gift bags.
• HONEYSEW tube turners with bodkin — For turning sewn fabric tubes and threading drawstrings.
• Dritz point turner & seam creaser — For gently shaping corners after turning a lined project right side out.
• Clover two-point turner — An alternative tool for shaping corners and smoothing seams.
• Small bird-style embroidery scissors with cover — A small-scissor option for trimming thread and working on details.
• Curved fine-point Iris scissors — 4.5″ — Melanie uses these small curved scissors for snipping threads, much like embroidery scissors. Amazon lists them as dissecting scissors.

Pressing your seams

Pressing helps with the finish of bags, pouches and patchwork. Use the heat settings and surface protection recommended by the manufacturers.

• BLACK+DECKER Easy Steam compact iron — An everyday iron option for pressing seams as you sew.
• SAVINA wool pressing mat — 17″ × 13.5″ — An optional pressing surface for small sewing and patchwork projects.

Already have supplies that work for you? Keep using them. These are shopping options, and not every product is needed for every class or kit. Check Amazon for the current price, package quantity and availability.