THE GUIDE
SEAM RIPPER
This sharp blade cuts through and unpicks stitches.
PINKING SHEARS
These cut a zigzag edge on fabric to neaten.
SHEARS
Keep a pair of sharp shears just for cutting out your fabric.
SMALL SCISSORS
Use for snipping threads and cutting notches.
FABRIC WEIGHTS
Use instead of pins to hold your pattern in place.
THIMBLE
Wear to protect your fingers when handstitching.
TAILOR’S CHALKS
Chalk temporarily marks fabric and can be easily brushed away.
FABRIC CLIPS
Use these instead of pins when sewing thicker fabrics.
BOBBINS
This forms the underside of the machine stitch.
TAPE MEASURE
A flexible fabric tape measure will take accurate measurements.
MARKING PENCIL
Choose a colour that shows up on your fabric.
PINS
Stainless steel pins with sharp points are best.
THREAD
This forms the top side of the machine stitch.
HOW TO MEASURE YOURSELF ACCURATELY
ALWAYS MEASURE YOURSELF BEFORE you choose a pattern size to cut out. The sizes do vary greatly from pattern to pattern, so it’s always best to measure yourself accurately and then refer to the pattern’s size chart to find your size.
