Sewing tools

Vibha's Fashion
Jul 15, 2023
9 min read

Are you ready to dive into the world of sewing? Equip yourself with the essential sewing tools that will make your projects a breeze. From the trusty sewing machine that stitches it all together to the versatile hand sewing needles for those delicate details, these tools are the foundation of your sewing journey. Keep your fabric in place with quality pins and a pincushion, and easily undo any mistakes with a handy seam ripper. And let's not forget the importance of sharp scissors for precise cuts. With these sewing tools by your side, you'll be ready to tackle any project and unleash your creativity.

Here are some of the basic sewing tools you will need to become a Fashion Designer.

4 broad types of sewing tools — Measuring tools, Marking tools, Cutting tools, and Sewing tools.

Measuring tools - measuring tape Marking tools - Tailor's chalk, marking pen and pencil, tracing wheel
Drawing tools - L-scales, French Curves, hip curve
Cutting tools - Scissors for cloth, paper, clippers Sewing tools - Thread, bobbin
Other tools - Seam ripper, Loop turner, Needle threader, Sewing clips

There are other supplies you will need to be successful as a Fashion designer. I am adding a short review and links to some of the useful tools here.

Sewing clips

Replace your old pins and never poke your fingers or damage your materials again. You can now sew safely and easily with these Sewing clips. These sewing clips will help you to have consistent seam allowance while stitching.

These sewing clips are a good This clip base easily holds the layers and makes the fabric levelled and flat.

These sewing clips has great holding capacity and are perfect for making quilts, handbags and more. It's suitable for holding layers of shirt, cloths ,trousers and tie etc.

The craft clips are easy and accessible in storage.

Paper fusible interlining

This is an essential item that is used in Churidar and blouse neck design. It provides the necessary support to the fabric and prevents it from stretching while stitching the neck design. It has fusible interlining on one side which is also the shining side — place this shining side facing the fabric and iron it so that it sticks onto your cloth. It is also used as embroidery backing.

Brown sheet for drawing sewing patterns

This brown sheet, commonly known as kraft paper, is an excellent choice for pattern making do to its durability and versatility. It provides a sturdy surface for drafting patterns, allowing you to sketch, trace, and modify designs with ease.

For drawing sewing patterns, use this brown sheet. This brown sheet, commonly known as kraft paper, is an excellent choice for pattern making due to its durability and versatility. It provides a sturdy surface for drafting patterns, allowing you to sketch, trace, and modify designs with ease.

This is 24 inches wide and 10 meters long. It is 180 gsm brown sheet and is sturdy and will last longer. First draw the patterns using pencil and reinforce it with sketch pens.

Double check the calculations before cutting your patterns.

Scissors to cut fabric

Scissors are indispensable tools for sewing projects. With sharp blades and ergonomic handles, they ensure precise and clean cuts on various fabrics. Tailor's shears are ideal for cutting large sections of fabric, while embroidery scissors are perfect for intricate details. Properly maintained scissors maintain their sharpness, allowing for effortless fabric manipulation. It's important to have dedicated fabric scissors to avoid dulling the blades.

Whether you're trimming seams, snipping threads, or shaping patterns, a reliable pair of sewing scissors is essential. They are a trusted companion for any sewist, providing the necessary precision and control for successful sewing endeavors.

Zig-Zag scissors

Zig-zag scissors, also known as pinking shears, are versatile tools widely used in sewing projects. These scissors have a distinctive zig-zag edge that creates a patterned cut along the fabric's edge. The zig-zag cut helps prevent fabric fraying by sealing the edges, making them suitable for woven fabrics that tend to unravel. They are particularly useful for finishing seams, hemming, or adding decorative touches.

The zig-zag edge adds a unique and professional-looking finish to garments, crafts, and accessories. When used properly, zig-zag scissors can enhance the durability and aesthetics of your sewing projects while saving you time on additional edge finishing techniques.

Sewing needles

Sewing machine needles are vital components of any sewing machine. They play a crucial role in creating neat and precise stitches. These needles are available in various sizes and types, each designed for specific fabric and stitch types.

Universal needles are versatile and suitable for a wide range of fabrics, while ballpoint needles are ideal for knit fabrics. Sharp needles work well with woven fabrics, while denim needles are sturdy enough for heavyweight materials.

Choosing the right needle ensures smooth fabric penetration, minimizes skipped stitches, and prevents fabric damage. Regularly replacing needles and using the correct one for each project guarantees optimal sewing machine performance and high-quality stitching.

Organ Vardhaman needles of different sizes.

Bias tape maker — an essential sewing tool

This is a precision tool that can fold fabric into perfect halves automatically, ready for sewing on. Bias tape maker can make the task of making bias tapes easy with a great looking result. Create your own bias tapes in minutes. This sewing tool is great for making bias, especially great in sewing and quilting. You can use this Bias tape maker for

Finishing the neck designs for your Churidar and Blouse
Creating borders for Kurtis like Anarkali
Piping for sleeves and accentuate the colours
Quilting work

You can make bias tape that can be temporarily bonded using an iron from any material you like. Make any fabric into an accent, border or trim. It's fast, economical and perfectly coordinated. Pull the fabric through and iron--folds it perfectly, ready for sewing on or gluing.

Cut the fabric into bias strips, first cut cross the fabric at a 45°angle then cut strips parallel to this freshly cut edge in the width you need
Feed bias strip wrong side up with wide end of tape maker use awl to pull fabric through
Pin end of strip into ironing board
Pull tape maker and press in folds iron close to tape maker

The Bias binder maker makes the task of making bias tapes easy with a great looking result.

Other accessories included are Binder foot, wooden awl, Pearl pins, and sewing clips.

The binder foot is generic, fit for many sewing machines that use a snap on foot. The foot can also be used to attach bias tape. You can make beautiful edge finishes with your favourite bias tape.

You can use the wooden awl for pulling the fabric out of the tape makers. With the tapered shape, the awl will not tear your fabric. You can also use this wooden awl to punch holes in patterns and for marking.

The sewing clips are great alternatives to pins. It will hold the fabric securely without making holes in the fabric. They are very strong and easy to use.

Curve scale for drawing neck design - Pattern marking ruler

The Pattern Master Scale is a handy tool for pattern drafting and scaling in sewing and fashion design. It is a ruler specifically designed with a variety of measurements, curves, and angles commonly used in pattern making. This scale allows for precise measurements, making it easier to create accurate patterns. With its unique features such as grading lines, seam allowances, and curves for armholes and necklines.

The Pattern Master Scale simplifies the process of scaling patterns to different sizes or altering existing patterns. It is an essential tool for professionals and enthusiasts alike, ensuring the consistency and accuracy of pattern designs.

This pattern marking ruler combines the functions of a graders square with the essential curves required for neck lines, sleeve and trouser crotches. This is a very useful tool for designing sewing patterns especially for sleeves. All in one pattern design tool ideal for professional pattern making, at home, boutique or at fashion school.

Advanced French curve set for drawing

complex shapes

French curves are indispensable tools in sewing and pattern drafting. These flexible curved rulers come in various shapes and sizes, mimicking the natural curves of the human body. They are used to create smooth and accurate curves for armholes, necklines, waistlines, and other design elements.

French curves allow for precise shaping and blending of pattern lines, ensuring a perfect fit and flattering silhouette.

Whether you're designing garments, making alterations, or drafting patterns from scratch, French curves provide the flexibility and precision needed to achieve professional results. They are a must-have for any sewist or fashion designer seeking to create beautiful, well-fitting garments.

L-scales and hip scales for drawing sewing patterns

The L-scale and Hip scale are two specialized tools used in sewing and pattern drafting to ensure accurate measurements and precise fitting.

The L-scale, also known as an L-square ruler, has a 90-degree angle that helps with drafting perpendicular lines and right angles. It is useful for creating straight lines and checking pattern alignment.

The Hip scale, on the other hand, is designed specifically for measuring and drafting hip curves. It helps in accurately measuring and shaping hip curves for pants, skirts, and other garments. These tools are essential for achieving proper proportions, fit, and balance in garment construction, making them valuable additions to any sewing toolkit.

Seam ripper and thread cutter — a must-have sewing tool

A seam ripper and a thread cutter are essential tools in sewing for undoing stitches and cutting threads.

A seam ripper is a small tool with a pointed tip and a sharp blade. It is designed to carefully and easily remove stitches from fabric. Whether it's correcting a mistake, making alterations, or taking apart a garment, the seam ripper is indispensable. Its sharp blade can cut through threads without damaging the fabric, allowing for precise removal of unwanted stitches.

A thread cutter, on the other hand, is a handy tool used to quickly and cleanly cut threads. It usually features a sharp blade enclosed within a small handle or casing. Thread cutters come in various forms, such as handheld cutters, pendant cutters worn around the neck, or built-in cutters on sewing machines. They provide a convenient way to trim threads during and after sewing, helping to achieve a neat and professional finish.

Both the seam ripper and thread cutter are must-have tools for any sewist, ensuring efficient stitch removal and thread trimming, saving time and maintaining the quality of your sewing projects

Fashion designing scale with measuring tape, marking chalk, L-scale, hip scale and grid scale

This set includes 1 L- square curve (60cm), 1 Hip curve (60cm), 1 Leg curve (60cm),1 Arm curve (60cm), 1 Straight ruler (60cm) Along with 1Gridding scale (45cm), 1Marking chalk box, 1 Measuring tape, 1 Tracing wheel, 1 Seam ripper and 1 Trimmer

All Curves are made from Virgin plastic, Yellow Color and Gridding Scale is Transparent, these are very useful for Measuring for Designing And Cutting.

Flexible curve ruler for drawing curved lines

A flexible curve ruler, also known as a bendable ruler or drafting curve, is a versatile tool used in sewing and pattern drafting to create and replicate curves accurately. It is made of a flexible metal or plastic material, allowing it to bend and hold the desired shape.

A flexible curve ruler is particularly useful for creating curved lines, such as armholes, necklines, sleeves, and waistlines, that follow the natural contours of the body. By shaping the ruler to match the desired curve, it becomes a reliable guide for drawing or altering patterns.

It is a flexible ruler adjustable and calibrated on both sides -- one side with inches and other with centimetres.

This tool enables sewists and pattern makers to achieve precise and smooth curves, ensuring a better fit and overall design. It is an essential tool for those who want to add custom or intricate curves to their sewing projects, providing flexibility and accuracy in pattern drafting.

Automatic Needle Threading Device

An automatic needle threading device is a handy tool that helps simplify the process of threading a needle. It is designed to assist individuals who may have difficulty with manual needle threading due to poor eyesight, dexterity issues, or other challenges.

The device typically consists of a small mechanism with a built-in threader. To use it, you insert the needle into the designated slot or holder, then guide the thread through a specific pathway. With the push of a button or a simple trigger mechanism, the device automatically threads the needle by passing the thread through the eye of the needle.

This needle threader is ideal for threading needles that have small needle eyes, good for hand and machine sewing projects. The automatic Needle Threading Device is made of plastic material, and is durable and flexible to use, easy to go through most kinds of needles.

Automatic needle threading devices save time and frustration, especially when working with fine or challenging threads. They are particularly beneficial for those who engage in sewing, embroidery, quilting, or other needlework activities frequently or professionally.

By eliminating the need for manual threading, these devices allow users to focus more on their creative projects and enjoy a smoother sewing experience

Twin needle for sewing

A twin needle is a valuable accessory for sewing machines that allows for the creation of parallel rows of stitching. It consists of two needles attached to a single shaft, which is inserted into the machine like a regular needle.

The distance between the needles can be adjusted to achieve different spacing for decorative stitching, hems, topstitching, and more. Twin needles produce a professional-looking finish, resembling the appearance of store-bought garments.

They are particularly useful for creating double rows of stitching on knit fabrics, hemming, and adding decorative touches. Twin needles are a versatile tool that enhances the creative possibilities of any sewing project.