Sewing Tools

The small kit that matters

You need fewer tools than the starter bundles suggest. These are the ones you'll reach for on every dress.

The essentials

• Fabric scissors used only on fabric. Paper dulls them fast. Gingher dressmaker shears
• Small snips for threads. Gingher thread snips
• Pins, glass-head ones survive the iron. Glass-head pins
• A seam ripper. Everyone uses it. Clover seam ripper
• Marking chalk or a washable pen. Clover Chaco Liner
• A soft measuring tape. Measuring tape
• An iron. Any steam iron will do. Press every seam.

Worth having

• A rotary cutter and mat: faster and more accurate than scissors on long straight edges. Fiskars rotary cutter and mat
• Pattern weights: hold slippery fabric still without pins. Pattern weights
• A seam gauge: a little ruler with a slider for even hems. Dritz seam gauge
• Clips: instead of pins on thick or delicate fabric. Clover Wonder Clips

Later, if you get hooked

• An adjustable dress form, for fitting on yourself without a helper. Dritz adjustable dress form
• A pressing ham, for curved seams like darts and princess lines. Dritz tailor's ham
• A serger for a professional finish inside. Brother 1034D serger

Keep the kit in one box next to the machine. Most of sewing time lost is looking for the seam ripper.