Different types of marking tools for sewing

Take the time to learn how to use your seam ripper so you're ready when it's time to fix a sewing error. Sharp sewing shears help keep your cutting accurate while preventing hand fatigue. Generally, it's worth it to choose a high-quality pair of scissors and spend a little more money to start.

Using fabric scissors on anything other than fabric will dull them, causing uneven cutting, shredded fabric, and hand fatigue. It's a good idea to keep them tucked away with sewing tools and teach family members never to use your good scissors. To keep your scissors in good condition, clean the blades regularly and oil them occasionally.

Avoid overextending the blades by trying to cut through too many layers at a time. Pinking shears have jagged blades that fit together to cut a saw-tooth edge on your fabric. For many tightly woven or non-fraying fabrics, a pinked edge is sufficient as a seam finish. This is especially handy when working with light-weight fabrics that a sewn seam finish will add too much thread or weight to the seam. Using pinking shears on non-fraying fabric such as fleece helps reduce a blunt edge from showing through when pressing a seam and adds a finished look to the fabric.

As with other sewing scissors, use pinking shears only for fabric, and keep them clean and oiled. As you sew, it's important to press your work with essential pressing tools.

At the very least you should have an iron and ironing board. A press cloth prevents your fabric from scorching when applying more heat than you would if you were just ironing out wrinkles. They are available in different weights, including see-through press cloths. If you don't have one, a piece of muslin will do, but it's worth adding to your sewing tools. Hams and sleeve rolls are wonderful for pressing curves and seams that are in a tube area without creasing another area of the garment. They're worth having if you regularly sew clothing, but you can get similar results with a tightly-rolled towel.

A bodkin is a handy tool to have but not a "must-have" item. Use this tool to thread or replace drawstrings, elastic, and other items enclosed in a casing. Bodkins come in different styles and textures to make the process easier. The simplest form looks like an oversized needle. With this type, the item you're pulling through a casing gets threaded and doubled over like with a needle.

A tweezer-style bodkin grips the item and doesn't need to be doubled, which is useful in tight casings. If you do not have a bodkin, you can use a safety pin to pull the item through a casing, but it's often a bit more difficult to grasp and guide.

A sewing machine manual is the most important accessory you can have for your sewing machine. It is an essential tool for getting the most out of your machine. The manual for your sewing machine guides you through every step of operating your model. It provides details for built-in stitches and features, and it helps when the machine malfunctions by offering troubleshooting details.

All sewing machines may be similar but to understand what your sewing machine is capable of doing, you will need the manual for your sewing machine make and model. If you no longer have the manual for your machine, you can contact the company that manufactured your machine, and many are available online for free.

Sewing machine seam guides help you sew consistent, accurate seams. The most commonly used seam guide is on the throat plate of the sewing machine. Sewing machine feet are also commonly used for narrow seam allowance guides.

Attachable, adjustable guides offer a raised surface to prevent straying beyond the guide. This type of guide is best for long straight seams. They do not work well with curved seams. Painters masking tape also works well as a guide.

It firmly attaches to the bed of the sewing machine and doesn't leave a sticky residue. Rotary cutters quickly and accurately cut fabric with straight lines.

You should always use a rotary cutter with a cutting mat and ruler. Because this tool is very sharp, it's important to learn how to safely use a rotary cutter. The cover should always cover the blade when you aren't using it. Whichever ironing board you go for, you will need to make sure that it is sturdy enough. A pressing cloth is a piece of fabric used between the item you are pressing, and your iron.

It helps to prevent damage to the fabric if the iron gets too hot. This is usually the sleeve head and the collar stand. When we press these on a flat surface, we end up distorting the design. We covered sewing machines as sewing equipment further up, but what about sewing needles? When you buy a new sewing machine, you will usually be provided with an assorted set of needles suitable for that machine. Which makes getting started right away simple.

There are so many types of needle, and they come in different sizes too! Generally speaking, the lower the number, the finer the needle, the higher the number, the wider the needle. Used as a standard needle, universals are for woven fabrics first and foremost but can be used in a pinch on knit fabrics too.

I always find it handy to have a multipack of universal needles, so that I have a variety of needle sizes to hand! Used for most knit fabrics, the ball point sewing needle has a more rounded tip than the universal needle which helps it to pop between the fibres of the fabric, preventing snagging and laddering of your knit fabrics! These stretch needles have been designed to work with those tricky stretch fabrics such as lycra, spandex and powermesh.

I am told though that they are great for getting a clean finish on those tricky stretch fabrics! These denim needles also known as jeans needles! I love a denim needle, as I break less needles when using them to sew my heavier fabrics! Leather needles work completely different from the other needles mentioned here. A leather needle needs to be able to cut through the animal skin, and so they have a chiselled point at the tip of the needle which allows this to happen.

If you were to try to sew leather with a universal or ball point needle, you would end up with a stitched up mess. These needles are used primarily by sewists making quilted items.

This could be quilts, or quilted clothing! They work to allow the needle to penetrate through multiple layers of fabric and wadding, without snapping from the pressure! Top stitching needles are much like a universal, only they have a bigger eye for the thicker top stitching thread, and a sharper point to help the needle move through multiple layers of fabric.

I have never used a top stitching needle myself, preferring to go for a slightly larger universal needle for any top stitching needs! To switch your needle in and out on your sewing machine, you will need a small screwdriver, which is often provided with the sewing machine. To be able to sew, you will need access to fabrics. This muslin is a good price for two meters. If you do not have access to a fabric shop near you, or are uncomfortable ordering online, you could start by rummaging through your closet or linen cupboard to see if there is something worn and old that can be cut up and practised on.

A great source of lower priced fabric can be curtains and bed linen found at charity shops and thrift stores. I intended to make a pair of trousers and a jacket from them, but sadly they were claimed by my Ma to shorten for the spare room windows back home! Without thread, we have no way of joining the fabric together. It is used to draw circles and circles with more radiuses that cannot be drawn by a divider.

Hermaphrodite Caliper The hermaphrodite caliper is often used to find the center of the end of a round work or work that is cast and not completely round. It is also known as Jenny Caliper. Uses It is used for marking the parallel lines of inner and outer edges. It is used to locate the center of round bars. Divider and Trammel 'V ' - Block V 'blocks are often made of hardened steel or cast iron, which are found in many sizes. These are often used for drilling on lay outs or round work.

Often a 'U ' shaped clamp comes with it tied tightly to the work. Single Level Single Groove 'V' Block It has only one ' V' groove and has single rectangular slots to position the holding clamps on either side.

Double Level Single Groove 'V' Block It consists of two ' V' grooves at the top and bottom and a rectangular one on either side to accommodate the holding clamps.

Matched Pair 'V' Block This type of 'V' block is found in pairs that have the same size and uniform precision.

They are used to support long shafts. These are made of high-quality steel. These are made of closed grain cast iron. Precautions Clean the ' V' block before and after use Avoid scratching the ' V' block.

When they are not being used, apply a thin layer of oil or grease to them. A 'C ' clamp device is often used to hold the work on the angle plate. Some angle plates have slots and tapped holes to hold the work. Angle plates are found in various sizes which are in the range from 1 to 10 numbers.

Bevel Square Use of this marking tool or marking out tools in a fitting shop to mark a given angle with an edge or to check the angular precision of oblique surfaces. It is usually made of carbon steel and parallel ends are grinded. Angle Plate and Bevel Square Parallels Parallels are square or rectangular high steel bars whose surfaces are square and parallel grinded. These are in pairs and are used to raise the work to the correct height and provide a solid seat while layout.

Combination Set Combination set is used for marking out and taking measurements. It is usually made of alloy steel. Its measuring faces are well-grinded. This set consists of four main parts are steel rule, square head, protractor head and center head.

Combination Set. Steel Rule Steel rule can be fitted in center head, protractor head or square head.