{"id":191,"date":"2019-04-10T08:52:08","date_gmt":"2019-04-10T08:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/?p=191"},"modified":"2020-09-17T15:12:02","modified_gmt":"2020-09-17T15:12:02","slug":"sewing-for-beginners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/sewing-for-beginners\/","title":{"rendered":"Sewing for Beginners: Where to Start with Your First Sewing Kit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Where to Start Sewing for Beginners <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to sewing for beginners, where to start with your sewing kit can often get overlooked. Needles? Check. Threads? Check. Ready to go? Not just yet! There\u2019s a whole array of other useful things you should have in your beginner\u2019s sewing kit, allowing you to breeze through your first craft or fashion project. To help you get started, I\u2019ve asked the lovely sewing community to share what they feel are absolute essentials for beginners.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sewing Essentials for Beginners <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Seam rippers <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This was the number one answer I received, so this nifty tool is a must sewing for beginners essential. If you\u2019ve made an error in your stitching, simply unpick them away and voila! Start again and forget the whole thing ever happened.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A good pair of fabric scissors <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Designed to cut through all sorts of fabric, fabric scissors are very sharp. You can get fabric scissors with unique blades, ideal for specialist sewing projects. There\u2019s also fabric scissors that have the blades pointed down at an angle so they lie flat on the cutting surface when you use them.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A good pair of embroidery scissors <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You\u2019ll need a decent pair of embroidery scissors to cut your sewing thread or multi-ply embroidery thread. The distinct long pointy tips enable you to snip threads in very tight areas, and still get a clean cut without fray. Embroidery is a very precise form of sewing, so specialist scissors are necessary when there\u2019s tricky to reach ends to clean up.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pinking scissors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pinking scissors have saw-toothed blades instead of straight, allowing you to cut a stylish zig-zagged line, but they also have another more practical purpose. If you\u2019re using cloth with unfinished edges, cutting the fabric will result in a lot of fraying. While pinking scissors can\u2019t prevent fabric from fraying, the zig-zag pattern limits the length of the frayed thread, resulting in a cleaner finish.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tape measure <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A tape measure is a must for all sewers, not just sewing for beginners. Measuring your fabric is one of the most important things you can do to ensure the success of your project. As the old saying goes, \u201cmeasure twice and cut once\u201d. The last thing you want is to produce a beautifully handmade garment, only for it to be too small or too big.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rotary cutter <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A rotary cutter allows you to cut curves more accurately, thanks to the rotating circular blade. You can cut through several layers of fabric at once with your rotary cutters, allowing you to efficiently cut out pieces of the same shape and size. They range from small to large, and can serve different purposes. For instance, small rotary cutters are perfectly suited to cutting out small, intricate curves, while large ones are ideal for quickly cutting straight lines or larger, more broad curves.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dryer sheets \/ Parchment paper<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sewing for beginners might not involve applique right away, but once you\u2019ve got the bug, it won\u2019t be long until you try. Dryer sheets \u2013 that you use in your tumble dryer \u2013 are a nifty little hack for easy applique. You can use regular parchment paper, however it\u2019s thicker and less pliable than dryer sheets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a few pointers to get started with dryer sheet applique: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n