Eyelet Piler

Eyelet piler are easy and handy tool for the application of functional eyelets for many do it yourself sewing projects. Eyelets are mainly used in belts, decorating garments, to create laced effect on clothing, purses, tote bags, shoes etc.

To use it, mark the fabric first for eyelet application, use interface on the opposite side of the fabric to stably hold the eyelet, make a small hole in the fabric using hole punch/awl/scissors on the mark, place the eyelet in the hole, align the piler and press neatly to fix the eyelet.

                         

Eyelets

Eyelets are small, round metal reinforcements for holes which provides structural support and also decorative in nature. They are punched to the fabric by special pilers.

They are made up of aluminum, enameled brass or copper and are suitable for laced openings such as in shoes, cloths, belts and also in decorating the costume. The fabric to be attached with eyelets needs to be reinforced with interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric which makes it more stable to hold the eyelet.

                         

Sewing gauge

The sewing gauge is a 6-inch (15 cm) metal ruler with a slider that can be fixed at a particular measurement.

It is useful to measure and mark hem and seam allowances, mark the pleats and buttonholes, to create accurate folds for waistbands or bottom fold for pants and so on. It also has a point turner to create arcs and circles (anchor the slider by placing a pin in a small hole present in it and by placing the tip of a marker in the hole present at the end in the scale draw arcs or circles).

T pins

The T pins are T shaped pins, composed of nickel-plated steel and come in length of one and a half inch.

They are good for holding down fabrics to hard surfaces and for heavy pile of fabrics. T shaped head makes them convenient to hold and use and these can be iron pressed.

Tailor's chalk

The Tailor's chalk is a flat chalk either square or triangle used to make temporary markings on the fabric for fitting alterations or drawing straight lines and so on.

They constitute of wax or chalk or mixing the two and are available in various colors. Pure wax chalks come out when ironed and does not leave the mark behind, in case any is removed by dry cleaning.

Dressmaker pins

The Dressmaker pins are flat headed general purpose sewing pins. They come in length 25 mm (standard 1 inch) to 35mm and are made from stainless steel, nickel-plated steel, brass or nickel-plated brass.

These versatile pins are used to hold layers of fabric together before sewing or basting in quilting, hemming, to hold patterns to fabric, hold seams before stitching etc. These pins can go through delicate fabrics and silks easily and hence suitable for most fabrics. They are also useful as one can iron over them too.

Needle threader

A Needle threader is a tool which eases the threading of hand and machine needles. It is helpful when the eye of the needle is very small or when this task becomes difficult for people with low eyesight.

The general one has a thin wire looped into a diamond shape with one end held by a piece of steel, plastic or tin plate. The method involves pushing the diamond loop into needle eye, inserting the thread through the loop which is then pulled back from the needle eye.

In another version that is automatic needle threader, insert the needle with eye side in the small upper hole, press the middle part until a little hook protrudes, fix the thread on the hook, release the middle part and pull out the needle and sewing thread that ran through.

Cutting Mat

 A Cutting Mat is used while cutting with a rotary cutter or utility knife because it forms a protective cutting surface and also a measuring guide for fabric.

Choose the cutting mat that is self-healing, reversible and with a grid. To maintain it keep it flat, avoid bending and rolling, avoid sun and extreme temperatures (hot and cold) and cut in different positions to avoid quick wearing and extended usage. The great size would be 24 inch by 36 inch for most of the projects.

It is made up of layers of PVC (poly vinyl chloride or vinyl) material for self-healing. It is helpful for cutting fabric with smooth edge, cutting fabric squares and strips and the bias lines on the mat help in shape cutting and cutting the fabric at angles.

                       

Tape Measure

The Tape Measure is the essential flexible measuring tool that can be carried in a pocket. It is lightweight and available in different colors. The best is made from synthetic material or glass fiber which will not stretch, or tear, plastic and metal ones are also available.

 The most common length is 150 cm (60 in) with centimeters on one side and inches on the other with non-fraying metal tip ends. Mainly used in sewing for cloth and body measurements.

                                 

Sewing clips

The Sewing clips are strong clips that come in bright colors and different sizes. These are used temporarily to hold layers of fabric together when sewing pins are unsuitable for example when the layers are very thick, or the material is not pin able.

                               

Loop turner

The Loop turner tool is used to turn narrow fabric tubes the right way out for speedy making of fabric straps. (For example, turning bias tubing, fabric button looping, belt looping, purse straps, shoulder straps, frog closures).

To use it, insert the loop with the hook end into one end of the sewn fabric tube, secure the hook with the fabric and slowly pull the fabric inside out.

                       

Magnifier

The magnifier provides an enlarged view, which makes threading of hand and machine needles quicker and easier.

Safety pins

The safety pins can be used much like straight sewing pins without being prick by the needle due to closed loop.

Large safety pins can be used for holding the layers of fabric together before sewing or quilting and also to fasten the clothing.

                             

Tweezers

Tweezers forms valuable tool as they grab which are difficult for fingers for example removing ting thread, unpicking seams and so on.

Tweezers are available in various forms which find different applications in beading, sewing, quilting, crafting etc.

Pin cushions

The Pin cushions are small stuffed cushions used for storing and organizing needles and pins. Stuffing is the fiber fill usually walnut shells.

The store-bought ones are about 2 inches in size and are always in tomato shape with a strawberry or pepper hang through a string.  The hangs are filled with granular rocky material called emery and is used to sharpen the needles.

Pearl head pins

The Peari head pins also crafter's pins are used to hold fabric layers or pattern paper pieces together, to secure seam allowances and trims, in mannequin draping and so on.

 These are straight long pins with sharp points and multicolor heads are easy to handle and see. Pin heads can be plastic, or glass bead and the needle part is made up of stainless steel. The pin heads also come in vibrant colors and shapes (flower, bird, star etc.).

Pin heads are placed at a right angle to the seamline during sewing with the pin heads to the right of the presser foot.

Pearl head pins that are longer and stronger are used in quilting as it involves many layers or thick fabric and hence referred to as quilting pins.

Rotary cutter

The Rotary Cutter tool greatly increases the accuracy and speed for cutting the fabric in a straight line. Cutting mats are used while cutting with rotary cutter.

It composes of a handle with circular rotating blade and comes in a variety of sizes (18mm,45mm,60mm etc.). The size one will choose will depend on how many layers of fabric one will wish to cut, larger blade for several layers and smaller blade for single layer. This tool is very useful for quilting.

Seam Ripper

As the name the tool is used for unpicking seams that is to remove stitches. It can be also used to make tiny incisions for example buttonholes and so on.

It has a handle that is made up of plastic, metal or wood and has a fork at the other end with sharp point on one side and a tiny ball on the opposite edge to protect against adjacent fabric. In between is the sharp cutting edge for thread cutting.

Thimble

A thimble is usually a cap made of metal or plastic often closed at one end, worn on the middle finger to protect and push the needle while hand sewing.

Thimbles are available in a broad range of size and types. It is important to pick the one that is comfortable on one's finger.

Tracing Wheel

Tracing wheels are traditionally used to transfer the pattern to the wrong side of the fabric. It is used with dressmaker's carbon paper to transfer the pattern to fabric or without to copy pattern to the paper.

It is a tool with multiple teeth or smooth wheel which is attached to the handle. The wheel with serrated edge is widely used and results in dotted lines and the smooth wheel can be used to more delicate fabrics which forms a continuous line.

Double or dual tracing wheel are also available which has two wheels that can be placed at different positions which is used to trace two parallel lines usually cutting line and sewing line so that the distance between them is the seam allowance.