What Are The Sewing Tools And How They Work?
Sewing has been around since ancient times. It was used to create clothing, bags, shoes, etc.
Today, sewing is an art form that allows people to express themselves through their creations.
There are different types of sewing tools that allow you to sew different materials.
In this article, I will discuss the different types of sewing tools and how they work.
Types Of Sewing Tools:
1) Needle Pushers – Needle pusher is another kind of sewing tool. It helps you push down the needle when stitching so that you do not get stuck during the process.
2) Thread Cutters – Thread cutters help you remove excess stitches after finishing your project. If you want to make sure that all the stitches are even, then you should use them.
3) Buttonhole Punches – Buttonholes are very important because they give your garment its final look. Therefore, if you want to finish off your projects perfectly, then you need buttonhole punches.
4) Zipper Pullers – Zipper pulls are small metal devices that hold the zipper open until you close it. When you pull the zipper closed, the device releases itself automatically.
5) Scissors – Cutting types of scissors are essential for any craft activity. Whether you’re cutting paper patterns, cardboard, foam board, plastic sheets, leather, vinyl, cloths, wood, etc., you must always carry sewing scissors with you.
6) Iron – An iron is necessary for pressing garments before wearing them out. Without an iron, you cannot wear your favorite outfit without having wrinkles.
7) Fabric Marker Pen – Fabric marker pens are useful for marking areas of your design that you want to change later.
8) Ruler – Rulers are helpful for measuring distances accurately.
9) Seam Gauge – Seam gauges measure the distance between seams.
10) Tension Tool – Tension tools are used to adjust the tension of your types of sewing machine.
11) Foot Control – Foot control is used to regulate the speed of your industrial sewing machine. By adjusting the foot control, you can increase or decrease the speed of your machine.
12) Basting Device – Basting devices are used to temporarily attach parts together.
13) Quilting Board – Quilting boards are made specifically for quilt makers.
They have special holes through which you thread your needles.
Cutting Tools for Sewing
Sewing is an art form that has been around for centuries. It’s also a skill that is becoming increasingly popular among women.
If you’re looking to get into affordable sewing machine, there are a few tools that you’ll want to invest in.
There are a lot of different types of domestic sewing machine out there.
Some are designed for specific purposes while others are general purpose.
In this article, I’m going to talk about the different types of cutting tools that you’ll need to sew.
The first thing you’ll probably notice as soon as you start using these extra tools is their size. They vary from being tiny to huge!
Here are the most common ones:
Rotary Cutter/Straight Edge Cutter : This type of cutter allows you to create straight lines by moving the blade along the edge of the fabric. You can easily trim pieces of material like ribbon, lace, felt, etc.
Paper Trimmer: A paper trimmer is great for creating precise cuts. The blades cut right down to the edges of the paper so you don’t end up wasting anything.
Pinking Shears: Pinking shears allow you to make decorative edging on fabrics. Simply move the handles back and forth over the fabric and watch how quickly the sharp blades will pierce the fabric.
Fusible Webbing: Fusible webbing comes in many shapes and sizes. It helps when making appliqués because it makes attaching the piece easier.
Needle Threader: Needle threaders help you insert threads into needle eye smoothly. If you’ve ever tried doing it yourself, you know what a pain it can be.
Embroidery Hoops: Embroidery hoops are perfect if you plan on embroidering something. They keep everything organized and prevent tangles.
Scissors: There are two main kinds of scissors; one kind with rounded tips and another with pointed tips. Both work well but the pointed tip of sewing scissors are more useful than the other.
Fabric Marker: Fabric markers are very convenient for marking areas where you’d like to stitch. Just use them to mark the area before stitching.
Stitch Remover: When you finish stitching, you might find that you accidentally left stitches behind. To remove those unwanted stitches, simply pull off the bobbin case and then gently tug at the thread until all the loose ends fall away.
Straightedge Knife: Straightedges knives are similar to rotary cutters except that instead of having a rotating blade, they have a fixed blade. Use them to cut through thick materials or even cardboard.
Sewing Machine Feet: Sewing machine feet are used to attach the foot plate onto the base of your sewing machine. Different models require different sized of extra sewing feet depending on the model itself.
Handheld Iron: An iron is an essential tool for any seamstress. Not only does it press seam allowances flat, it also removes wrinkles and creases.
You may be wondering why some people would spend hundreds of dollars on such little things.
Well, let me tell you – they aren’t just little toys!
These tools are extremely versatile and come in handy every time you pick up your sewing kit.
What equipment do you need for hand sewing?
Hand sewing is an art form that requires patience, skill and practice. It’s also a craft that has been around since ancient times.
Sewing is a great way to create beautiful items such as clothing, bags, pillows, blankets, etc. However, there are certain tools that you’ll need to get started.
Here are the basic tools you’ll need to get you started.
Threads: You should always start out by using good quality cotton thread. This thread types doesn’t fray easily and won’t break under pressure.
Cotton Tension Foot: A tension foot allows you to adjust the amount of stretch in your choice of thread while you sew. By adjusting this setting, you can control the length of your finished product.
Tape Measure: Tape measures are helpful for measuring various parts as beginner sewing project. For example, when making pants, you will want to measure how long each leg needs to be so that you don’t end up cutting too much material.
Pins: Pins are necessary for holding fabric pieces together during construction. The most common types include safety pins, clothespins and binder clips sewing gauge.
Iron: An iron is important for pressing fabrics after joy of sewing. Without proper heat settings, your projects could look wrinkled.
Scissors: Scissors allow you to trim excess threads from your edges. They’re also perfect for snipping corners and curved seams.
Needle & Thread: Needles are made specifically for sewing purposes. There are many sizes available including regular needles, embroidery thread needles and quilting needles.
Basting Stitches: Basting stitches help keep your delicate fabric layers aligned while you sew. These stitches are usually done with white metallic thread but other fabric colors work well as well.
Seam Ripper: Seam rippers are useful for removing unwanted stitching before finishing your piece.
Fabric Markers: Fabric markers make marking lines easy. Choose between permanent ink markers or water-soluble ones.
How do you classify hand sewing tools?
There are three main categories of hand sewing tools:
- Handsewing Machines
- Handtools
- Accessories
The first category includes all machines designed solely for use with one specific brand of needle.
In contrast, handtools are those which have multiple uses and can be used for more than one purpose.
Examples include sewing scissors, tape measures, straight ruler, buttons, snaps, zips, etc.
Finally, accessories are small devices that enhance the functionality of largest size tools.
Some examples include stitch holders, button holes, zipper puller, etc.
What are the basic hand sewing techniques?
Techniques vary depending on what kind of item you’re creating.
Here are some general tips to consider.
For Sewing Knits
When working with knitted materials, it helps if you know where the seams lie.
- To find these spots, simply follow the direction of the yarn.
- If you see two strands running parallel, then they belong to different sections of the same row.
- To prevent puckering at the seam line, try not to overstretch the knit. Instead, leave about 1/4″ extra space along the edge.
- This way, there’s enough room for a few rows of top stitching without causing any distortion.
- If you need to cut off an entire section of knitting, start by pulling out several inches worth of yarn.
- Then carefully cut through both sides of the knitting using sharp shears.
- Once you’ve removed the desired portion, finish the rest of the job by reinserting the yarn into the remaining hole.
For Sewing Fleece
Fleece has no defined fabric grain line like cotton does.
Therefore, it doesn’t matter whether you choose to press the right side or wrong side facing outward.
The only thing to remember when cutting fleece is that you should always remove the bulkier parts first.
This will ensure that you don’t accidentally rip out too much material.
For Sewing Cotton
Cotton fibers run in either vertical or horizontal directions. When choosing how to orient your edge of fabric pieces, pay attention to this fact.
For instance, if you want to create a pocket, place the front and back panels next to each other so that their respective fiber orientation matches up.
Similarly, if you plan to attach sleeves to pants, align them vertically because the sleeve would hang down naturally.
For Sewing Leather
Leather comes from animal hides. As such, its natural texture varies greatly among different types of leathers. Some may feel soft while others could be stiff as cardboard.
As far as sewing goes, most people prefer to work with softer leathers since they tend to stretch less during construction.
However, if you’d rather sew something sturdy, opt for harder varieties instead.
For Sewing Silk
Silk fabric items come in many forms including satin, taffeta, organza, damask, crepe de chine, etc. Each type requires slightly different handling methods.
The easiest silk to handle is satin which can usually be sewn just like regular woven fabrics.
Taffeta and organza require special care due to their delicate nature.
These silks must be handled very gently otherwise they’ll easily tear apart.
Damask needs even more careful treatment than taffeta or organza.
It tends to fray quite quickly unless properly stabilized before being stitched.
For Sewing Linen
Linens have been around forever but still remain one of the best-loved fabric edges today. They’re extremely durable yet flexible making them perfect for clothing items.
When sewing linen, keep in mind that it takes longer to dry compared to other materials.
If you live somewhere where temperatures are cold, consider adding some additional layers underneath your finished piece.
For Sewing Wool
Wool is another versatile fabric that works well on all kinds of garments.
Its durability makes it ideal for outerwear whereas its warmth makes it great for winter wear.
However, wool also has a tendency to shrink after washing.
To avoid this problem, make sure to wash your garment inside out. Also, use a hot iron whenever possible.
For Sewing Nylon
Nylons are made by spinning nylon filaments together into yarn.
Once spun, these yarns are then twisted into thread.
Threaded nylons are used mostly for knitting purposes although there’s nothing stopping you from using them for decorative sewing.
If you decide to go ahead and try stitching with nylon threads, do not forget to treat them carefully.
Unlike other layers of fabric, nylon threads need to be washed separately from the rest of the sewing project.
Otherwise, they might melt away at high heat levels.
For Sewing Polyester
Polyesters are synthetic fibers that were originally developed for plastic manufacturing.
Today, polyester is commonly found in everything from clothes to home furnishings.
Polyester is easy to stitch thanks to its smooth surface.
But unlike cotton, polyester does not absorb water meaning it will stay clean throughout the entire process.
This means you don’t have to worry about getting stains when working with polyester.
Conclusion
As mentioned above, each material comes with specific requirements regarding how it should be treated.
Therefore, depending on what kind of fabric surface you want to sew, choose accordingly.
Also, remember to always follow manufacturer instructions when operating any sewing tool.
