11 Sewing Supplies
Sheri Deaton
Sewing Supplies
Sewing supplies can be categorized and organized in many ways. The following organization system has worked for this author and is one that is suggested for novice teachers as they begin to take inventory of their supplies and organize their apparel production labs. Consider the following categories as possible categories for the organization in your sewing laboratory.
Construction Aids
While not needed on every project, these items can save time and make construction easier. Examples: Basting tape, dissolvable basting thread, fabric glue, fusible thread, fusible web, liquid seam sealant, and paper-backed fusible transfer paper.
Cutting Equipment
You must purchase and maintain sharp cutting sharp-cutting equipment that creates clean cuts on not only thread and fabric, but on pattern pieces as well (Westfall, 2013). Examples: Pattern weights, pinking shears, pins, rotary cutters, scissors, shears; thread clippers
- Did you know that you can sharpen your fabric shears if they have become dull? The simplest way to sharpen fabric shears is to take a piece of steel wool and cut it with the shears for about one minute. The steel will sharpen the scissors each time they make a pass through the dense material. This is a simple yet effective way to maintain sharp tools, which are necessary for crisp and clean cuts on fabric and patterns.
Hand Sewing Equipment
These are items you will need to sew on a button, to complete a tailor’s tack, or another hand sewing as needed for apparel modification or mending. Examples: Beeswax, emery bag, needles, needle threader, pin cushion, sharps, and thimble
Marking Equipment
Marking equipment is used to transfer the pattern symbols to the fabric. Different tools are used for different purposes, and the fabric type should be considered before selecting the appropriate marking equipment. Examples: chalk, fabric pencils, fabric pens, heat transfer pencils, tracing paper, tracing pens, and tracing wheel
Measuring Equipment
This category includes all the tools you might use to measure accurately and precisely. Each tool has a slightly different use and not all will be needed for each item constructed. Examples: hem gauge, grid, and bias square rules, seam gauge, tape measure, and yardsticks
Random but Important
These tools can save several tears and a lot of time if needed in a project. Examples: awl, bodkin, loop turner, point turner, and seam ripper
- Did you know that you can sharpen seam rippers? Check out this article by the National Sewing Circle Editors on How to Sharpen Seam Rippers.
Self-Check
Use the following drag-and-drop assessment to measure your understanding of sewing equipment and supplies now that you have read the text.
Organized Chaos
For many seamstresses and apparel production teachers, the sewing supplies closet, cupboards, or drawers can be one of pure chaos. Organizing sewing supplies according to their usage is a helpful technique; however, the ownersh