Intricate tasks require a variety of tools to accomplish. On the previous article, the principal materials required for sewing were discussed, the scissors, the thread, and the needles. With the advancement of sewing, comes the various introduction of tools that help make sewing become both fun and accessible for everyone.
With the basics down, let us now delve into the broader range of sewing’s various tools. Like the previous article, every tools will be viewed from a beginner’s perspective, detailing its purpose for the craft of sewing.
Pins / Straight Pins:
Basically, a pin is used for
fastening objects or materials together. Pins often have two components, a long
body and a sharp tip made of steel used to penetrate the material; a larger
head often made with plastic, used as a driving surface, and a marker for that
particular pin.
Needle Threader:
Putting the thread through the
eye of small needles can be quite a handful. Luckily, during the Victorian era
people have thought of a way to solve this dilemma. The needle consists of a
small tinned plate, and a diamond-shaped steel wire attached, very helpful in
pushing those threads into the needle’s eye.
Seam Ripper:
Practice makes perfect so they
say, for beginners mistakes do happen often. A seam ripper is used for
unpicking stitches, very handy for stitching mistakes.
The most common form consists of a handle, shaft and head. The head is usually forked with one side of the fork flattening out and becoming a blade and the other side forming a small point. In some designs the blade side then tapers back to a point to allow easier insertion in tight stitching.
Tape Measure:
A measuring tool commonly used
for unique shapes and contours. Any tailor can’t go without it! It consists of
a ribbon of cloth, plastic, fiber glass, or metal strip with linear-measurement
markings. Its design allows for a measure of great length to be easily carried
in pocket or toolkit and permits one to measure around curves or corners.
Clear Gridded Ruler:
A measuring tool commonly used
for straight or defined shapes like textiles. The ruler is a straightedge tool which
may also contain calibrated lines to measure distances / lengths.
Fabric Marker Pens / Pencils /
Chalk:
These tools are basically for
marking the textile or garment that will be used for sewing. Often, tailors
leave marks on their work to note the shape or size that they are wanting to
acquire.
Thimble:
A tool for assisting in pushing
needles, or as protection from it. A small hard pitted cup worn for protection
on the finger that pushes the needle in sewing. Usually, thimbles with a closed
top are used by dressmakers but special thimbles with an opening at the end are
used by tailors as this allows them to manipulate the cloth more easily.
Sewing
offers a lot more varied tools in its repertoire, the principal materials and
supplementing tools have been discussed. Complex sewing projects are usually
completed with the help of these tools. In the succeeding articles, we are
going to tackle the parts and use of sewing machines. Read on and see you
SEW-n!
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