Best Beginner Sewing Kit: High-Quality Tools You'll Actually Use

I once bought a box of glass-head pins from a big-box store—100 pins for $8.49! What a deal, I thought. But when I opened the box, several pins were bent at nearly a 90-degree angle. They were so flimsy I didn’t even try using them. I returned them the next day and spent a little more on pins from a brand I knew I could trust.

That experience stuck with me. Why are beginner sewists expected to settle for low-quality tools? When did price become the only measure of a “good deal?” We weren’t wealthy growing up, but my mom believed in buying the best you could afford, and buying it once. I’ve come to appreciate that wisdom—especially when it comes to the tools I use with my hands and keep close for years.

If you're just starting out with sewing, mending, or hand-stitching, I want to share a handful of tools I think are worth investing in from the beginning—tools that are beginner-friendly, high-quality, and thoughtfully made. Each of the items I mention below is also available as part of our Osan Kit, a bundled set designed to grow with you over time.

1. BOHIN Sharps Needles 

Let's start with the basics: an all-purpose sewing needle, aka sharps. Sharps are the go-to needle for most hand-sewing, from hemming and repairs to general stitching. These sharps by BOHIN are the last hand-sewing needles still made in France. Each one takes 27 manufacturing steps and two months to produce — and you can feel the difference. They're smooth, sharp, and reliable. These sharps are some of the best all-purpose needles you'll find.

👉 Find them in the Osan Kit

2. LDH Classic Thread Snips

You could use your giant sewing scissors to trim thread, but once you've tried snips, you will never go back. Thread snips offer the kind of control and precision that big scissors can't, making them an essential part of any sewing kit. In addition to cutting thread, they're perfect for trimming seam allowances, clipping curves, and making clean cuts in tight spaces. These LDH snips are sharp, compact, and comfortable to use. The classic finger loop rests comfortably in your hand, ready whenever you need them. They’re the kind of tool you’ll reach for constantly—and won’t want to put down.

👉 Included in the Osan Kit

3. Tulip Glass-Head Pins

Every hand-sewing project starts with fabric, and pins are how you keep that fabric in place. Good pins glide through fabric smoothly and stay straight, project after project. These pins, made in Hiroshima using traditional techniques, are a joy to use. Their fine, polished shafts won’t snag fabric, and the heat-resistant glass heads are easy to see and safe to iron over. Beautiful, yes—but also dependable and precise. Big-box-store pins, these are not. 

👉 Find them in the Osan Kit

4. Studio Carta Measuring Tape

A good measuring tape is essential—especially for any kind of curved or body measurement where a ruler won’t do. We chose this one by Studio Carta. Made in Italy and used for decades by tailors, this tape has a soft texture and clear markings (both imperial and metric!). I love how substantial they feel in the hand, and the classic yellow color makes the tape easy to spot. A humble but vital tool you’ll reach for again and again.

👉 Included in the Osan Kit

5. Gütermann Black & White Thread

Thread might seem like an afterthought, but the quality of your thread matters. Low-quality thread can break mid-stitch or tangle easily. Threads also come in different fibers and weights. There's a thread for every kind of sewing project, whether it's a heavy duty sail or a silk dress. This all-purpose polyester thread by Gutermann is strong, smooth, and reliable for general sewing purposes. It's great for things from hemming and mending to garment-making. Black and white may sound basic, but these two colors are versatile enough to handle most projects when you're just starting out. 

👉 Included in the Osan Kit

6. A Few Quiet Essentials That Make Everything Smoother

Here are a few extras I always keep close by—they don't get the spotlight, but they make sewing easier and more enjoyable. They're also included in the Osan Kit.

• Beeswax: Run your thread through it before stitching to strengthen thread and to reduce tangles 
  
  
• Bow Needle Threader: Save your eyes! A threader is essential for threading fine needles.  
  
  
• Safety Pins & Buttons: Because something always needs pinning, and buttons do go missing.

Thank you for reading. I know these tools can get you started in hand-sewing. I hope you find them a joy to use, time after time. 

Let me know if you have any questions or want help picking your first tool. Our email address is info@osanla.com.

– Sarah