Quick answer: The easiest sequins to sew are flat, round sequins with a center hole in a medium 5–6 mm size, or pre-strung sequin trim when you want speed. They lie flat, are easy to pick up, and the hole is generous for a standard needle. For covering a whole garment, stretch sequin fabric by the yard is far faster than sewing sequins one at a time. (New to the terms? See our spandex & stretch fabric glossary.)

Easiest sequins to sew, ranked

Pre-strung sequin trim is the fastest — the sequins come on a continuous strand, so you just couch the strand down by hand every few sequins or zigzag over it by machine. Flat round sequins with a center hole (5–6 mm) are easiest for hand-sewing one at a time. Paillettes (discs with an offset hole, 8–12 mm) are easiest for dangling sparkle — one stitch holds each. Trickier options include very tiny sequins (2–3 mm, small holes), thick metallic novelty shapes, and deep cupped sequins that must all face the same way.

Needle and thread

For loose sequins, use a size 10–12 beading needle (a fine sharps works in a pinch) with polyester all-purpose or fine nylon beading thread. Avoid cotton thread, which frays, and very thick thread, which won’t pass cleanly through the hole. When sewing sequin fabric by the yard, switch to a denim needle (90/14 or 100/16) on your machine, since it must pierce the sequins.

The seed-bead trick (keeps sequins flat and secure)

Bring the needle up through the fabric, add the sequin, then add a tiny seed bead, and pass the needle back down through the sequin’s hole. The seed bead acts like a washer that locks the sequin flat and stops the thread from pulling through. Knot your thread every 12–18 inches so one broken stitch doesn’t unravel a whole row.

Sewing on stretch fabric

On milliskin or other spandex, keep the fabric relaxed while you stitch and use small stitches with a little slack — or couch pre-strung trim with a narrow zigzag — so the garment can still stretch without popping threads. See our full guide on how to sew with spandex for needles and stitches.

Faster option: stretch sequin fabric by the yard

To cover a bodice, skirt or full costume, sewing sequins individually is slow — stretch sequin fabric gives you full sparkle already applied to a 4-way stretch mesh base. When sewing it: remove sequins from the seam allowance with a seam ripper first, use a denim needle, sew slowly, and use a walking foot to feed it evenly. Request a free sample to test before cutting into your yardage.

What are the easiest sequins to sew onto fabric?

Stretch sequin fabric, with sequins pre-attached to a spandex base, is easiest since you sew the backing instead of individual sequins.

How do I sew individual sequins by hand?

Use the seed-bead method: bring the needle up, add a sequin and a small bead, then go back down through the sequin to lock it.

Where can I buy sequin fabric by the yard?

Stretch House sells stretch sequin fabric by the yard at stretchhouse.com, with free samples and worldwide shipping from New York since 2004.