Sewing can be a really big part in making costumes and so I thought it would be a great idea to share some of the tools you'll need to use when designing and sewing your costume!
Cutting mat - These are super helpful! Placing them under your fabric will help to save your desktops and even give you cleaner cuts. Normally you'll use one of these if you have a rotary cutter, but I like to use mine even when I am using scissors or pinking shears. A lot of them will also come with measurements down the side and a grid to help you get more precise markings and measurements on your project! Rotary cutter - These are great for those big long cuts that you don't want a jagged edges on. A starter one is relatively in expensive and can be purchased at most fabric and crafting stores. Scissors - One of your most important tools! Now don't just grab a pair of craft scissors and think they will "cut it", You're going to want to invest in a good pair of fabric scissors. These usually have one blade that is parallel to your cutting surface, allowing you to keep the scissors flat and straight when you are cutting. You also want to make sure that they have a durable sharp edge and won't get damaged easily on the material you are cutting. My tip to everyone, always have one really good pair of scissors for your fabric, and a separate pair of scissors for any other materials you would cut like foam, or wire. Marking pens / pencils or tailors chalk - These are super important for marking your pattern on to your fabric without damaging it. Taylors chalk is great as it comes in white, making visible on most fabrics, but also it wipes off when you are done with it. You can also get double ended marking pens. Usually one end is water soluble and the other end is air soluble. I personally prefer the air soluable pen. It keeps my markings in place for about 24-48 hours and then they vanish. This is helpful if I can’t get to it right away. Gauge ruler - I am sure there is a more technical name for this but essentially it is a small metal ruler with a sliding red marker on it. This is super helpful when you are figuring out your hem allowances and seams. Also if you need to size up or down your pattern. Square - these are usually used for construction or building projects, but I find these super helpful when you need a 90 degree angle on your fabric pieces or self made patterns. French Curve - These are those fun rulers and plastic cut outs you find at a craft store that are all swirly and curly. These are perfect for making and adjusting sleeve holes. Also awesome for creating organic outlines for emroidery and design! Pins - Pins are one of the most important things you will need. They hold your pattern on your fabric, hold pieces of fabric together, mark areas you want to adjust. There are also different types of pins for different uses, but I find that you should pick one that works for you. I prefer to use long quilting pins on my projects rather than the shorter sewing pins because these are much easier to see and work with. Bobbins - Bobbins are mandatory for using your sewing machine. These are the small plastic circular things that hold the thread under the plate and needle. Without them your stitch will only be one sided and nothing will hold together. Sewing machine - A good sewing machine or serger is super important!! This is the tool you'll be using to put all your projects together so you want something sturdy that can handle your project. Now I'm not saying going out and spend thousands of dollars on a machine, especially if you are just starting out. But you want to find something that you know can withstand the stress you are going to put it through. If you are starting out and making simple projects, a basic machine with up to 10 stitches is a great option! If you are going to be doing things that are more complicated, pick a more mid to high range machine. I would suggest going for a serger if you are going for that 100% professional finished look and know that you are investing in years of costumes. Iron / Ironing board - multi sizes - A simple iron is all you really need to get your projects nice and clean and smooth. You'll be surprised at how often you will actually need an iron during sewing projects. I also recommend that you get a small "arm" ironing board along with a normal size one. The smaller ironing boards are great for when you are ironing small details, or need to get into tough to reach areas. I hope this overview is helpful to get you started on your next sewing project!
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