For those who are relatively new to sewing, the vast amount of products and tools that are available in stores can be very overwhelming. While seasoned quilters and seamstresses may have no trouble at all navigating through a crowded sewing/fabric store, it is easy to feel lost within a sea of needles, clips, pins, and strange looking tools. As a retailer, you deal with many newbie customers on a daily basis who are looking for guidance when it comes to the types of products they should buy and where to even start. With this in mind, we have narrowed down the eight products that every sewer needs in their kit, whether they are just starting out, or have been at it for years. To make life easier for both you and your customer, feel free to give them this list as a little guide to help streamline their shopping process. Psst. Some of these may seem a bit obvious, but bear with us.

1. A Precise, Razor-Sharp Pair of Scissors

Henckel Left Hand Household Scissors

Dressmaker's Shears 8" Spring Action

Wescott Titanium Non-Stick Bent Scissors - 8"

Ah, scissors. So simple, but so important. There is nothing worse than trying to cut out a pattern with dull, awkward, unreliable scissors. There are a lot of people who underestimate the value of a great pair of scissors and who push through each sewing project with a worn-out or inappropriate pair. To this, we say no, no.  The quality of a sewer's scissors ultimately affects the quality of their finished piece. Jagged, roughly cut lines are nobody's friend so let your customers know the importance of taking the time to invest in several quality pairs. Depending on what one enjoys making, it is nice to have a few different types of scissors on hand i.e. dressmaking shears, general scissors, fabric scissors etc.

2. An Excellent Pin Cushion

Ground Emery Sand 4 oz (Pin Cushion Filling)

Make Pincushions: 12 Darling Projects To Sew

Dresden - Rainbow Flower Pin Cushion

Okay. A pin cushion is not exactly a non-negotiable part of one's sewing kit (some may prefer to keep their pins in little containers or jars as an alternative) but they do make life so much easier by keeping pins and needles organized and easy to access. A bonus: certain pin cushion fillings, like emery sand, actually sharpen and clean pins, helping them last longer. You can steer your customer towards buying one (we have a ton of cute options other than the standard tomato) or making their own using their choice of filling and fabric (it's also a fun and simple project to help get new sewer's feet wet).

3. Thread Conditioner

Thread Magic Round (Hand Sewing Thread Conditioner) - 1 Piece

Thread Magic Cube (Machine Sewing Thread Conditioner) - 2 Pieces

Thread conditioner is not a product that every sewer has on hand, but in our humble opinions, they should. It strengthens thread, prevents tangles, and reduces thread friction, ensuring that one's creations are not only easier to make but that they stay beautiful longer. The reduced amount of tension and drag also means that sewers will experience fewer bouts of hand fatigue. A favorite of ours is Thread Magic. It works 400% better than wax, is acid-free and non-toxic, and even prevents mold, mildew, and UV damage. Seriously. It's one of those products where once people use it, they wonder how they ever lived without it.

4. A Trusty Old Seam Ripper (because we all make mistakes)

Large Ergonomic  Seam Ripper

Tailor Mate - 2 Way Retractable Seam Ripper

Seam Ripper With Threader 

It is a rare (cough, mythical) occasion when one manages to finish an entire sewing project without having to adjust something or fix at least one (or ten) errors. Enter, every sewer's best friend, the seam ripper. It's asking for trouble to not have one on hand and it will give beginners the confidence to go ahead and sew, knowing that their mistakes don't have to be permanent.

5. A Variety Of Different Needles

Schmetz Standard Sharp Point Lockstitch Industrial Sewing Machine Needles (size 16), box of 100 needles

Embroidery and Pearl Sewing/Beading Needles

Hand Sewing Needles, Sharps, No.5, 20 Count

Of course, sewing needles are kind of a no-brainer. Still, trying to decide which types of needles they need can be a bit confusing for new sewers. The truth is that it's always best to have a variety of different types of sewing needles in one's kit, depending on whether one is sewing with a machine or by hand (a lot of projects require one to sew both ways). There is also always the possibility that your customers will want to add embellishments to their work, like embroidery or beading, and they will need separate needles for that. It's always beneficial to have several of each type because it is really easy to lose needles - truthfully, sometimes it seems as if they evaporate into thin air.

6. Quality Marking Tools

Laundry Marking Kit, 6 m Tape/Pen/Stencil

Tailor's Marking Set

QUILTY PENCILS: 10 Pretty Pencils with Sassy Sayings featuring designs by Alex Anderson

No sewing kit would be complete without a few tools to help one mark down details on their projects. They can help a sewer ensure that their seams are pin-straight, that their buttons are perfectly spaced and that every pleat, tuck, and fold is aligned to spectacular perfection. There are a variety of different options out there. Water soluble pens allow one to draw on fabric and then wash the marks out when they are done (there are also air and heat soluble pens which can be removed with air exposure or ironing). Pencils come in a variety of different colours which are great to use with different fabrics or to make different markings on the same piece of fabric. There is also fabric chalk (make sure your new customers do not confuse it with any old chalk) which is very easy to remove when one is finished.

7. A Needle Threader (to make everyone's lives so much easier)

Double Needle Threader

Deluxe Needle Threader

Tooltron Serger Needle Threader

Sure, we can thread our own needles, but where is the fun in that? A needle threader is a convenient little tool that saves time and makes threading needles as easy as pushing a button. Once your customer's have one they'll forget how they ever functioned without it.

8. Measuring Tools (when it comes to sewing, rulers really do rule.)

Anywhere Ruler (General Ruler)

Flexible Design Curve, 46 cm

Prym - Jumbo Tape Measure, Retractable, White, 120 inches/300 cm

It's no secret that measuring and math are a necessary part of sewing. Whether one is shaping a dress to fit their body just right or is designing a quilt using precisely sized squares,  it is imperative to know how to accurately measure the pieces of a pattern without wasting too much fabric. Rulers rule, and no one can ever have too many.

9. Thread (Of course!)