Whether you run a clothing business or a fabric craft business, good sewing supplies will be incredibly beneficial for you. However, finding the right sewing supplies for your needs can often be challenging, or figuring out what other supplies you need as demand for your products increases. To help your sewing business grow, we’ve put together a guide to help you find the best sewing supplies to add to your sewing room.
The Sewing Market
With more and more people interested in handmade goods, there is a real demand for high-quality sewn products. Many people have taken a one-off sewing project to build their skills and start a business around it.
The sewing market is seeing stable growth across different types of sewing category options such as embroidery, quilting, and handmade clothing. There is definitely demand for sewing, whether it’s decor or functional products.
READ MORE: Where to Sell Wholesale Craft Supplies
Top Places to Buy Sewing Supplies Online
There are many types of stores where you can purchase sewing supplies, depending on what you’re looking for there. You can start your search in many places, such as a dedicated notions shop, a popular brand shop for supplies, or an all-purpose craft store.
1. Amazon
If you’re looking for a variety of supplies for sewing, as well as functional items such as packaging materials, Amazon is a one-stop shop. You can pick up a wide array of items and have them delivered quickly so you can carry out sewing projects quickly.
2. Etsy
Etsy is another one-stop shop when it comes to sewing supplies specifically. You can find tons of material for craft items such as embroidery, quilting, jewelry, and more to create unique sewn products. You can also find sewing patterns and other useful things to make the design process more manageable.
3. Joann
Joann has long been a staple in the fabric and craft community for its bulk options and excellent product selection. You can find all manner of sewing supplies at Joann, including yarn, beads, fabric, zippers, pins, and more, to create crafts at a competitive price.
4. Michaels
Michaels has been another staple in the craft world since it offers both art supplies and sewing supplies. You can shop at Michaels for yarn and needlework, fabric, thread, and other items from leading brands.
5. Loralie Designs
Loralie Designs is an option if you’re seeking specific sewing items, such as fabrics from leading designers, quilting supplies, and other creative tools. While it doesn’t necessarily have functional items such as bobbins or pins, it can be a great way to find interesting fabrics and supplies for your products.
READ MORE: Best Commercial and Industrial Sewing Machines
Essential Sewing Supply
If you’re launching your own sewing business, it’s crucial to stock up on essential items that you’ll use regularly, making it wise to invest in purchasing them. Some of the key supplies you’ll need for your sewing business include:
Cotton Fabric
Cotton is a soft and breathable natural fiber derived from the cotton plant. It’s widely used due to its comfort and versatility. It’s highly absorbent and can be dyed easily. Cotton fabric is available in a variety of weights, from lightweight voile to heavy canvas, making it suitable for a diverse range of projects from summer dresses to tote bags.
Linen Fabric
Linen is made from the fibers of the flax plant and is known for its strength and durability. It’s a breathable fabric and has a natural luster. Linen wrinkles easily, which gives it a distinct, casual look. It’s often used for summer clothing, tablecloths, and bed linens.
Silk Fabric
Silk is a natural protein fiber created by silkworms, renowned for its softness, sheen, and luxurious texture. This lightweight material drapes elegantly and has a distinctive, lustrous shine. Silk is versatile and can be utilized for making blouses, dresses, scarves, and even linings.
Wool Fabric
Wool is derived from the fleece of sheep and certain other animals. It’s renowned for its warmth and insulation properties. Wool can hold a significant amount of moisture without feeling wet. It’s also naturally flame-resistant. Wool is often used for sweaters, suits, coats, and blankets.
Polyester Fabric
Polyester is a synthetic fabric known for its durability and wrinkle-resistance. It retains shape and dries quickly. Often blended with other fabrics to lend these properties, it’s used in clothing, upholstery, and numerous home textiles.
Rayon Fabric
Rayon, commonly known as ‘artificial silk’, is a synthetic fabric made from wood pulp. It is soft, absorbent, and has a lovely drape. Rayon is frequently used in dresses, blouses, and linings, offering comfort against the skin, although it is prone to wrinkling.
Denim
DenimDenim is a sturdy cotton twill fabric, best known for its use in jeans. Denim is durable and wears well over time. Its color, especially in indigo denim, fades in a unique way with wear, creating a personalized look.
Velvet
Velvet is a woven, tufted fabric with a short dense pile, giving it its plush feel. Known for its softness and shiny appearance, velvet is often used for evening wear, jackets, and home decor like curtains and upholstery.
Chiffon
Chiffon is a lightweight, sheer fabric often made from silk, polyester, or rayon. With its delicate and soft drape, chiffon is perfect for evening gowns, blouses, and scarves. It can be tricky to sew because of its slippery nature.
Tweed
Tweed is a rough, woven woolen fabric known for its warmth. Often featuring multi-colored flecks, tweed is commonly used for jackets, blazers, and winter skirts. It’s especially associated with traditional British country clothing.
FabricSourceKey FeaturesCommon Uses
CottonCotton plantSoft, breathable, absorbent, dye-friendly, available in varied weightsSummer dresses, tote bags, shirts
LinenFlax plantStrong, breathable, natural luster, wrinkles easilySummer clothing, tablecloths, bed linens
SilkSilkwormsSoft, shiny, luxurious, lightweight, drapes wellBlouses, dresses, scarves, linings
WoolFleece of sheep/other animalsWarm, insulating, moisture-retaining, flame-resistantSweaters, suits, coats, blankets
PolyesterSyntheticDurable, wrinkle-resistant, retains shape, dries quicklyClothing, upholstery, home textiles
RayonWood pulpSoft, absorbent, good drape, can wrinkle easilyDresses, blouses, linings
DenimCottonSturdy, durable, unique fadingJeans, jackets
VelvetVarious (silk, cotton, synthetics)Woven, tufted, plush feel, shinyEvening wear, jackets, curtains, upholstery
ChiffonSilk, polyester, rayonLightweight, sheer, soft drape, can be slipperyEvening gowns, blouses, scarves
TweedWoolRough, warm, multi-colored flecksJackets, blazers, winter skirts
Pins and Pincushion
Pins are small, sharp objects made of metal, often with a plastic or glass head. They’re used to temporarily hold fabric pieces together before sewing. The pincushion provides a safe and convenient storage place for pins.
Needles
Needles are slender pieces of metal with a pointed end and an eye at the other. They’re used for hand sewing, embroidery, and attaching buttons. Various sizes and types of needles are available for different fabrics and purposes.
Thread
Thread is a long, thin strand of cotton, nylon, or other materials used in sewing. It’s used to stitch fabric pieces together. Threads come in various colors and thicknesses to match different fabrics and purposes.
Thimble
A thimble is a small protective shield, often made of metal or rubber, worn on the fingertip. It helps push needles through thick fabrics and protects the finger from getting pricked.
Elastic
A stretchy material that can return to its original shape after being stretched, elastic is commonly used in waistbands, cuffs, or any garment section that requires flexibility and fit.
Interfacing
A material, often used to add stiffness, interfacing is applied to areas like collars, cuffs, and waistbands to give them structure and support.
Buttons
Buttons are a popular type of fastener for clothing and accessories. They are generally sewn onto garments through small holes, and they require a buttonhole at the point that needs to be attached.
Snaps
Snaps are another popular fastener. They require attaching two separate pieces to different sides of the garment, and are closed as the two sides are pressed together.
Zippers
ZippersZippers are sewn into seams to provide another form of fastener. They’re popular on pants, skirts, and bags.
Notion/AccessoryDescriptionPrimary Use
Pins and PincushionSmall metal objects, often with a plastic or glass head. Pincushion provides storage.Temporarily hold fabric pieces together. Storage for pins.
NeedlesSlender metal pieces with a pointed end and an eye. Varieties available for different tasks.Hand sewing, embroidery, attaching buttons.
ThreadLong, thin strand made of various materials. Available in multiple colors and thicknesses.Stitching fabric pieces together.
ThimbleProtective shield for the fingertip, made of metal or rubber.Push needles through thick fabric; protect fingers.
ElasticStretchy material returning to original shape after stretching.Provide flexibility and fit in waistbands, cuffs, etc.
InterfacingMaterial to add stiffness.Add structure and support to collars, cuffs, waistbands, etc.
ButtonsFasteners sewn onto garments through small holes.Secure parts of garments together. Requires buttonholes for attachment.
SnapsTwo-piece fasteners that close as pressed together.Secure parts of garments or accessories. Easier to use than buttons for some items.
ZippersFasteners sewn into seams.Popular in pants, skirts, bags, etc.
READ MORE: 16 Craft Supply Storage Ideas
Sewing Tools for Business
As part of sewing supplies, you might also need some sewing accessories to complement what you already have
Sewing Machine
A heavy-duty, high-quality sewing machine will be instrumental in helping you work faster and quicker. Many top brands like Singer and Brother offer sewing machines at various price points. Smaller ones may be better if you don’t have much space, but if you want to increase your products, large sewing machines may be the better option.
Bobbins
Small spools that hold the bottom thread in a sewing machine, bobbins feed the thread to create a stitch from the underside of the fabric. It’s essential to have bobbins specific to your machine and to fill them with the thread color of your choice.
Scissors and Shears
These are cutting tools specifically designed for fabrics. While scissors are generally smaller and used for detail work, shears are larger and used for cutting out fabric pieces.
Rotary Cutter and Mat
A rotary cutter looks like a pizza cutter, and it is used alongside a self-healing mat. It allows for precise cuts, especially helpful for quilters or when needing straight lines. The mat protects your table and extends the life of the rotary blade.
Seam Ripper
A seam ripper is a small tool with a pointed and hooked end. It’s used to remove stitches without damaging the fabric, which is especially helpful when correcting mistakes.
Tape Measure
A flexible measuring tool, a tape measure is essential for taking body measurements and ensuring accuracy when cutting fabric pieces.
Marking Tools
Tools like chalk and marking pencils are used to mark fabric. They help transfer pattern markings, darts, or seam lines onto fabric. It’s crucial to use a type that can be easily removed without staining.
Seam Gauge
A seam gauge is a small metal or plastic ruler with a sliding marker. It’s used for measuring and marking hems, seam allowances, or any other small measurements.
Tailor’s Ham
A tailor’s ham is a rounded cushion that is firmly stuffed and typically covered with wool and cotton. It is essential for pressing curved areas such as darts, sleeves, or collars, helping them achieve a natural shape.
Pattern Weights
Pattern weights are small, heavy items used to hold down patterns. They keep patterns in place on fabric, eliminating the need for pinning. They’re especially useful for delicate fabrics where pins might leave marks.
Bodkin
A bodkin is a tool resembling a large, blunt needle. It’s used for threading elastics, cords, or ribbons through casings, like in waistbands or drawstring bags.
Point Turner
A point turnerpoint turner is a small, flat tool typically crafted from bamboo, plastic, or bone. It is specifically designed to assist in turning points or corners right-side out, resulting in a sharp edge, which is particularly useful for items like collars or cuffs. You can find more about it in this link.
Serger or Overlock Machine
A serger or overlock machine is a specialized sewing machine that stitches, trims, and finishes seams all in one step. It provides a professional finish to seams and prevents fraying, especially useful for knit fabrics.
Dress Form
A dress form is a mannequin-like tool that dressmakers use. It is particularly helpful for fitting garments such as dresses, blouses, and jackets, allowing them to assess how the fabric drapes and fits on the body.
Loop Turner
A loop turner is a long tool with a latch hook on the end. It’s designed to help turn fabric tubes right-side out, such as spaghetti straps or button loops.
Fray Check
A liquid solution that prevents fabric edges from fraying, fray check is often applied to raw edges or the ends of ribbons, especially if they won’t be enclosed in seams.
Tweezers
Tweezers are a small tool used for picking up and handling small objects. In sewing, they can help in threading sergers or removing stray threads.
Sewing ToolDescriptionPrimary Use
Sewing MachineHeavy-duty machine from various brands. Available in different sizes.Essential for most sewing tasks; different models cater to various needs and space constraints.
BobbinsSmall spools for the bottom thread.Hold and feed thread for underside stitching in sewing machines.
Scissors and ShearsCutting tools for fabrics. Scissors are smaller; shears are larger.Scissors for detail work; shears for cutting out fabric pieces.
Rotary Cutter and MatCutter resembling a pizza cutter, used with a self-healing mat.Precise cutting of fabrics; the mat protects surfaces and prolongs blade life.
Seam RipperTool with pointed and hooked end.Removing stitches without fabric damage.
Tape MeasureFlexible measuring tool.Taking body measurements and ensuring accurate fabric cuts.
Marking ToolsInclude chalk and marking pencils.Transferring pattern markings, darts, or seam lines to fabric.
Seam GaugeSmall ruler with sliding marker.Measuring and marking small measurements like hems and seam allowances.
Tailor’s HamRounded cushion covered with wool and cotton.Pressing curved fabric areas for a natural shape.
Pattern WeightsSmall heavy items.Holding patterns in place on fabric without pins.
BodkinTool resembling a large blunt needle.Threading elastics or cords through casings.
Point TurnerFlat tool from bamboo, plastic, or bone.Turning points or corners for crisp edges.
Serger/Overlock MachineSpecialized sewing machine.Stitches, trims, and finishes seams in one step. Prevents fraying.
Dress FormMannequin tool for dressmakers.Fitting garments to see drape and fit on the body.
Loop TurnerLong tool with a latch hook.Turning fabric tubes right-side out.
Fray CheckLiquid solution.Prevents fabric edges from fraying.
TweezersSmall tool for picking up small items.Threading sergers, removing stray threads.
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Where Is the Best Place to Buy Wholesale Sewing Supplies?
Many businesses offer great prices and exclusive promotions for sewing supplies. The place to buy wholesale sewing supplies is a dedicated sewing store such as Joann. They have a wide variety of brands and may offer options to ship to you to help you save money on bulk purchases.
What Are the Most Important Sewing Supplies for Business?
Many supplies are essential for sewing businesses, but the most important one is fabric. Good fabric can turn a good product into great and really creates the look and feel of the product, especially with the design and weight of the material. Here’s a list of some more important sewing supplies:
Fabric
Significance: The foundation of any sewing project, the fabric dictates the aesthetics, texture, and durability of a product. For a business, sourcing high-quality fabrics that align with the brand’s image is crucial. The right choice can elevate a product from average to premium.
Considerations: Different projects require different types of fabric. While a lightweight chiffon might be ideal for elegant blouses, a sturdy denim would be more appropriate for jeans or jackets. Thus, understanding the design and weight of the material is essential.
Sewing Machine
Significance: A robust, reliable sewing machine is the workhorse of any sewing business. Its performance can drastically impact production speed and product quality.
Considerations: Depending on the business’s scale and product range, multiple machines or specialized machines (like embroidery machines or sergers) might be necessary.
Cutting Tools (Scissors, Shears, and Rotary Cutters)
Significance: Accurate cutting is essential for ensuring that the product components fit together correctly. This precision has a direct effect on the final product’s appearance and quality.
Considerations: Sharp, high-quality cutting tools reduce the risk of fraying and ensure smooth edges. Rotary cutters can be especially useful for bulk cutting or ensuring straight lines.
Quality Threads
Significance: Threads hold everything together. Their strength and color consistency can influence the durability and appearance of the product.
Considerations: It’s essential to have a range of thread colors and types (e.g., cotton, polyester) to match different fabrics and projects.
Measuring Tools (Tape Measure, Rulers, Seam Gauge)
Significance: Accurate measurements are the backbone of a well-fitted product. They ensure consistency, especially when producing multiple units of the same product.
Considerations: It’s beneficial to have a variety of measuring tools on hand for different tasks – a tape measure for body measurements, rulers for straight edges, and a seam gauge for small measurements.
Patterns and Drafting Tools
Significance: Patterns serve as the blueprint for each product. Drafting tools help modify or create patterns to ensure a unique and consistent product.
Considerations: Depending on the business model, investing in software for digital pattern drafting might be worthwhile.
Iron and Pressing Tools
Significance: Proper pressing enhances the finished appearance of the product by setting seams and adding structure to the garment.
Considerations: A good quality iron with steam capabilities and various pressing tools like tailor’s ham or pressing cloths can make a significant difference.
In summary, although fabric is undeniably a fundamental element of a sewing business, using a combination of high-quality tools and sewing supplies is essential for achieving efficiency, consistency, and the creation of premium products. Making thoughtful investments in these tools can pave the way for a sewing business’s success.
What Is the Most Popular Brand for Sewing Machines?
The most popular brand for sewing machines is Singer, as it is a high-end brand with good quality.
What Are the Types of Sewing Notions?
Notions are small objects and accessories used in sewing. Notions include buttons, snaps, needles, thread, elastic, measuring tape, and marking pens.
Image: Envato Elements
This article, “5 Places to Get Sewing Supplies for Your Business” was first published on Small Business Trends