When you are beginning to sew, you need a few basic tools, in addition to the sewing machine. These are the bare necessities for sewing:
1. Tailor's scissors or scissors for fabric only. Pick one that suits your hand and prize range. If you are left-handed, you should look for left-handed scissors, as it makes cutting a lot easier.
2. Pentecost. They come in different sizes and variations. Pick the ones that appeal to you.
3. Measuring tape. Get a soft one that can measure curves both on the pattern and on your body.
4. Seam rips. Makes it easier to rip your seams when errors occur. It comes in many shapes and sizes.
5. Tailor's chalk or chalk pencil. There are a lot of different ways and tools to mark the fabric, but these are cheap and easy to use.
Other useful tools:
6. Seam gauge. A little ruler with marks for all standard seam allowances. It´s not exactly a must-have, but it is a useful tool. You can also make one yourself, out of cardboard.
7. Paper scissors. You should have an extra pair of scissors to cut everything else than the fabric, like paper or plastic.
8. Tailor's ruler or a long ruler + an angle ruler. When tracing or adjusting patterns, a long ruler and a ruler with a 90 degree angle will be useful. Some find it necessary to use curved rules as well. A tailor's ruler combines all of these, and it is a great tool for both tracing and drafting patterns.
9. Weights. Having something heavy on top of the fabric while cutting makes it easier to keep everything in place. You can use whatever you want, as long as it has some weight and doesn't leave marks on the fabric.
10. Pattern paper. If you want to trace the pattern you bought, instead of cutting into it, you can trace the pattern pieces onto a different paper. You can use all kinds of paper, but a transparent pattern paper or tracing paper is easier to use than non-transparent paper.
11. Pincushion or magnet for keeping your pins.
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Tool
When you start sewing, you need some basic tools, in addition to a sewing machine. These are the absolute most important:
1. Tailor's scissors or fabric scissors. The most important thing is that the scissors are only used for fabric and nothing else. Choose one that fits comfortably in your hand, in a price range that fits your wallet. If you are left-handed, you should buy left-handed scissors. It will make mowing much easier.
2. Button pins. They are available in various sizes and designs. Choose someone who appeals to you.
3. Tape measure. Choose one that is soft to measure curves on the body and on the pattern.
4. Bouncing knife. It makes it easier for you to pop up seams when the accident is over. They are available in many sizes and designs.
5. Tailor's chalk or pencil. There are many different ways to mark the fabric, but it is cheap and easy to use tailor's chalk or pencil.
Other useful tools:
6. Seam gauge/seam ruler. A small ruler with ready measurements for different seam allowances. It is absolutely not a necessity, but very practical. You can also make one yourself out of cardboard.
7. Paper scissors. A separate pair of scissors for cutting everything but fabric. For example paper and plastic.
8. Tailor's ruler or long ruler + angle ruler. When you are going to draw a pattern or make changes to a pattern, it is good to have a long ruler and a ruler with a 90 degree angle. Many people also prefer to use curved rulers for arcs, but it depends on how confident you are in drawing. A tailor's ruler has all these things in one ruler.
9. Weights/weights. When you are going to cut out, it can be nice to put something heavy on top of the fabric to keep it still. You can use anything, as long as it's heavy and doesn't make marks in the fabric.
10. Pattern paper. If you do not want to cut the pattern you have purchased, you can use pattern paper to draw the size you need. You can use anything, but it is an advantage to use a slightly transparent paper that is wide enough. Pattern paper with and without squares is available at most sewing shops.
11. Pin cushion or needle magnet for pins.