Notions for sewing, textile art, quilting, and other handcrafts are the extra things you need when making any project. The basics include pins and needles, tapes, zippers, quilt markers, tape measures, and thimbles (amongst many!).
Typically, you’ll find a list of required Notions listed on patterns, especially dressmaking and sewing patterns. So you can see that the term embraces many different products.
On these pages you’ll find lists of recommended basics that every sewing or craft room should have, along with more specialised items, and guides on how to use them.
Recommended Sewing Notions
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Flat head Quilting Pins
Flathead pins are so useful when free motion stitching, allowing your machine to glide around the pin head without snagging. And the long shanks hold your work firmly in position. No sewing room should be without a box of these pins.
Ball head Quilting Pins
This box of 500 ballhead pins should keep you going for a while! The ball head is great if you want a long pin that is easy to grasp and remove as you stitch.
Curved Basting Safety Pins for Quilters
These large, curved safety pins are wonderful for securing the layers of a large bed quilt or art quilt. Keep everything in place as you baste or stitch.
Schmetz Machine Embroidery Needles Size 75/11 Bulk Pack
For the serious machine embroiderer! Thread sketching and thread painting quickly dulls the tip of your needles, so this handy bulk pack of Schmetz Embroidery Needles means you never run out, and saves you money.
Hand Sewing Needles – Sharps
Regardless of the type of sewing or textile art you do, the time will come when you need to do some hand sewing. Having some hand sewing needles on hand is always a good idea! You never know when you’ll need to make a quick repair or replace a button.
Japanese-style Round Pincushion by Rolybag
This little round pincushion is so gorgeous, with its pretty fabric and attractive wooden base.
Wearable Floral Wrist Pincushion by Cushystore
Never lose your pincushion again. This wearable pincushion makes a great gift for anyone who loves sewing.
Clover Natural Fit Leather Thimble
As a textile artist who frequently works with many layers of fabric, I find these leather thimbles more useful than regular thimbles.
Clover Black Fusible Bias Tape for Stained Glass Quilting – 11 yards
When it comes to stained glass quilting, you won’t find anything better than this black fusible tape by Clover.
Pilot FriXion Erasable Marking Pen
There aren’t too many quilters around who haven’t discovered these Pilot FriXion marking pens (even though they weren’t originally designed for use on fabric!). But they don’t last forever, so make sure you always have a supply on hand — or buy a few and give them to friends.
Clover Chaco White Chalk Marker
Clover’s reputation for quality means this marker won’t cause you any problems. Being a chalk marker, it’s easily brushed off your fabric.
Embroidery Hoops – 6 sixes in one pack
There are times when every free motion stitcher or thread sketcher needs an embroidery hoop when working by machine. This pack of 6 different sizes offers a complete selection you can use with your domestic sewing machine.
Tape Measure – Double sided, with both inches and centimeters
Sometimes you just can’t beat a good old-fashioned tape measure! So many uses – so easy to store!
Free Motion Quilting Slider Mat
Personally, I’ve never found a need to use a slider mat, but I know many people who simply couldn’t live without one!
Recommended Reading
- What kind of needle should you use for thread painting?
- What kind of needle should you use for thread painting?
- Rotary cutting skills for fabric collage and quilting.