Small Sewing Equipment: Marking, Stitching/Hand Sewing, & Pressing

Marking Equipment Fabric Marking Pen Tracing Wheel Tailor’s Chalk Thread

Fabric Marking Pen Purpose: Marks Notches Darts Circles Squares Disappears with water or evaporates after 48 hours.

Tracing Wheel Marks pattern symbols onto fabric. Use a smooth edged wheel for delicate fabrics. Use a saw-toothed wheel for most other fabrics. Special waxed carbon paper for tracing is available in many colors.

Tailor’s Chalk Purpose: Mark pattern symbols onto fabric. Small square or pencils will mark most fabrics. Markings can be brushed away or will disappear when pressed with an iron.

Thread Purpose: Mark pattern symbols. Make simple hand-sewn stitches to mark construction lines on fabric.

Stitching/Hand Sewing Equipment Hand Sewing Needles Thimble Needle Threader Bodkin Pointer Loop Turner

Hand Sewing Needles Needles vary in size from: 1- for (Course fabrics) 12- for (Fine fabrics) Purpose: Basting Hemming Applying fasteners Buttons Snaps/Hook & eyes

Thimble Metal or plastic tool to protect finger while hand sewing. Available in different sizes. Indentions in thimble help hold needle while pushing the needle through fabric.

Needle Threader Small tool with thin wire to aid in threading a needle.

Bodkin Resembles a large, blunt needle Purpose: Pulls cord or elastic through casings Elastic

Pointer Tool with a pointed end for pushing out sharp corners. Rounded edge is used for holding seam open while pressing.

Loop Turner A long metal rod with a hook. Purpose: Turns bias tubing and casings right side out.