Measuring Tools

These are the tools that are needle for

measuring purpose in sewing.

Tape measure
Ruler
Tape Measure
This is a narrow one metre long
piece of plastic coated fabric. It has
markings on the whole length –
usually in both centimetres and
inches – and is used for many tasks
such as measuring the body in
dressmaking, the length of fabric
pieces in home furnishing sewing
and many more.

It’s an essential sewing tool!

Ruler
A ruler provides the straight
edge that a tape measure
can’t. Longer is better for
when you need to cut or
mark long straight lines, but
as long as the edge is solid
and not flexible, you’re
good.
Cutting Tools
Cutting tools are required for cutting
paper and fabric.
Fabric Scissors
We have a rule to only cut fabric with
dedicated fabric scissors, which will
help to keep the blades nice and sharp.
There are many types of scissors
available, and all will cut fabric, but
some will cut better than others.

Tailor’s shears have longer blades to

cut more fabric in one cut, while
scissors with shorter blades are better
for cutting curves.
Paper Scissors
Which leads us nicely onto
paper scissors. Paper blunts the
blades which is why we suggest
having separate scissors for
cutting paper.

You’ll need paper scissors for

cutting paper patterns, which
are commonly used for
dressmaking.
Seam Ripper
We all make mistakes and a
seam ripper is your
steadfast friend in fixing
them. Even professionals
have a seam ripper in the
sewing kit for when those
seams have come out
puckered and need redoing.
Snips
While you could use
your fabric scissors to
cut your threads when
a stitchline is complete,
snips are smaller and
faster.
Sewing Tools
We’re now onto the actual tools which will help you
create the stitches used in sewing:
Presser feet
Sewing machine
Sewing needles
Thimble
Threads
Presser Feet
This is the small ‘foot’ attached to the
presser bar on your sewing machine.
It holds the fabric against the feed
dog. A sewing machine will always
come with a standard presser foot,
and usually several more specialised
presser feet, such as a zipper foot or a
blind hem foot.
Sewing Machine
It goes without saying that a sewing
machine is the fastest way to sew
something. While we strongly believe in
some good slow sewing here at The
Goodlife Centre, we also recognise that a
sewing machine is an essential tool for
many who sew.

Start out with a basic sewing machine

that will sew a straight stitch and a
zigzag stitch which is all you really need
for getting started.
Sewing Needles
There is no sewing without sewing needles. And similar
to machine presser feet, there are many different types
of sewing needles that will help you to sew different
types of fabrics, whether by hand or using a sewing
machine.
Thimble
If you’ll be hand sewing
instead of machine sewing,
you’ll want to consider
adding a thimble to your
sewing kit. It will help to
protect the skin when you’re
pushing that needle through
the fabric.
Threads
Finally, we need
thread in order to
create a stitch, and
there are many types
of thread available to
use.
Pressing Tools
Anyone who sews will tell you that for a professional
finish, you’ll need to press, press and press! So here are
a selection of pressing tools you’ll need to add to your
kit for a good finish to your projects:

Iron
Ironing board
Tailors ham
Iron
A steam iron is best, but as long
as it gets hot, any iron will help.
This is used to set the stitches
when a stitch line is sewn, but
also to press fabric before
sewing, and sometimes our
paper patterns too if they’re a
little crinkled.
Ironing Board
You can get away with
a pressing mat if your
workspace is small, but
an ironing board is a
great tool for pressing
lengths of fabric!
Tailor’s Ham
Used more in dressmaking
than any other sewing
discipline, a tailor’s ham
will help you to press and
retain any curves in your
projects. Collars and bust
darts are common areas that
use a ham for pressing.
Bodkin
Useful for pulling
elastic through
channels of fabric,
or turning through
strips of fabric.
Fabric Marker
Either a tailor’s chalk or a
disappearing pen work
well for transferring
markings from a pattern
to fabric. You could also
use a tracing wheel with
carbon paper.
Fabric Weights
You don’t need dedicated
fabric weights – a can of
baked beans will do, – but
they are useful for holding
a paper pattern in place
when cutting out fabric.
Measuring Gauge
A very basic tool, but one
that I use extensively. It’s
helpful for adding on seam
allowances, positioning
fabric for more complex
seam methods, measuring
buttons and so much more.
Pins
Some people suggest pins are
unnecessary, but for a beginner,
they’re very useful for holding two
pieces of fabric together so that
sewing can be as accurate as
possible. Avoid the ones with glass
beads at one end – they can get
caught under your presser foot if
you’re not fast enough to remove
them and cause a lot fo damage to
your sewing machine.
Pin Cushion
Again, not essential, but can
be great for speedy access to
your pins when you need
one quickly.