Grade 7 DRESSMAKING - USE OF SEWING TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Sewing Tools and Equipment
Good tools are important in sewing. Your sewing machine and your sewing aids should be selected as carefully as possible for good performance and long-lasting satisfaction. We know that appropriate tools make work easier.

This lesson will provide you knowledge and skills in using sewing tools and equipment correctly. To make the work light and easy, you should have a complete set of sewing tools in your sewing box and a friendly sewing machine located in a sewing spot at home or at a sewing area of your room.

Five Classifications of Sewing Tools


A. Measuring Tools - are instruments used for obtaining quantities, dimension or forces of the real world object.

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1. Tape Measure also known as tapeline- it is made of non-stretchable strip used in taking body measurements. It measures 150 centimeters in the front side and 60 inches on the other side.

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2. Sewing Gauge - This is a six -inch ruler made of aluminum or stiff cardboard with a slider used to measure small hem areas and short distances like hem folds , seam allowance, button holes, pleats ,and tucks. 

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3 Ruler or Foot Rule - This is the most common measuring device; 6 or 12 inches long used to connect two points in drawing straight lines. It may be made of clear plastic or shellacked wood

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4. Meterstick or Yardstick - This is a one-meter long wooden or steel stick usually marked off in centimeters and millimeters and is used to measure fabric length by yard or meter


B. Drafting Tools - an instrument used to represent an object or outlining a figure plan or sketch by means of lines.

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1.L-Square – This is an aluminum ruler with 90 degrees angle used to draw perpendicular lines and to measure off parallel lines .Two arms are connected perpendicularly and used to make construction lines in pattern drafting. The long arm has breakdown measurements of 1-24,1-12, 1-6, 1-3, and 2-3 while the short arm has breakdown measurements of 1-32, 1-16, 1-8, 1-4, 1-2. 

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2. Hip Curve -It is a curve stick made of metal or wood calibrated on both side used to form the hipline and other areas of garments that need to be curved. 

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3. French Curve - It is an instrument made of flat metal or wood used to shape the neckline, armholes, and collar. 

C. Cutting Tools

1. TYPES OF SHEARS

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1.Dressmaker’s Shears – These are for cutting fabric, paper and other materials. 

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a.Cutting shears - The blades are straight and best for cutting fabrics usually 7-12 inches long. 

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b.Pinking shears - This pair of shears has a zigzag edge used to cut the edge of seam allowance of fabric that does not ravel. It is used also for cutting decorative materials. 

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c.Scalloping shears – This tool has scallop blades used to cut parts of garments a with series of uniform scallops 

TYPES OF SCISSORS

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2.Scissors –These are used for cutting hanging threads, excess fabrics of a seam, trimming hair, and other purposes. It may be made of plastic with metal or all metal. 

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3.Buttonhole scissors – These are used for cutting buttonholes. The blades have a square shape at the joint of scissors to control cutting the cloth off the buttonhole area. 

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4.Embroidery scissors – It is a sharp pointed scissors usually 4-5 inches long used in cutting fine delicate cloth and thread in embroidery work.

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5.Seam ripper – This tool is intended for cutting off stitches of a seam. Care in using this instrument is required to prevent the cloth from being damaged.

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6. Rotary Cutter and Mat - is a tool generally used by quilters to cut fabric. It consists of a handle with a circular blade that rotates, thus the tool's name. Rotary cutter blades are very sharp, can be resharpened, and are available in different sizes: usually smaller blades are used to cut small curves, while larger blades are used to cut to straight lines and broad curves. 

D. Marking Tools - is used to transfer all the little notations that appear on your pattern, the ones that tell you where to cut, fold, sew, or place adjoining pieces. The pattern instructions work together with these notations to tell you exactly how to manipulate each pattern piece

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1.Tailor’s chalk – It is available in a variety of colors and is used to mark the fabric. It is made of hard chalk and can be removed by brushing.

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2.Tracing wheel – This is an instrument with serrated edge wheel that produces dots on the fabric. The smooth one creates a straight, solid line  

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3.Dressmaker’s carbon paper – it is a specially waxed carbon paper that transfers the tracing wheel’s markings to the fabric. This is available in different brands with different instructions. Follow the instructions for a particular brand. 

E. Sewing Aids

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1. Pins – Available in two kinds, one with colored head for easy handling and the other with a small steel pins , both used to fasten two or three materials together.

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2. Pin cushion – It is a cushion available in different shapes and colors used to hold pins and needles to prevent them from scattering in the workplace. 

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3. Emery Bag - It is smaller that the pin cushion and is used to polish rusty needles and pins.

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4.Hand needles – These are available in different sizes and used for temporary stitches, hemming, and other sewing purposes.

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5. Thimble -This is a small cup placed on the tip of the middle finger to protect it from being pricked by the needle while sewing. It is made of metal or plastic.

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6.Threader - This is a diamond shaped wire attached to a handle and used to insert thread through the needle eye. 

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7. Sewing Box - a box which should have a compartment where sewing tools/devices are to be kept.