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It’s pretty safe to say that our sewing machines are by far the hardest working tool in our workspace but what about the little gadgets? These little guys can improve our sewing experience, shave down our cutting time and ultimately make us look like ROCK STARS! Here are my top 10 must have sewing tools for your studio.
They say the shirt makes the man but I believe the tools make the seamstress! Seriously, our sewing tools can be the workhorses of our sewing rooms. You just need to have the right ones. Here is a quick list of my top tool picks for my space. Trust me, they won’t break the bank.
My Must Have Sewing Tools
Measuring an uneven or curved surface can be tricky but these flexible tape measures sure to make it easy.
2. Scissors
From fabric sheers to a smaller precision pair, these blades will come in handy! Sometimes, I even wear those mini blue ones around my neck as I sew. This way, I never misplace them.
These little thin lines of metal are a must have in the sewing basket. While I personally like to use them sparingly, they are mission critical for matching points and seams.
Talk about the best invention ever!! This little round blade of goodness can speed you through the fabric cutting stage and get you stitching on the machine in no time flat. I swear, I have them in every size & a pinking version.
5. Cutting Mat
This self healing mat is a MUST have when using the rotary cutter mentioned above. However, not all mats are created equal. Not only do the lines matter on this tool but so does the size.
- Foldable Cutting Mat- When buying a large mat you also need to think about storage. That is why I love the foldable cutting mats.
- Rotating Cutting Mat- Mind Blown! For all those quilters out there this mat will change your life. No more worrying about fabric shifting or having to move your fabric again. Total game changer!
6. Iron
I’m not going to lie, this is one tool that I struggle with. I’m not sure why but my irons seem to burn out every two to three years. That said, I have two top picks with side notes.
- Oliso Pro- I just love the smart feet technology but word to the wise, I would not recommend filling it with water and using it as a steamer. After a few years of hard work, it started to leak on me. Now, don’t get me wrong, I still use it everyday just without water!
- Steamfast Travel Steam Iron- This little guy is on my must buy list. I have heard such amazing things about it and think it would be perfect right next to my sewing machine for heavy piecing days.
- Panasonic Cordless- Some say that cordless is the way to go and this cutie has good overall reviews. I just wonder if the reservoir holds enough water to last me an entire pressing session.
No matter which iron you select, be sure that it will quickly become one of the hardest working tools in your space.
Between the amazing smell and the magical results, this is spray is always within reach of my ironing board.
It’s no secret that I like to doodle and with the help of these heat erasing pen I can draw worry free. *Tip: just be sure to spot test on each fabric before going hog wild.
Never has having the right tool for the job been more important then with sewing machine needles. Speciality needles can allow your machine to glide through fabric without tearing or nicking (ballpoint for knits), produce crisp and clean thick stitches (topstitching/denim), create two stitch lines in one pass (twin needle), and machine specific needles (serger).
10. Seam Ripper
And last but not least, no seamstress would be without their trusty seam ripper. Let’s be fair, this is the one tool that we despise using but it can get us out of a jam pretty quick. Make sure your seam ripper fits comfortably in your hand and is not too small. Also, did you know that little red ball at the end actually has a purpose?
Bonus Tool- Readers
This may seem silly but I like to look at the details and sometimes, even though I hate to admit it, sometimes I need help! That’s when I reach for my readers.
Basically, these gadgets are the ones that I reach for during every session behind my machine. Consider them my “go to gadgets” of sewing tools if you will. To make things easy, I’ve listed my top 10 sewing tools in one with pictures, detailed descriptions and a few more that I really find useful here.
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Comments & Reviews
I used to have trouble with my irons until someone told me to never, ever put cold water in a hot iron. That is what makes them crack and leak. Now I either turn the iron off and let it cool before adding more water (forcing me to take a break from ironing, wink wink :o); or I add hot water from the tap. (I know, not as good as distilled water…)
Thanks for the tip Fran, I never considered the temperature of the water.
~Heather
I never Heard of using hot water! What a great ideal! Thank you for sharing Fran. We do use distilled water in not only our iron but our table fountain too. We live in Texas and boy do we have the hard water here.
I disagree re seam ripper. Haven’t used one in years. Instead, I use a scalpel with a #12 blade. It’s very sharp, curved, and gets right under the stitches. From the closed seam, nick out every 5th or 6th stitch, then pull the thread through from the other side. Simple. Here’s a link to the scalpel blades on Amazon. I bought a box, and I’ll never need to buy them again! Now, I just need to find some quilting friends to share them with.
http://amzn.to/1OZ5Vv5
Interesting to hear how you use such an unconventional tool for an everyday task. Personally, it would make me nervous to use a scalpel for this type of work. You must have extremely steady hands.
~Heather
I have never heard of Soak Flatting Spray! Where do you get it? How does it differ from Best Press? Thanks 🙂
The rest of the tools are definite must-haves for my sewing…including the readers!
The first thing that comes to mind Lisa is the amazing range of scents that Flatter offers. Plus, it leaves no film, residue or white flakes on my projects. Instead, it leaves the fabric feeling smooth and silky.
~Heather