Time to get down to business – what is actually required to be able to sew? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is a lot less complex than you might think.
In the purest form, I believe you only need three tools to be able to sew. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of tools and gadgets that are cool, and definitely nice to have. But if you get the to the core of it, you really only need three things (well, plus fabric, but I’m not counting that as a tool!)
Scissors
You need a good set of scissors to sew. These need to be scissors that are solely dedicated to sewing, and not used for other things. Why? Well, the short answer is that cutting other things will dull your scissors. Sewing can be very precise, and having your scissors be as sharp as possible to maintain that precision is very important. I personally like to have several types of scissors for sewing, but that is up to you. I have a pair specifically for cutting pattern pieces (these are generally made of tissue paper), one pair for cutting threads, and one pair for cutting fabric at a minimum. Overboard? Maybe so, but this is my personal preference. If you are just getting started, then a dedicated sewing pair is a good place to start.
Needles
To sew, you need a way to push the thread through the fabric, and this is accomplished by using needles. You may also see them called sharps. There are many different types and lengths of needles, and it can feel very overwhelming to choose the correct one. If you are just getting started, a general needle is sufficient until you figure out your preferences. You may also see a number on the package. This refers to the size of the needle, and it’s backwards than what you think. A smaller number is a larger needle. For hand sewing, I prefer an 8 or a 9 size, although you may like something different. Try out some different sizes and see what feels best in your hand!
Thread
The thread is what actually connects two pieces of fabric together. While there are exceptions, when sewing you generally want to match your thread to the fabric you have chosen. This helps the thread to essentially “hide” in the fabric and you don’t see the magic of how they go together. Demin generally has visible stitching with contrasting thread, and some things use visible decorative stitching. However, as a general rule, try to find thread that matches (or closely matches) your fabric. This can be tricky if you have multicolored fabric, but you can try to find thread that matches the main color. Take your fabric over to the thread display and hold up various thread spools to it. I am confident you will find one that looks good and mostly disappears.
And this is all you need to start sewing! There is always more, but here is a good start. What are questions you have about these items?