Silk Pins
Japanese Silk Pins: They’re strong yet super fine, so they glide through fabric without leaving permanent marks.
Forked Pins
Clover Fork Pins: Perfect for matching up seams, stripes, and plaids. They hold multiple layers securely to prevent shifting.
Magnetic Pin Cushion
Zirkel Magnetic Organizer: No more chasing scattered pins—just toss your pins, and they’re instantly corralled in one spot.
Gingher 5" Craft Scissors
Gingher 5" Craft Scissors: They’re small, lightweight, and strong—perfect for trimming bulky seams or making precise snips in tight areas.
KAI Scissors 7250 (10" Serrated Shears)
KAI Professional Shears: Their micro-serrated blades grip the fabric as they cut, so you get clean edges on everything from sheer silks to thick wools.
Rotary Cutter (45mm)
OLFA Rotary Cutter
Why I Like It:
For long, straight cuts or cutting delicate fabrics, a rotary cutter is a game-changer.
Small Rotary Cutter (28mm)
OLFA Small Rotary Cutter: Ideal for navigating curved pattern pieces or small appliqués.
Cutting Mat
OLFA Self-Healing Mat: Extends the life of your blades, protects your table, and has a slightly grippy surface to help keep fabric from shifting.
Fray Check
Dritz Fray Check: Essential for preventing fraying at cut buttonholes or raw edges.
Buttonhole Spacer
Expanding Buttonhole Spacer: Spaces buttonholes evenly with minimal measuring—makes quick work of button placement.
Buttonhole Cutter
Clover Buttonhole Cutter: Cuts open buttonholes cleanly and accurately, reducing the risk of overcutting. Just make sure you cut on your cutting mat.
Wonder Tape
Dritz Wonder Tape: A temporary, double-sided adhesive that replaces pins for tricky areas (especially the sleeve placket construction)—no shifting or puckering.
Gutermann Mara Thread Sewing Chart
Gutermann Color Thread Chart: No more guessing on color from a computer screen—use this chart to ensure a perfect thread match every time.
Gutermann Mara 100 Poly (Tex 30)
Gutermann Mara 100 Thread: A high-quality, all-purpose thread that sews smoothly, doesn’t fray easily, and comes in larger spools to last multiple projects.
Point Presser & Clapper
Point Presser & Clapper: For crisp collars, cuffs, and perfect seams. The wood clapper absorbs moisture and sets your press for a professional finish.
My Favorite Non‑Professional Iron
CHI Steam Iron: A go-to household iron with good steam, reliable heat, and a ceramic soleplate that glides nicely on different fabrics.
Iron Shoe
Teflon Iron Shoe: Prevents scorching and keeps adhesives from gumming up the iron. Must-have if you work with delicate or fusible fabrics.
Padded Sleeve Board
Padded Sleeve Ironing Board: Makes pressing narrow areas (sleeves, cuffs, collars, pant legs) so much easier—no accidental creases in the wrong places.
Tailor’s Ham
Tailor’s Ham: Shaping curved seams and darts is a breeze with a tailor’s ham. You’ll get smoother, more professional shaping without flattening your garment.
Hand Sewing Needles
Japanese Hand Sewing Needles: Sharp, fine needles that glide smoothly, making hand finishing and small repairs much easier.
Long Basting Needles
Roxanne Basting Needles: Their length and large eyes make it easy to thread heavier basting thread and cover more area with fewer stitches.
Cotton Basting Thread
Japanese Cotton Basting Thread: Grips the fabric well without slipping out prematurely, yet breaks easily when you’re ready to remove it.
Needle Threader
Clover Needle Threader: Makes threading fine or small‑eyed needles painless. A lifesaver if you do a lot of hand sewing.
Seam Ripper
Clover Ergonomic Seam Ripper: A good seam ripper is essential. This one is sharp, comfortable in the hand, and doesn’t slip.
Chalk Liner or Fabric Marker
Clover Chaco Liner: Draws crisp, fine lines that brush off or wash out easily—ideal for marking buttonholes, darts, or pleats.
2. Measuring Tape
Dual sided measuring tape: A flexible 60" (150 cm) tape measure is essential for checking both your body measurements and the garment’s dimensions.
3. Seam Gauge
Seam Guage: Helps measure small distances (like a 1" hem or button spacing) quickly. The sliding marker keeps your measurements consistent.
Felling Foot
If you want to do lots of flat‑felled seams (common in classic shirts and jeans), a felling foot helps fold and guide your seam allowances evenly for that signature topstitched finish. Just make sure you get one that fits on your sewing machine.
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