# Embroidery Machine Supplies List: What to Buy First

> A beginner embroidery machine supplies list sorted into essentials, nice-to-haves and skip-for-now items, with the reason for each and what to check before…

- Source: https://embroiderywise.com/posts/embroidery-supplies-checklist/
- Markdown version: https://embroiderywise.com/posts/embroidery-supplies-checklist.md
- Last updated: 2026-10-07

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- Embroidery machine supplies list: what to buy first

 Buying advice
# Embroidery machine supplies list: what to buy first
  Updated October 7, 2026 By [EmbroideryWise Editorial Team](https://embroiderywise.com/about/) [How we research](https://embroiderywise.com/how-we-research/)

Prices are approximate and change often, so check the current price before you buy.

## Key takeaways

- Essentials: cut-away, tear-away, 40 wt thread set, bobbin thread, 75/11 needles, curved scissors, marking pen, USB drive.
- Nice-to-have: no-show mesh, wash-away topping, adhesive stabilizer, spray adhesive, ballpoint needles, snips, tweezers.
- Skip for now: huge thread sets, metallic thread, heat-away, extra hoops and paid software.
- Check bobbin size, needle system and USB support in your manual before buying.
- Budget for test stitches: buy enough stabilizer to practice before every real item.

### On this page 9 sections

- [Check your manual before you buy anything](#check-your-manual-before-you-buy-anything)
- [Essentials: buy these before your first project](#essentials-buy-these-before-your-first-project)
- [Nice-to-have: add these when a project needs them](#nice-to-have-add-these-when-a-project-needs-them)
- [Skip for now](#skip-for-now)
- [A first-week shopping list](#a-first-week-shopping-list)
- [How to keep supply costs under control](#how-to-keep-supply-costs-under-control)
- [What to buy](#what-to-buy)
- [Related tool](#related-tool)
- [FAQ](#faq)

## Before you choose

- [Cut-away vs tear-away stabilizer: which one for your fabric?](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/cut-away-vs-tear-away-stabilizer/)
- [Best embroidery thread for beginners: weight, fiber and bobbins explained](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/best-embroidery-thread-for-beginners/)
- [Embroidery machine needles: sizes, ballpoint vs sharp, and when to change them](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/embroidery-needles-guide/)

Before your first project, buy cut-away and tear-away stabilizer, a starter set of 40 wt polyester embroidery thread, bobbin thread or prewound bobbins that match your machine, 75/11 embroidery needles, small curved scissors, an erasable marking pen and (if your machine uses one) a small USB drive. Add no-show mesh, water-soluble topping, adhesive stabilizer, spray, ballpoint needles, snips and tweezers as your projects need them. Skip big thread collections, specialty stabilizers and extra hoops until you know what you stitch.
A new embroidery machine can’t stitch anything without a few supplies, and the supply aisle is full of things you don’t need yet. This list sorts everything into three groups: what to buy before your first stitch-out, what to add when a project calls for it, and what to skip for now.

Each item includes why you need it and what to check before you buy. Shopping links for every item appear at the end of the page. If you’re still budgeting for the machine itself, run the numbers in the [startup budget calculator](https://embroiderywise.com/tools/startup-budget/).

## Check your manual before you buy anything

Three supplies depend on your exact machine. Getting them wrong wastes money.

- **Bobbin size.** Prewound bobbins come in different sizes. Brother lists its PWB350 as size 11.5 and “Designed for use in Brother embroidery-only machines.” Combo owners should confirm in the manual.

- **Needle system.** Home and commercial machines use different needles. Buy the system your manual names.

- **Design transfer.** Some machines use USB, some add Wi-Fi, and some are app-only. Brother’s PP1 (Skitch), for example, runs through the Artspira app. Check what your machine supports before buying a USB drive.

## Essentials: buy these before your first project

These are the supplies almost every beginner needs in the first week.

| Item | Why you need it | Check before buying |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cut-away stabilizer (medium) | Permanent support for T-shirts, sweatshirts and knits | Medium weight suits most first projects |
| Tear-away stabilizer (medium) | Temporary support for stable wovens like canvas and quilting cotton | Not a substitute for cut-away on stretchy fabric |
| 40 wt polyester embroidery thread set | The weight Brother’s manual calls for in most embroidery | Says “embroidery thread,” spools fit your pin |
| Embroidery bobbin thread or prewound bobbins | Lighter bobbin thread keeps the back flat | Weight your manual names; bobbin size matches |
| 75/11 embroidery needles | Brother’s recommended default size | Your machine’s needle system |
| Curved embroidery scissors | Trim jump stitches and stabilizer close to the design | Small, sharp, curved blades |
| Erasable marking pen | Mark centers and placement before hooping | Test that marks disappear on your fabric |
| Small USB drive (if your machine uses USB) | Move designs from computer to machine | Supported media in your manual |

### Stabilizer: cut-away and tear-away

Stabilizer is the item that is easiest to skip or get wrong. Madeira lists choosing the wrong stabilizer among common beginner mistakes: cut-away for stretchy knits and light wovens, tear-away for heavier wovens such as twill, denim and canvas. You need both to cover most first projects.

Buy rolls or packs of each rather than a single sheet. You’ll want a test stitch before every real item. The [cut-away vs tear-away stabilizer guide](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/cut-away-vs-tear-away-stabilizer/) has a fabric-by-fabric table.

### Thread and bobbin thread

Brother’s manual says the upper thread should be 40-weight rayon or polyester embroidery thread for most embroidery, and that its included bobbin case is set for 90 weight bobbin thread. Polyester is the more forgiving starter choice for anything that gets washed. Start with a basic color range and add shades by project; the [best embroidery thread for beginners](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/best-embroidery-thread-for-beginners/) explains how.

### Needles

Brother’s manual recommends a 75/11 needle for most embroidery and a 90/14 for heavy fabric that isn’t stitching well. Needles wear quickly; Madeira estimates about 8 hours of running time per needle. Buy a full pack, not a single needle. The [embroidery needles guide](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/embroidery-needles-guide/) covers sizes and points.

### Scissors and marking pen

Small curved scissors let you trim jump threads and stabilizer without cutting the fabric. An erasable marking pen lets you mark the center and orientation so the design lands where you want it. The [embroidery placement guide](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/embroidery-placement-guide/) shows standard positions for shirts, bags and towels.

### USB drive

Brother machines read .pes, .dst, .phc and .pen files, and many models load them from USB. A small, plain drive is the safest choice; check supported media in your manual. The [design transfer guide](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/how-to-transfer-embroidery-designs-to-machine/) covers USB, Wi-Fi and app transfer.

## Nice-to-have: add these when a project needs them

| Item | Buy it when… | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No-show mesh cut-away | You stitch thin or light-colored T-shirts | OESD markets PolyMesh to prevent show-through on thinner fabrics |
| Water-soluble topping | You stitch towels, fleece, sweaters or velvet | Madeira: topping stops stitches sinking into pile |
| Adhesive (sticky) stabilizer | You embroider collars, cuffs, pockets or small items | Lets you float items you can’t hoop (Hatch, OESD) |
| Temporary spray adhesive | You float fabric or stitch slippery knits | Bonds fabric to stabilizer; Madeira says use it sparingly |
| Ballpoint needles | You stitch knits or small lettering | Brother recommends ballpoints for small letters |
| Thread snips | You trim between color changes often | Faster one-handed trimming beside the machine |
| Tweezers | You need to pull tails and lint near the needle plate | Reach into tight spaces around the presser foot |

T-shirts first? Move no-show mesh, spray adhesive and ballpoint needles up to your essentials. The [best stabilizer for T-shirts](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/best-stabilizer-for-t-shirts/) explains the setup.

Towels first? Add water-soluble topping right away. See [how to embroider towels](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/how-to-embroider-towels/).

Hard-to-hoop items? Add adhesive stabilizer. [How to hoop fabric for machine embroidery](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/how-to-hoop-fabric-for-machine-embroidery/) explains hooping and floating.

## Skip for now

These items are popular but rarely needed in your first months. Wait until a specific project calls for them.

- **Huge thread collections.** A large set often includes colors you’ll never use. Buy a starter range, then add spools by project.

- **Metallic thread.** Sulky recommends a 90/14 needle, slower speed and lower tension for metallics. Learn on regular thread first.

- **Heat-away and other specialty stabilizers.** Sulky’s Heat-Away needs a dry iron and fabrics that tolerate 260–300°F. Useful for sheer fabrics, but niche.

- **Fibrous wash-away for lace.** Great for freestanding lace, but wait until you try a lace design. The [stabilizer types guide](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/embroidery-stabilizer-types/) explains film vs fibrous.

- **Extra and magnetic hoops.** Brother offers an optional 4 × 7 inch magnetic frame for the PE900 and SE2000, for example. Wait until you know which hoop you use most.

- **Paid digitizing software.** Built-in and downloaded designs are enough to learn on. Compare options later in [best embroidery software for beginners](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/best-embroidery-software-for-beginners/).

- **Bulk stabilizer rolls.** Buy normal rolls until you know which types and weights you actually use.

## A first-week shopping list

If you want one list to take to the store or cart:

- Medium cut-away stabilizer

- Medium tear-away stabilizer

- 40 wt polyester embroidery thread set

- Embroidery bobbin thread or matching prewound bobbins

- 75/11 needles in your machine’s system

- Small curved scissors

- Erasable marking pen

- USB drive, if your machine uses one

- Plus: practice fabric, such as plain cotton and a couple of inexpensive T-shirts

Then stitch a few designs. Your first projects will show you which nice-to-haves to add next.

Practice fabric matters more than it looks. Plain, stable cotton with tear-away is the easiest way to learn hooping and threading, and a cheap T-shirt with cut-away teaches you knits before you stitch a shirt you care about.

## How to keep supply costs under control

- **Test on scraps.** Madeira’s hooping advice (snug, no stretching, smallest hoop that fits) saves stabilizer and garments.

- **Buy by project, not by catalog.** Add a supply when a project needs it.

- **Stay with one thread brand.** Matching shades across brands is approximate; see [thread color matching](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/embroidery-thread-color-matching/).

- **Count supplies in your budget.** The [startup budget calculator](https://embroiderywise.com/tools/startup-budget/) adds machine, supplies, software and a test allowance, and the [embroidery startup cost guide](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/embroidery-startup-cost/) breaks down the categories.

Still choosing a machine? Start with the [best embroidery machine for beginners](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/best-embroidery-machine-for-beginners/) or the [Start here](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/best-embroidery-machine-for-beginners/) page.

## What to buy

The supplies this guide calls for, with what to check before buying. Prices change often — confirm with the seller.

- **[Cut-away stabilizer](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cut+away+embroidery+stabilizer+medium+weight&tag=room4205-20)** — Permanent support for knits, T-shirts, sweatshirts and anything that stretches.

- **[No-show mesh (poly mesh) cut-away](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=no+show+mesh+embroidery+stabilizer&tag=room4205-20)** — A soft, light cut-away for light-colored or thin knits where a heavy backing would show.

- **[Tear-away stabilizer](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=tear+away+embroidery+stabilizer&tag=room4205-20)** — Temporary support for stable wovens such as canvas, denim, twill and quilting cotton.

- **[Water-soluble stabilizer & topping](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=water+soluble+embroidery+stabilizer+topping&tag=room4205-20)** — Film topping keeps stitches on top of towels and fleece; fibrous wash-away is used for freestanding lace.

- **[Adhesive (sticky) stabilizer](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=adhesive+sticky+embroidery+stabilizer&tag=room4205-20)** — Lets you float items that are hard to hoop, such as collars, small pockets and bags.

- **[Temporary spray adhesive](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=temporary+spray+adhesive+embroidery&tag=room4205-20)** — Bonds fabric to stabilizer to reduce shifting when floating or hooping slippery fabric.

- **[40 wt polyester embroidery thread set](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=40+wt+polyester+embroidery+thread+set&tag=room4205-20)** — A starter range of colors in the weight most home designs are digitized for.

- **[Embroidery bobbin thread or prewound bobbins](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=embroidery+bobbin+thread+white&tag=room4205-20)** — Lighter bobbin thread keeps the back of the design flat and reduces bulk.

- **[Embroidery needles (75/11)](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=embroidery+machine+needles+75%2F11&tag=room4205-20)** — Embroidery needles have a larger eye and groove that protect rayon and polyester thread at speed.

- **[Ballpoint embroidery needles](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ballpoint+embroidery+machine+needles+75%2F11&tag=room4205-20)** — A rounded tip slips between knit fibers instead of piercing them.

- **[Curved embroidery or appliqué scissors](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=curved+embroidery+scissors+applique&tag=room4205-20)** — Trim jump stitches and appliqué fabric close to stitches without lifting the hoop off the machine.

- **[Thread snips](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=thread+snips+embroidery&tag=room4205-20)** — Fast, one-handed trimming of thread tails between color changes.

- **[Water- or air-erasable marking pen](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=water+erasable+fabric+marking+pen&tag=room4205-20)** — Mark center lines and placement before hooping so the design lands where you planned.

- **[Tweezers](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sewing+tweezers+long&tag=room4205-20)** — Pull out trimmed tails, lint and stray threads around the needle plate.

- **[Small USB flash drive](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=usb+flash+drive+8gb&tag=room4205-20)** — The most universal way to move designs from computer to machine.

## Related tool

Try the [Embroidery startup budget calculator](https://embroiderywise.com/tools/startup-budget/): Add up machine, supplies, software and test allowance. Free, no signup.

## Don't guess. Calculate.

- [🧵 Machine Finder](https://embroiderywise.com/tools/machine-finder/): which machines fit your projects
- [▱ Hoop Fit Checker](https://embroiderywise.com/tools/hoop-fit/): will your design fit the field
- [◷ Stitch Time Calculator](https://embroiderywise.com/tools/stitch-time/): how long a design takes to stitch
- [📊 Compare every machine](https://embroiderywise.com/machines/): sortable spec table

## Frequently asked questions

### What supplies do I need for an embroidery machine?
At minimum: stabilizer (cut-away and tear-away), 40 wt embroidery thread, embroidery bobbin thread, 75/11 needles, small scissors and a marking pen. Many machines also need a USB drive to load designs.

### Does an embroidery machine come with supplies?
Most include a few accessories, and Brother’s manual mentions included embroidery bobbin thread. Check your machine’s box list, then buy stabilizer and thread to fill the gaps.

### Do I need software to start?
No. Built-in designs and ready-made design files are enough to learn. Add software when you want to combine, letter or edit designs.

### Is a stabilizer variety pack a good first buy?
It’s handy for learning the types, but you’ll run out of the one you use most. Buy a roll of medium cut-away and medium tear-away as your main supply.

### Do I need a USB drive if my machine has Wi-Fi?
Not necessarily, since some machines transfer designs wirelessly. A USB drive is still a useful backup if your machine has a USB port; check the manual for supported media.

## Sources

- [Brother manual: Thread recommendations](https://support.brother.com/g/s/hf/htmldoc/hsm/om/888p6x/en/06_09_01.html)
- [Brother manual: Needle recommendations](https://support.brother.com/g/s/hf/htmldoc/hsm/om/888p6x/en/02_03.html)
- [Brother PWB350 prewound bobbins](https://www.brother-usa.com/p/threads-spools-stands/PWB350)
- [Brother: Design formats the machine will read](https://help.brother-usa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/123343/~/design-format-types-that-the-machine-will-read)
- [Brother PE900 product page](https://www.brother-usa.com/p/sewing-embroidery/PE900)
- [Madeira: 5 common mistakes new embroiderers make](https://www.madeirausa.com/education/5-common-mistakes-new-embroiderers-make/default.aspx)
- [Madeira: How to hoop](https://www.madeirausa.com/services/troubleshooting/how-to-hoop/default.aspx)
- [Madeira: Sinking stitches](https://www.madeirausa.com/services/troubleshooting/sinking-stitches/default.aspx)
- [Madeira: The basics of 75/11 needles](https://www.madeirausa.com/education/the-basics-of-75-11-needles-and-when-to-use-them/default.aspx)
- [OESD Stabilizer Guide (PDF)](https://oesd.com/content/PDF/OESD_Stabilizers.pdf)
- [Sulky: Heat-Away clear film](https://sulky.com/sulky-heataway-stabilizer-clear-film-19-34-x-25-yd-bolt)
- [Sulky: How to sew with metallic thread](https://blog.sulky.com/how-to-sew-metallic-thread-faqs-with-patti-lee/)
- [Hatch Embroidery: Machine embroidery hooping](https://hatchembroidery.com/resources/blog/machine-embroidery-hooping)

[🧵 Not sure which fits? Find your embroidery machine in 60 seconds.](https://embroiderywise.com/tools/machine-finder/)[📊 Compare every machine Sortable chart of all beginner machines.](https://embroiderywise.com/machines/)

## Keep reading
[Explainer
### Cut-away vs tear-away stabilizer: which one for your fabric?
Cut-away vs tear-away stabilizer explained: a fabric-by-fabric table, which weight to buy, how design density changes the choice, and how to remove each cleanly.
 Updated Oct 7, 2026](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/cut-away-vs-tear-away-stabilizer/)[Best picks
### Best embroidery thread for beginners: weight, fiber and bobbins explained
Which machine embroidery thread to buy first: why 40 wt is standard, polyester vs rayon vs cotton vs metallic, the right bobbin thread, and a starter color plan.
 Updated Oct 7, 2026](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/best-embroidery-thread-for-beginners/)[Buying advice
### Embroidery machine needles: sizes, ballpoint vs sharp, and when to change them
A plain-English guide to embroidery machine needles: when to use 75/11 or 90/14, ballpoint vs sharp, titanium needles, and how often to change your needle.
 Updated Oct 7, 2026](https://embroiderywise.com/posts/embroidery-needles-guide/)