How you can start sewing in 6 easy steps (part 1)
Do you want to start sewing but have no idea where to begin... here's a step-by-step guide to what you need to know!
This newsletter has ended up way too big to send as one part. So, I’ve broken it up into two posts! Please forgive me for the click-bait-y title, but I promise there are 6 steps; they’re just split in two. Today’s newsletter will cover:
The best sewing machine to buy
What tools are necessary vs nice-to-have
How to pick your first project
In part two (coming next weekend), you’ll find out:
Where to buy your supplies
Basic must-know info to get started
My favourite resources to keep learning
Sewing changed my life. This sounds incredibly hyperbolic, but I’m completely serious. Without learning to sew, I wouldn’t have written a thesis about fashion law, gotten my previous job as a climate change consultant at EY, written the Threads of Tomorrow report for Aotearoa’s fashion industry, and most importantly, I would never have started The Weekend Project.
Learning to sew opened my eyes to the harmful aspects of the fashion industry (and this pushed my career trajectory in the direction mentioned above), but it also opened me up to a whole creative world waiting at my fingertips.
I wrote all about how much I love sewing in my very first Substack article. Since then, this little newsletter has grown faster and bigger than my wildest dreams! Since my first post, one of the questions I’m getting asked the most is — how do I start sewing too?
So here are all the things I wish I had known before I started sewing: what tools you need, what fabrics to use, and what projects to start with. All of this is in six easy-peasy lemon-squeezy steps. I taught myself to sew entirely through TikTok, YouTube, and blogs. And I promise that if I can do it, you can too!
Step 1: Get a sewing machine
Wait to buy your machine!
Your first sewing machine doesn’t need to be fancy. I made my very first dress on my Mum’s sewing machine from the 80s. I now know that it very obviously needed some oil, a new needle and a clean. But for my first project, it was a great machine to help me decide if I even liked sewing or not.
There is no point in investing in a sewing machine until you’re sure you’ll sew on it more than once.
If no-one in your life has a sewing machine you can try out, you can always visit your local library. In Wellington, two libraries have sewing machines and overlockers that anyone in the community can use for free. As if I couldn’t love the library any more! Using your library’s sewing machine is a great low-cost way to try out sewing.
You could also enrol in a sewing course at a night school, attend a weekend workshop or see if there are any cool community initiatives like a sewing club. All of these options will give you time to try out sewing and learn some skills before deciding to invest in a sewing machine.
Once you’ve completed your first sewing project, you’ll know if sewing is a hobby for you. A good sewing machine that’s worth your money won’t be cheap, but you shouldn’t buy a machine that will bankrupt you. Investing in a good sewing machine will allow you to grow your skills and will stay with you for years.
TLDR: Borrow a sewing machine for your first project to see if you even like sewing before spending a bunch of money buying your own machine! When you buy, invest in a machine that will be with you for years.
What sewing machine should I buy?
Now you’re at the point where you like sewing enough to invest in your own sewing machine. But what machine should you buy??
There are a number of reputable brands out there like Brother, Pfaff, Janome, Singer, Juki etc. but the main things you should be looking for are:
What types of stitches can the machine do?
How well does it deal with different fabrics?
Will it continue serving you as your skills increase?
What types of stitches can the machine do?
Every domestic sewing machine will have a straight stitch function (where you just sew in a straight line). But that won’t get you very far as soon as you want to try adding a buttonhole or finishing* a seam with a zig zag.
So in your machine, you want to have at least a straight stitch, zig zag and a buttonhole stitch. You also absolutely need the ability to adjust your stitch length and width. This is essential for gathering and also for troubleshooting when your fabric/thread is being finicky. Other stitches (like a blind hem stitch) are sometimes useful but not essential.
If you’re more into quilting or want to include lots of decorative stitches in your sewing, you should look for a machine that has those stitch capabilities.
I’m currently using a Pfaff Performance Icon, which has 522 stitch options. However, 99% of the time I still only use a straight stitch, zig zag and buttonhole. So, the moral of the story — you don’t need to go super fancy to get the job done.
*Finishing a seam means securing the raw edges of the fabric to prevent fraying and make the inside of a garment more durable and neat.
How well does it deal with different fabrics?
I would avoid a super cheap sewing machine that barely weighs anything, mainly because as soon as one of those sewing machines has to sew with fabric thicker than a sheet of paper, it loses its mind.
You want a sturdy machine with a reliable motor that can handle heavier fabrics and more complex projects without frustration.
Will it continue serving you as your skills increase?
As you grow your sewing skills, you’ll probably want to make different and more difficult things. To do that, you’ll need a sewing machine that can keep up with you! Look for one that offers a variety of stitches, adjustable settings and compatibility with different presser feet** — these are the features that will give you the flexibility to tackle new techniques.
The right machine should grow with you, making sewing easier and more enjoyable rather than holding you back.
Additional note: you absolutely need a machine with an automatic bobbin winder! The bobbin is the bottom thread in a sewing machine, and you don’t want to be winding your thread around the bobbin by hand.
**Presser feet are interchangeable attachments on a sewing machine that hold fabric in place, with different types designed for tasks like zippers, buttonholes or hemming.
Seriously though, what machine should I buy??
If you’re looking for a sewing machine that’s budget and beginner-friendly, here are the two I’d suggest:
Brother Innovis A-16 — This was my first sewing machine. It’s a solid beginner machine with some handy features like an automatic threader, the ability to add a double needle, automatic buttonhole stitch and lots of decorative stitches. It also comes with a variety of presser feet and you can super easily buy more! I’d definitely recommend investing in an invisible zipper foot! This machine does struggle with very thick materials, so if you’re planning to sew lots with heavy canvas or leather, then you should look at the Singer Heavy Duty machines.
Singer 4423 (Heavy Duty) — This machine is a top choice for beginners due to its reliability, versatility and ability to handle a wide range of fabrics, from lightweight silk to heavy denim. It also has an automatic buttonhole feature, an automatic threader and a range of stitch options, which is perfect if you’re planning to sew frequently and grow your skills.
Step 2: Collect your tools
Essential
Here’s what you need to get started. You could try sewing without these tools, but it would make your life infinitely more difficult…
Sewing scissors – A good pair of fabric scissors makes all the difference! You can start with an affordable pair, but upgrading (like I did with my LDH scissors) is totally worth it. Just never use them on paper!
Small scissors (snips) – Perfect for trimming loose threads and making small, precise cuts.
Tailor’s chalk or washable fabric pens – Essential for marking fabric without leaving permanent marks.
Seam ripper – Because mistakes will happen, and unpicking stitches is much easier with the right tool.
Tape measure – A must for measuring your body and fabric.
Straight pins and/or fabric clips – Pins are great for most fabrics, but clips work better for thick fabrics or delicate materials that might show pin marks. I prefer clips!
Pin cushion or magnetic holder – Keeps your pins handy and prevents them from ending up all over the floor. You can DIY a magnetic holder super easily by gluing a magnet to the bottom of a cute ceramic dish.
Hand sewing needles – Useful for finishing details, basting, or sewing on buttons.
Different sewing machine needles – Sewing machine needles come in different sizes and types. Read ‘Step 3’ for more info about what sewing machine needle to use.
Thread – I love Gutermann thread for its quality. Match your thread to your fabric color by bringing a small fabric swatch when shopping.
Iron & ironing board – Pressing seams is the secret to making your sewing look polished and professional. This is an absolute must have tool!
Nice-to-have
I love a fun little sewing tool. Sure, these aren’t necessary, but they do make my life better! So here is my list of nice-to-have but definitely not essential sewing tools:
Bobbins – Always good to have extras on hand because you’ll inevitably run out of empty ones and spend 30 minutes unwinding your bobbin thread.
Presser feet: Your sewing machine will come with some presser feet, but optional additions I’d recommend are an invisible zipper foot (I would argue this is essential if you ever want to insert an invisible zipper) and a walking foot (for thick/sticky fabrics).
Pinking shears – Not essential, but a great way to finish seams if you don’t have an overlocker.
Magnetic seam guide – Attaches to your sewing machine and helps keep seams straight.
Bias tape maker – Great for making your own bias tape.
Iron-safe ruler – A ruler you can press over with an iron, handy for measuring and pressing hems at the same time.
Rotary cutter & cutting mat – Makes cutting fabric so much easier, but if you’re tight on space, scissors will work fine.
Projector – I use an Epson ultra short throw projector to project patterns directly onto fabric—no printing needed! Definitely not necessary for beginners but a total game-changer.
Overlocker (serger) – Speeds up finishing seams, but you can achieve similar results with a zigzag stitch or other finishing techniques.
Electric scissors – On my wishlist! Imagine how fast cutting fabric would be!
Tailor’s ham & sleeve ham – Helps with pressing curves and shaping garments. You can even DIY one using fabric scraps!
Step 3: Pick your first project
The best clothes to make are ones you’ll actually wear. There’s no point sewing a pattern you don’t like just because it’s for beginners. There is no right or wrong place to start!!
My first project was the Wilder Gown from Friday Pattern Company. It was a great first project because it had clear instructions, barely any notions (read on for what that means) and a video sew-along tutorial!
Free beginner sewing tutorials and projects are all over YouTube. For more masculine/gender neutral projects, I’d recommend Glory Allan’s bucket hat and cargo pants tutorials or Cornelius Quiring.
What fabric should I use?
An essential part of picking your first project is your fabric choice. Beginners should stick with cotton and linen.
Cotton and linen are stable, easy to cut and don’t stretch or slip while you sew, making them much more forgiving than tricky materials like silk or knits.
At all costs, avoid what I did. For my second project, I was overly confident and chose to sew with a satin that was not only the most irritatingly slippery fabric to sew with but also melted under my iron because it was 100% polyester. Cotton and linen, on the other hand, are very forgiving and easy to work with, which will help build your confidence while you learn.
Choose the right needle and pre-wash your fabric!!
Two incredibly important things to know before you start sewing:
Always sew with the correct needle for your fabric; and
Pre-wash your fabric before cutting into it.
You might be asking — there are different types of needles and why does this even matter? The short answers are yes and because otherwise your sewing experience will suck. The long answer is that different fabrics need different needles to sew smoothly and avoid breaking or puckering the fabric.
Needles come in different sizes and types—like ballpoint needles for knits, sharp needles for lightweight wovens, and heavy-duty needles for denim. Using the wrong needle can lead to skipped stitches, puckering, or even broken needles, which can turn a fun project into a frustrating mess.
As for pre-washing, most fabrics shrink or change texture after their first wash. So washing beforehand means your finished garment will fit and look like you planned — not suddenly too small or warped after its first trip through the laundry. I usually pre-wash my fabrics on a short cycle and on their own just in case there’s colour transfer.
But make sure you’re following your washing machine’s instructions for the type of fabric you’re pre-washing! I’d hate for you to accidentally ruin your beautiful new fabric before you even start sewing.
Does my project need notions?
Notions are the small but essential extras that you need to finish a sewing project. This includes things like zippers, buttons, thread, elastic, interfacing and bias tape.
Notions can also include functional details like snaps and hooks or decorative touches like ribbons and lace. They’re often listed separately from fabric requirements because they vary depending on the design and construction of a project.
To find out what notions your sewing project needs, start by checking the pattern instructions. Most sewing patterns include a section that lists required notions, usually near the fabric recommendations. This will tell you exactly what extras are needed, from the type and length of a zipper to the amount of elastic or interfacing required. If you're working without a pattern, consider the project’s structure and closures — do you need buttons for fastening, elastic for stretch or interfacing for stability?
Reading through the instructions before starting will help ensure you have all of your notions available so you’re not stuck mid-project without a crucial piece.
Have fun with it!
Sewing your first project should be fun, not stressful!
It’s easy to get caught up in making everything perfect, but mistakes are just part of the learning process (and that’s what seam rippers are for!).
Take breaks when you need to, celebrate small wins (like sewing a straight seam) and enjoy the process of creating something with your own hands. The more you sew, the easier it gets, so don’t overthink it — just have fun and enjoy learning a new skill!
Thanks for reading part one of my comprehensive ‘how to start sewing’ guide! In part two, I’ll be covering:
Where to buy your supplies like fabric, interfacing, buttons etc.
What info you absolutely need to know about sewing before you start.
Plus, a curated list of my favourite resources to keep learning!
If you’re a beginner, please comment with all of your burning ‘how do I start sewing’ questions and I’ll do my best to help.
And to the experienced sewists reading this, I’d love to hear your beginner sewing tips because I’m sure I’ve missed some!
See you in part two <3
Another difference between cheap sewing machines and those that cost a bit more: a cheap machine has all of the “machine bits” on a plastic housing. Knock the machine over or drop it awkwardly and the housing with bend causing a misalignment that can’t be fixed. These are throw away machines. A waste of money and damage to the environment
I sew with my trusty Bernina that I have had for 44 years. Expensive at the time but worth the joy it has given me.