Though I'm far from a professional seamstress, I've spent the last 10 years sewing costumes, clothes, and home accessories as a hobby. I may not be "Project Runway" material, but I know my way around a store-bought pattern.
Over my years of experience, my sewing setup has evolved from a tiny table in the corner of my teenage bedroom to half of my at-home office. It's not much, but it's mine — and the gear within serves me well. After all this time, I've even amassed a collection of stickers and customizations that spark joy.
If you're looking for how to get your own sewing cave started, here are some of the tools and machines I keep by my side for home projects. Some of them are discontinued, but there are plenty of newer alternatives you can still buy.
The best sewing supplies for beginners:
A computerized sewing machine
Unless you're planning on hand-sewing or embroidering, a trusty sewing machine is a must for at-home garment construction. This Brother XR1355 is only the second machine I've ever owned — and in its nine years by my side, it hasn't failed me yet. It's straightforward and easy to use as a beginner; it even has a huge library of stitches to graduate to once you feel more confident in your skills.
It has since been discontinued, but another great option is the Brother CS7000X, which we consider one of the best sewing machines out there for its pricing ($199). It's a bit simpler than my machine, but it has no shortage of versatile features.
The Brother CS7000X is a beginner-friendly computerized machine that makes it easy to sew at the touch of a button.
A serger for stretchy fabrics and finishing edges
A serger isn't entirely necessary if you're just getting started, but I got one to speed up sewing stretchy fabrics like spandex, and to help increase the durability of clothes that I made.
If you don't know what a serger does, you can see an example of a serged edge on the inside of any T-shirt. A normal sewing machine can't finish edges so cleanly, but something like my Brother 1634D can. If you opt to hold out on buying this pricey machine, fret not: A zig-zag stitch can stretch, and finish your raw edges.
Sewing beginners may not need a serger, but if you're looking to make the jump and upgrade, the Brother 1634D is a dependable option.
Scissors, snips, and shears
Whatever scissors you choose to use for cutting your fabric, I avoid using them on anything else, be it paper, patterns, or Amazon packages. My Ginghers are my prized possession since they cut through fabric like a hot knife through butter — and I can take them to be sharpened.
Alongside those, I keep a handful of cheap Daiso shears, a pair of pinking shears for edge finishing, thread snips (these ones from Singer are my favorite), and some old dull scissors for anything that isn't fabric. I keep them all hanging on an Ikea pegboard, along with some sewing pins, empty bobbins, and measuring tape.
These premium shears make cutting fabric easy. They can even be sharpened after time dulls them.
Any pair of scissors can do the job when it comes to cutting loose ends, but these thread snips from Singer are comfortable to hold, and very sharp.
The Ikea Skadis looks good and gives you storage space on your walls. It's available in different colors too, so you can pick the right one for your decor.
Notions galore
I've worked on a wide enough variety of projects to amass quite a collection of odds and ends, including thread, buttons, zippers, and closures. I only keep my thread on display using this wooden rack from Dritz; the rest gets stored away in my Ikea desk's drawers, easily within reach while sewing.
If you're just getting your sewing stash started, this kit comes with the basics for beginners. It even includes a collection of common thread colors.
A wooden rack like this one can fit thread spools of any brand, without concern for spool size or height. It's a handy way to organize threads, especially when keeping them loose can quickly get messy.
An adjustable dress form
If you're like me and can't quite get the hang of flat drafting patterns, a dress form-fitted to your size is indispensable for draping dresses, tops, and skirts. I got this one used on Craigslist some years back, but you can buy your own Dritz Sew You Adjustable Dress Form from Amazon or Joann.
The Dritz Sew You Adjustable Dress Form is perfect for beginning garment makers. It's sturdy, and like the name says, it's adjustable, meaning you can fit it to your measurements exactly.
Storage for my fabric hoard
Maybe I have a bit too much fabric, but what sewist doesn't? I keep mine folded and organized by color in two three-by-three Ikea Kallax units, stacked and securely bolted to the wall. This is the best method I've found for storing my fabric so far, and I like how it looks in our office. If you find yourself needing to buy some fabric, I like shopping at Joann and Walmart in-person, or Fabric.com if you don't need it straight away.
Medium product card:
Joann is known for being a crafter's hub, and it's a great place to find a wide variety of fabric types and colors. The store also often offers coupons to help take a chunk off your total.
It may not be your first thought for fabric shopping, but Walmart has a decent amount of fabric stocked both online and in-stores. It's often cheaper than buying from craft stores, but its selection is much more limited.
If you don't mind waiting the time it takes to ship, Fabric.com is an excellent retailer to find just about any fabric you could possibly need.
These iconic Ikea cube shelves are handy for storing everything, from books to fabric.
