7 top sewing tools and notions

So let's start by saying that the true top sewing tools you need to start sewing are a needle, thread, scissors and a seam ripper (and fabric, of course). That's it - simple and basic.

But.

There are so many notions and gadgets out there these days, many of them inexpensive, that make sewing easier and just more fun. I thought I'd round up a few of my tried-and-true favorites into this list of top sewing tools. All are easy to find and inexpensive. If I've left out some of your top must-have sewing tools, please comment below! Maybe we can all find a new gizmo to try out.

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1.

Dritz glass-head pins (affiliate link). I had never seen these pins before they were given to me by our sewing fairy godmother. Now they are hands-down my top favorite pins.


2.

Slide ruler seam gauge.  I had no idea I needed this until my sewing fairy godmother gave me one. Now I use it every time I have to fold a hem, as well as whenever I need to measure something while sewing.  It's definitely one of my top sewing tools. The one I have doesn't appear to be made anymore, but this one (affiliate link) is very similar.


3.

Sew Keys E (affiliate link). This is a stretchy fusible hem tape I bought a roll of this stuff four or five years ago, when I first read about it on someone else's blog, and I still have easily half the roll left. I use it to stabilize my knit shoulder seams and occasionally on a knit hem, if the fabric is proving particularly difficult. It also comes in natural and black.


4.

Wash-Away Wonder Tape (affiliate link). This is basically a water-soluble double-sided sticky tape. It's great for holding down seam allowances without pins in fiddly-to-sew areas. I've also used it when my machine is being a PITA about sewing knits without skipping stitches - the extra stabilization makes the fabric easier to sew, but dissolves in the first wash so it doesn't affect drape. One of my top sewing tools for sure.


5.

Fray Check (affiliate link).  Does anyone remember painting the runs in their pantyhose with clear nail polish?  This does the same thing.  It is great for stopping fraying fabric on buttonholes or reinforcing a corner that was pushed out a little too far.  It has saved more than one project where I've snipped a tiny hole and needed to close it up. And it lasts forever - I've been using the same bottle for something like five years now.  I don't need it for every project, but it's the sort of thing you're happy to have on hand when it is needed.


6.

Sleeve board (affiliate link). I didn't realize what this was when I picked it up on impulse at the grocery store in Moscow seven years ago. I thought, oh, that's a cute mini ironing board that I can use for sewing when I don't want to open up the big one. But what this is actually for, is for pressing sleeve seams.  It's also great for pressing armscye seams, particularly on kids' garments which aren't always large enough to get around the pointy end of my full-size ironing board.  This one is very similar to mine, which folds up flat for storage. I use this handy sewing tool on almost every single project.


7.

Bias tape makers. When a pattern calls for making bias strips, folding the long edges together and pressing, I think you have two choices. You can burn your fingers, or you can pull out your bias tape maker and make bias tape the non-burning way.

Sometimes I get in these moods where I love to make bias tape out of scraps. There is something so relaxing about moving these little gadgets down your strip of fabric, pressing with the iron and watching perfect lengths of bias tape come out the other end. Homemade bias tape made of lovely natural fabrics is so much nicer to sew with than the packaged stuff at Joann's, too. This is definitely one of the top sewing tools I have ever bought.

Do you have any favorite sewing tools or notions you can't live without? I'd love to know!