Sewing Machine Accessories for Beginners

Did you just get your first sewing machine? It’s so exciting to bring that shiny piece of equipment home, place it on the cleared-off dining room table, and plug it in. But then you open the manual or look at the accessories box, and suddenly, things feel a little complicated. All those metal bits and plastic bobs can look like alien technology if you haven’t used them before.

Don’t worry, because every expert seamstress started exactly where you are right now. Fortunately, you have this guide to help you! We are going to walk through the only sewing machine accessories that beginners should learn about and use.

A Variety of Presser Feet

The presser foot is the attachment that holds your fabric flat against the feed dogs—those little metal teeth that move the fabric forward—as you stitch. While your machine likely came with a standard all-purpose foot (usually called a zig-zag foot), expanding your collection is the quickest way to upgrade your skills. Moreover, you will find that specific techniques are incredibly frustrating to execute without the correct foot.

For instance, installing a zipper with a standard foot is nearly impossible because the foot is too wide to get close to the zipper teeth. For that, you need the aptly named zipper foot, which allows the needle to stitch right up against the edge of the zipper tape.

Another essential type is the walking foot. Standard machines feed fabric from the bottom, which means the top layer can sometimes drag or shift. A walking foot has its own set of feed dogs on the top, grabbing the fabric and moving it in sync with the bottom layer. This accessory is vital when you are sewing multiple layers, slippery materials, heavy denim, or batting for quilts.

You should also consider adding a buttonhole foot, a blind hem foot, an overcast foot, and a rolled hem foot to your toolkit.

Specific Machine Needles

Many beginners make the mistake of using the same universal needle for every single project until it breaks. However, needles come in various shapes and sizes for a reason. Using the wrong one can damage your fabric or the machine itself.

If you are sewing with knit fabrics like jersey or spandex, a sharp needle will cut the fibers and cause runs. Instead, you need a ballpoint or stretch needle, which pushes the fibers aside rather than piercing them.

Conversely, if you are working with tightly woven fabrics, you need a sharp, strong point. Denim needles are reinforced to penetrate thick layers without bending. Likewise, microtext/sharp needles are incredibly fine for high-thread-count fabrics like silk or microfiber.

Extra Bobbins

It is the universal law of sewing: your bobbin will run out of thread exactly 10 inches before you finish a long seam. The bobbin is the small spool that sits inside the bottom of the machine and provides the lower thread for your lockstitch. Nothing kills your creative flow faster than having to unthread your machine, wind a new bobbin, and re-thread everything just to finish a hem.

Therefore, you should own at least 20 to 30 bobbins. This allows you to always keep bobbins wound with your most-used colors.

Furthermore, different machines require very specific bobbins. They might look similar, but a Class 15 bobbin is different from a Class 66 or a specialized Bernina bobbin. Using the wrong size can cause thread jams (bird’s nests), which is an annoyance you will want to avoid.

Bonus Tips

Check your manual to verify the correct bobbin class for your machine. Also, keep a designated case for your bobbins to organize them by color, fiber type, weight, and brand.

A Straight Stitch Plate

Most modern machines come equipped with a zig-zag throat plate. This metal plate sits under the needle and has a wide oval opening to accommodate the needle moving left and right for zig-zag or decorative stitches. While versatile, this wide opening can be problematic for lightweight fabrics.

When the needle goes down into that large hole, it can push delicate fabric down with it, causing the machine to “eat” the material. A straight stitch plate solves this problem entirely.

This accessory features a single, small, round hole that supports the fabric right up to the needle drop point. This prevents tunneling, puckering, fabric jams, and skipped stitches. Just remember to swap it back to the standard plate before you try to do a zig-zag stitch, or your needle will hit the metal and break!

An Extension Table

Most domestic sewing machines have a “free arm,” which is the narrow sewing surface you see when you remove the accessory storage box. The free arm helps you stitch sleeves and pant legs, but it provides inadequate support for larger projects. If your long or heavy piece of fabric drags off the side of the machine, it pulls the fabric away from the needle, resulting in crooked seams and uneven feeding.

An extension table fits around your machine’s free arm to create a large, flat surface. Many machine manufacturers sell tables specifically designed for their models, but there are also universal options available.

Proper Maintenance Tools

As you sew, your machine’s feed dogs scrape lint off the fabric and thread, which accumulates inside the bobbin case. After a while, this lint turns into a hard, felt-like substance that can throw off your machine’s functionality.

Also, your sewing machine is a collection of many moving parts; as such, even with great maintenance, it’s likely to encounter a few mechanical issues here and there.

Therefore, a basic maintenance kit is a necessary accessory. You will need a small lint brush, a stubby screwdriver for opening the needle plate, sewing machine oil, and long tweezers for grabbing wayward threads.

Build Your Toolkit at Inspired To Sew

Gathering these sewing machine accessories for beginners is the first step toward unlocking the full potential of your machine and your creativity.

If you are looking for a convenient way to buy what you need, consider shopping at Inspired To Sew. We have sewing machine accessories kits and individual items, including presser feet, bobbins, oil, stitch plates, and so much more. Check out our selection of accessories to find the perfect additions to your new hobby!