Anyone venturing into sewing, quilting, or textile art for the first time will undoubtedly need a supply of sewing notions. But how do you identify the best sewing notions, and what are sewing notions, anyway?
From knowing what sewing notions are to identifying what you need, this comprehensive guide will provide clarity and guidance on your sewing journey.
A Guide to the Best Sewing Notions
- What are Sewing Notions?
- Sewing Notions vs. Sewing Tools: Understanding the Difference
- Essential Sewing Notions for Beginners
- Needles
- Needles for Hand Stitching
- Machine Needles for Sewing and Dressmaking
- Machine Needles for Quilting
- Machine Needles for Textile Art and Art Quilting
- Needles for Hand Stitching
- Thread
- General Sewing and Dressmaking Thread
- Thread for Quilting
- Thread for Textile Art and Art Quilting
- General Sewing and Dressmaking Thread
- Scissors
- Measuring and Cutting Tools
- Pins, Pin Cushion, and Seam Ripper
- Miscellaneous Sewing Notions
- Where to Buy Sewing Notions
- How to Store Sewing Notions
- Sewing Notions: The Small Essentials
- Related Posts
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What are Sewing Notions?
Sewing notions refer to a wide array of small tools, accessories, and items used in sewing, quilting, and other textile crafts.
These items include needles, thread, pins, thimbles, measuring tapes, and more. Each sewing notion has a specific role, enhancing the sewing process and contributing to your project’s final quality.
While the terms “sewing notions” and “sewing tools” can be used interchangeably, there is a slight difference. Generally, sewing tools refer to larger items like sewing machines, while sewing notions are the smaller accessories and items used in the sewing process.
Essential Sewing Notions for Beginners
As a beginner, you don’t need every sewing notion available. Starting with the basics will equip you with a solid foundation. Let’s go through a guide to the essential sewing notions for beginners.
The list may seem long, so at the end of each section, I’ve summarised my recommendations for the best overall choices for beginners.
Needles
A supply of appropriate needles is essential whether you intend to work by hand or by sewing machine.
You will need a variety of needles to handle the various fabrics and threads you’ll use in your projects.
Remember to choose the needle size based on the weight of the fabric and the type of thread you’re using. The lighter the fabric, the smaller the needle size, and vice versa.
Thread should smoothly fit through the eye of the needle; if the thread is too thick, it can cause the needle to bend or break.
Some of the different types of needles available include the following:
Needles for Hand Stitching
Sharps
Needles that will meet all your general sewing needs are called Sharps — medium-length needles that are ideal for general sewing.
They are versatile and can be used for a variety of fabrics.
Betweens or Quilting Needles
Hand quilting is best done with a shorter needle. The best to use are Betweens or Quilting needles — they are shorter and have a small eye.
They are designed for making fine stitches on heavy fabrics and are commonly used in quilting.
Machine Needles for Sewing and Dressmaking
Universal Machine Needles
A versatile machine needle is the Universal machine needle, with their slightly rounded point. Universal needles are suitable for most woven fabrics.
They are the go-to choice for general sewing projects.
Ballpoint Needles
Ballpoint needles have a rounded point that separates the fibres of knit fabric instead of piercing them, which prevents the fabric from laddering or running.
Microtex or Sharp Needles
The very sharp point of Microtex needles makes them perfect for fine and densely woven fabrics like silk, microfibre, or synthetic leather.
They also ensure perfectly straight stitches, making them suitable for topstitching.
Denim or Jeans Needles
Jeans needles, also known as Denim needles are sturdy needles with a sharp point and a strong shaft, ideal for sewing through densely woven fabrics like denim or canvas.
Machine Needles for Quilting
Quilting Needles
Quilting needles have a unique taper to a slightly rounded point, allowing easier fabric penetration and helping eliminate skipped stitches.
They are ideal for piecing and machine quilting.
Topstitch Needles
Topstitch needles have a larger eye and a sharp point.
They are useful for decorative stitching and for sewing with heavier-weight threads.
Machine Needles for Textile Art and Art Quilting
Machine Embroidery Needles
Machine Embroidery Needles have a larger eye to accommodate rayon, polyester, or cotton machine embroidery thread.
They are designed to sew without shredding the thread or skipping stitches.
Metallic Needles
Specially designed to use with metallic thread, metallic needles have a large, elongated eye and a large groove to help prevent delicate metallic threads from shredding, coiling, or breaking while stitching.
Twin or Double Needles
Twin needles are used to create two parallel rows of stitching simultaneously.
They’re excellent for decorative stitching.
Best Overall Needle Choices for Beginners
- Sharps for hand sewing.
- Universal and ballpoint machine needles for general sewing by machine.
- Quilting and Embroidery needles for machine quilting and textile art.
Thread
With dozens of different types of thread available, how do you find the best thread when starting out in sewing, quilting, or textile art?
The good news is that you don’t need a huge variety of thread types — it’s more important to find the types you like to work with and build a collection of many different colours.
As always, I recommend investing in the best quality thread you can afford. Purchase thread manufactured by reputable suppliers, such as Gütermann, Isacord, Superior Threads, Sulky, Mettler, Madeira, or Fujix King Star.
Each type of thread has its characteristics and suitability for different projects.Let’s take a look at what’s available for sewing, dressmaking, quilting and textile art.
General Sewing and Dressmaking Thread
For general sewing and dressmaking, select thread matching your fabric in type and colour. Remember that if you want the thread to blend well with your fabric, rendering it almost invisible, choose a colour one shade darker than the fabric.
All-purpose Polyester Thread
All-purpose polyester thread, is suitable for most sewing projects. It’s strong, durable, and has some give, making it ideal for sewing both woven and knit fabrics.
Avoid purchasing cheap thread as you’re likely to be disappointed with the quality. Buy from reputable brands, such as this collection of Gütermann thread.
Cotton Thread
100% cotton thread is ideal for sewing lightweight, natural-fibre fabrics.
Once again, it’s worth paying just a little more for thread from a reputable brand, such as this Gütermann cotton thread.
It will pay off with a better finish and less sewing frustration!
Silk Thread
Silk thread is strong and flexible, making it excellent for sewing silk and wool.
If you’re after a luxurious finish, silk thread is worth paying a little more for.
These 1090 yard mini-cones from Superior Threads are made from 2-ply filament silk thread and are available in a variety of colours.
Thread for Quilting
Polyester Thread
With its high strength, elasticity, availability and moderate price, polyester is a favourite amongst quilters.
Polyester thread is generally lint-free and can be a good choice for machine quilting.
Cotton Thread
Many quilters prefer 100% cotton thread. It’s available in various weights, with 50 weight being the most versatile for piecing and quilting. If you want your stitches to ‘disappear’ into, try 80 or 100 weight cotton thread.
Cotton thread has low stretch and comes in a vast range of colours.
Once again, if you want great results and a positive sewing experience, I recommend investing in quality thread.
Monofilament Thread
This is a single filament thread that resembles fishing line. Made from polyester or nylon, it is available in transparent or translucent shades.
Typically, monofilament thread is used for stitch-in-the-ditch quilting, appliqué, and various art quilting techniques.
Thread for Textile Art and Art Quilting
Rayon Thread: Ideal for Machine Embroidery
This thread has a beautiful sheen and is commonly used for machine embroidery, thread sketching, and thread painting.
It’s not as strong as polyester and is not recommended for seams, but it is an excellent choice for decorative stitching.
Most major thread manufacturers have a range of quality rayon machine embroidery thread, including this selection from Gütermann.
Metallic Thread
Metallic thread can add a beautiful and decorative appearance to any textile art project.
It requires a special metallic needle and careful handling as it is prone to shredding, breaking, and twisting as you stitch.
Variegated Thread
Variegated thread changes colour along its length, providing a unique effect.
It is available in cotton, rayon, or polyester variants and is often used for decorative stitching and embroidery.
Best Overall Thread Choices for Beginners
- All-purpose polyester thread for hand and machine sewing.
- Polyester or Rayon thread for machine quilting, textile art, and basic machine embroidery or thread sketching.
- Cotton Thread for hand quilting.
- Variegated and Metallic Threads for experimentation!
Scissors
Because scissors are designed for specific purposes, having a small collection of ‘essential’ scissors is a wise investment.
For a more in-depth exploration of scissors, please read the article Best Scissors for Sewing and Quilting 2023.
Best Overall Scissors Choices for Beginners
- Dressmaker’s Shears, such as Fiskars Razor-edge Soft-grip Scissors.
- Small Embroidery Scissors, such as Gingher Stork Embroidery Scissors.
- Microtip Spring-loaded Scissors, such as Fiskars Premier Microtip Titanium Scissors.
If you plan on doing various sewing projects, including regular sewing and quilting, you’ll need a measuring tape and a quilter’s ruler to measure fabric accurately.
Measuring Tools
Flexible Measuring Tape
Considered a staple in any sewing room, these standard soft tape measures are indispensable. With a measuring range up to 60″ (150 cm), they display measurements in inches on one side and centimetres on the reverse.
Quilter’s Ruler
Quilter’s rulers come in many shapes and sizes. Begin with a mid-size, rectangular ruler like the Fiskars 3″ x 18″ ruler. It may be all you ever need!
Cutting Tools
Dedicated cutting tools, besides your scissors, are handy for quilters. To get started, all you need are:
Rotary Cutter
A basic rotary cutter, such as the Olfa 45mm Rotary Cutter, will serve all your needs. Rotary cutters are available in a range of sizes and grip types, including ergonomically designed rotary cutters.
Self-healing Cutting Mat
If you buy a rotary cutter, you will definitely need a self-healing cutting mat as well. With care, these mats will last for many years.
Best Overall Measuring and Cutting Tools for Beginners
- Flexible measuring tape
- Quilter’s ruler.
- Basic rotary cutter
- Self-healing cutting mat.
Pins, Pin Cushion, and Seam Ripper
Pins hold fabric pieces together before they are sewn, and a pin cushion is a convenient place to store them. A seam ripper is also an essential tool for undoing stitches when necessary.
Dressmaking Pins
Always buy the best quality pins you can find. Avoid pins that are not rust-resistant or not fine enough for delicate fabrics.
Flat-head Quilting Pins
Flat-head pins are ideal for quilting as the flat head does not impede your progress when machine stitching, and they are easy to remove from the fabric.
Ball-head Quilting Pins
Ball-head pins are ideal if you want a longer pin that is easy to grasp as you stitch.You can choose to buy either flat-head or ball-head pins. However, I find that having both is advantageous.
Curved Basting Safety Pins for Quilting
These large, curved safety pins are ideal for securing the layers of a large bed quilt or art quilt. Keep everything in place as you baste or stitch.
Pin Cushions
The best pin cushions are small, easy to pack and carry, and pins slide easily into them.
With many different shapes, sizes, and varieties available, you’re sure to find one you love.
Magnetic pin holders are a popular, contemporary option.
Seam Ripper
These handy little seam rippers are also known as ‘unpickers’ or ‘seam thread removers’.
Useful for when you need to unpick some stitching.
Best Overall Pins, Pin Cushions, and Seam Rippers for Beginners
- Flat-head and/or Ball-head Quilting Pins
- Good quality dressmaking pins
- Small pin cushion
- Seam ripper
Miscellaneous Sewing Notions
As you progress in your sewing journey, you will undoubtedly encounter many other notions.
For example, the required notions are usually listed on the back of paper patterns when dressmaking. These might include items such as zippers, bias tape, or buttons.
Other miscellaneous items you may find helpful include:
- A thimble
- Marking chalk, pencils, and marking pens
- Tracing tools, such as tracing paper and tracing wheels
- Carbon paper
- Embroidery hoops
While not necessary for beginners, these notions can make some tasks easier and improve your efficiency.
Where to Buy Sewing Notions
Sewing notions are available at various retailers, both physical and online. Fabric stores, craft stores, specialty sewing, and quilting shops are good places to start.
Online marketplaces such as Amazon or eBay offer a wide range of options.
Be sure to compare prices and read reviews to ensure you’re getting the best quality for your money.
How to Store Sewing Notions
There are numerous ways to store your sewing notions, from sewing baskets and boxes to plastic organisers.
Custom-made sewing cabinets can provide ample space for an extensive collection of notions. Choose the storage method that best suits your room and the size of your collection.
Sewing Notions: The Small Essentials
Understanding what sewing notions are and what you need is a vital step in your sewing journey. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced sewer, having the right notions at your disposal can enhance your creativity and the quality of your projects.
Related Posts
- Best Scissors for Sewing and Quilting 2023
- Best Machine Embroidery Thread for Free Motion Stitching
- What kind of needle should you use for thread painting?
