| Like any other hobby, a successful sewing project | | | | great for dark fabrics. The chalk markings disappear |
| starts with the right tools and a little knowledge of the | | | | after five days or after the fabric is washed and |
| craft. Yes, you can easily find the basic sewing tools in | | | | ironed. |
| your home: your old pair of scissors down in your | | | | Wash-out pencils: These are also suitable for |
| garage; pins from your drawers, or rulers that your kids | | | | dark fabrics and can be erased with a drop of cold |
| use in school. | | | | water. It looks similar with a regular pencil and the lead |
| You will have a more convenient sewing experience if | | | | is white, pink or light blue. |
| you use the right tools intended for the job. They are | | | | Vanishing Markers: Ideal for marking fabrics that |
| very easy to find in your home. | | | | are light colored and disappears in twelve to |
| Romina Abrigo Editor of the "Sewing Machine | | | | twenty-four hours. |
| Reviews" website -- -- pointed out; | | | | Water-Erasable Markers: These are felt-tipped |
| "…Before you start any sewing activities, make sure | | | | markers used to mark light to medium colored |
| you have a checklist to round up all your sewing tools | | | | fabrics. |
| and have a basic sewing kit near you…" Added | | | | INVISIBLE TRANSPARENT TAPES |
| Romina Abrigo | | | | These tapes are useful but not important marking |
| A basic sewing kit includes a: | | | | tapes. These tapes can be easily seen when placed |
| Tape measure | | | | on fabric because of its cloudy appearance. |
| Dressmakers shears | | | | Removable tapes are ideal in some types of fabrics |
| Trimming scissor | | | | like corduroy, velvet or velour since the tape doesn't |
| Fabric markers both for dark and light markers | | | | pull of the nap from these types of fabrics. |
| Invisible transparent tape | | | | PIN CUSION AND GLASS HEAD PINS |
| Pincushion and glass-head pins | | | | These are essential things you need for your sewing |
| Hand needles | | | | projects. You need them to pin securely the pattern to |
| Needles for sewing machine | | | | the fabric. You can also pin fabrics together before |
| Seam ripper | | | | you sew them. Glass-head pins are recommended |
| TAPE MEASURE | | | | because they can fit securely in your fingers especially |
| You use a tape measure to take your own | | | | when you pin multiple layers of fabrics. And if you |
| measurements, to check the right measurements on | | | | accidentally iron the glass heads, they don' melt like the |
| patterns, and some other tasks that need to be | | | | plastic ones. |
| measured. There are different types of tape | | | | It is also important that you have a safe place where |
| measures but the most practical and easy way is the | | | | you can keep your pins. Glass-head pins are sold in |
| fabric tape measure that is fabric coated. To keep the | | | | convenient plastic boxes that serve as the pin holders. |
| tape measure handy, try draping it around your neck. | | | | However, experts say wearing a wrist pincushion is |
| Dressmakers SHEARS | | | | very practical so that the pins stay wherever the |
| Have the eight-inch bent shears. Dressmakers shears | | | | sewer goes. Magnetic pincushions are also handy. |
| are the most efficient tools in cutting fabric. These | | | | Aside from pins, other metal objects like the seam |
| shears have one bent-angle and one straight blade, a | | | | ripper or small scissors can stick to the surface that is |
| rounded thumbhole, and for precise and comfortable | | | | magnetized. |
| cutting, an oblong finger hole. The bent angle blades | | | | HAND NEEDLES |
| provide a spot where your index finger can rest for | | | | When buying hand needles, have the variety pack. |
| long-cutting jobs. And to ensure more accurate cuts, | | | | This pack provides you most of the needles important |
| the bend on the shears blade stops you from lifting | | | | for hand-sewing projects. Although variety packs of |
| your fabric off the table. | | | | needles vary from brand to brand, they generally have |
| THE 5-INCH TRIMMING SCISSORS | | | | about ten needles per pack in varied lengths and |
| These scissors are intended for trimming smaller | | | | thickness. Others even have varied sizes of eyes. |
| areas. They blades of these types of scissors are | | | | NEEDLES FOR SEWING MACHINE |
| straight, and they have round holes for the thumb and | | | | The standard size of a sewing machine needle is size |
| the finger. | | | | #11 based on American sizing, or #12/80 from |
| When you shop for shears and scissors, see to it that | | | | European sizing. About eighty percent of the fabrics |
| you properly test them first. Make sure that they cut all | | | | today are good for these needles. However, if you |
| the way to the blades tips. | | | | aren't sure about the size of the needle for a particular |
| FABRIC MARKERS | | | | fabric, take time to read the Operating Manual of your |
| Remember that in sewing, it is important to match up | | | | sewing machine. There are some needles that provide |
| the right pieces of the project precisely, otherwise, the | | | | varied types of points, designed to cater to different |
| fit won't be right. So you match the pieces of the | | | | stitching techniques as well as different fabric |
| fabric patterns correctly, project patterns today now | | | | types. |
| include match points called the dots and the notches, | | | | SEAM RIPPER |
| printed on the pattern tissues. The fabric markers | | | | A seam ripper is a type of sewing tool that has a point |
| especially designed for sewing provide ease in | | | | designed to lifts stitched off the fabric. |
| transferring the notches from the fabric pattern to the | | | | "…It is important that you have the right tools for your |
| fabric itself. Some types of fabric markers include: | | | | sewing activities. |
| Disappearing dressmakers chalks: These are | | | | |