Must Have Haberdashery
Starting up a new hobby can be expensive, especially when you’re excited and want everything you need to feel like a “real” sewist. When I first started sewing, I spent so much money building out my sewing kit, but I keep using the same tools over and over. Here’s what I use on a daily basis.
Measuring Tools
- Clear plastic ruler
- I prefer this one because it makes it easy to find the ⅝” mark.
- French curve
- Tape measure
Cutting Tools
- Fabric shears
- Rotary cutter
- Paper scissors
- Thread clippers
- Olfa self-healing cutting mat
- I have two cutting mats, an Olfa mat and one that came with my sewing table. If you use a rotary cutter and don’t have an Olfa mat, run, don’t walk! It’s head and shoulders above the rest of the mats on the market.
Tracing and Transferring Tools
- Frixon pens
- These pens are magic! The ink disappears when you iron over it. I’ve heard rumors that the ink returns in the cold, but I haven’t had any issues with them.
- Chalk
- Tracing Paper
- I use two types of tracing paper – doctors’ office paper for most projects and Swedish tracing paper for bodices I plan to tissue fit.
- Scotch tape
- Muslin
- I typically buy the softest, but cheapest, muslin I can find at Joann’s. I’m not a big “wearable muslin” person.
- Carbon paper
- Serrated wheel
Pressing Tools
- Multi-setting iron
- Silk organza
- I use a 12” x 12” square of silk organza as a press cloth. It’s sheer, so you can see what you’re doing, but adds a layer of heat protection. Before I started using it, I definitely had some fabric melting incidents.
- Tailor’s ham
- Sleeve press
Stitching Tools
- Seam ripper
- Glass head pins
- Pin cushion
- Safety pin
- I’ve broken every turning tool I’ve purchased. Now I just rely on a safety pin, and it works better than all of the cheapie contraptions I tried.
- Fusible woven interfacing
- For my first year of sewing, I had no idea there was interfacing other than the little Pellon packs at Joann’s. Then I discovered Pro Sheer – mind blown! It gives fabric a little added weight while keeping the drape – it’s a total game changer!
- Hand sewing needles
- Button hole chisel