SEWING OF

HOUSEHOLD LINENS
Maximino Eduardo G. Sibayan iv
 Itis easy to look for the sewing
tools you need when the
sewing tools are well placed in
a clean well organized sewing
box. With the right needle, the
appropriate thread, and the
needed fasteners or buttons,
one can save time and energy.
Having the complete basis on
hand, tools greatly contribute
in making garment
construction easier, faster,
more efficient, and enjoyable.
Tools and
Materials
Measuring Tools
 Tape Measure – is a measuring tool used for taking body measurements
to produce well-fitting clothes and pants. This is usually made of cloth
or plastic.
Ruler- is a measuring tool used to measure and draft
lines on a fabric or pattern.
 MetalGauge- is a movable marker that measures short
distances and correct thickness such as distance between
buttons, pleats, and hems.
Hem Gauge- is a measuring tool used to measure the
correct hem for a piece of clothing or linen.
 French Curve-is a measuring tool used in drafting
curves in the pattern of the arm, neckline, and crotch.
Meteror Yard Stick – this is used to
measure fabric.
Tailor’s Square- is used for drawing straight
lines and true right angles.
Curve stick-is used to have curved lines
on necklines and armholes.
Cutting Tools

Embroidery Scissors- are small scissors

designed for needle work.
 Dressmaking Shears- is used for cutting heavy
fabric. It has uneven shapes of handles.
Pinking Shears – are scissors with serrated blades or
zigzag edges (similar to saw) used for cutting the
fabric edge and prevent it from fraying or ravelling.
Light Trimmer – is used for cutting small corners
or portions of the fabric, this tool has one point
blunt to prevent the fabric from snagging.
Brent-handled Shears- Shears with straight
blades and a handle that is off-set at an angle to
allow the lower blade to stay flat in a cutting
surface.
Sewing Scissors- is a cutting tool used
for trimming seams and facings.
Thread Clippers-is a small cutting tool used
for snipping thread.
SeamRipper-is a cutting tool used to open
seams as well as other detailed work.
Stitch Ripper- is a small tool made of metal
used to remove stitches.
Marking Tools
Tracing Wheel- is a marking tool with saw
tooth blade used to transfer the marks from
the pattern paper to the cloth.
Tailor’sChalk- this is an orange colored
hard square wax used for marking
guidelines or sewing lines in fabric.
Tracing Paper- this is used with the tracing
wheel to transfer marks from the pattern
paper to the cloth.
Soft Pencil – this is used in drawing lines
in pattern construction.
Sewing Tools
 Needle-is a sewing tool that has one sharp end and a hole at the
other end to make the thread pass through. They come in different
sizes and are used in sewing to pass the thread through the cloth
either by hand or machine. The three types of needles are sharps
(longest with round eyes for general sewing), crewels ( next in
length with slender eyes for darning and embroidery), and
betweens (the shortest needles with round eyes for fine sewing in
tailoring or dressmaking),
 Long
darners Long thick needle suitable for
mending holes in heavy fabrics.

 Cottondarners (fine points) Used for

darning, suitable for delicate yarns such as
cotton and silk.

 Beading needles Very long and fine with a

sharp point; used for decorative work,
particularly for attaching beads and sequins.
Curved needles Needles used in sewing
mattress and doing upholstery work.
Ballpoint needles (round point) Used
between knit yarn fibers.
Straws
Longer needles than
betweens; used for tacking
Tapestry needles Strong, thick needles that have
a sturdy, blunt point; suitable for working
tapestry and needle point projects.
Embroidery crewel needles Sharp, medium
length needles with a long eye through which
strands of embroidery thread are needed.
Glovers/Leather hand needles Sturdy three-
sided needles with a round eye suitable for
piercing both leather and strong plastic
fabrics.
Pins Tiny sewing tools with a sharp pointed tip used for
a variety of purposes such as holding pattern pieces in
place, fit fabric or garment on the body, hold fabric
together, and secure lace, sequins or beads.
Dressmaker’s pins One and one-sixth
inches long; used in all sorts of garment
sewing.
Glass headed pins Pins with colored ball
shaped heads; used for marking or decorating
crafts.
Safetypins Available in different sizes, these pins
come with a safe cover for the pointed part to
prevent it from jabbing the skin.
Pin Cushion-it is used to keep needles
and pins in place when not in use.
 Emery bag-is similar to a pin cushion but with rougher content
such as finely ground broken plate or very fine dried sand to
sharpen the tips of pins and needles and to prevent them from
getting rust.
 Thread-is used for stitching cloth either by hand or machine
and comes in different colors and thickness. It can also be used
for Thread surface decoration. Thread can be made of cotton,
nylon, or silk. Sizes may range from 40 (heavy sewing, thicker
thread) to 100 (finer thread for sheer materials such as silk or
organza). Number 50 is commonly used for hand sewing.
Threads are sold in skeins (embroidery), cones, spools, and
balls.
Needle Threader – aids in
inserting the thread into the
eye of the needle.
 Thimble-a small , durable, protective cap made of metal or
plastic, used to protect the finger from being pricked when
pushing the needle through the cloth.
Tips to Keep Your Sewing Tools and
Equipment Longer
 Keep in a storage box when not in use.
 Place the pins and needles in the pin cushion.
 Oil the scissors especially the screw to prevent rust. Have them sharpened
regularly.
 Arrange threads neatly.
 Fold the tape measure.
 Make an inventory of your materials, tools, and equipment..
 Be sure your hands are clean and dry before starting to sew. Use
handkerchief or face towel to wipe your sweat.
LET’S DO TOGETHER
 Identify the correct answer. Write your answer in your notebook.
 1. It is a cutting tool used in cutting heavy fabrics.
 2. A sewing tool used to protect the finger to be pricked by the needle in doing hand sewing.
 3. It is used to keep needles and pins in place when not in use.
 4. It is a marking tool with saw tooth blade used to transfer the marks from the pattern paper to
the cloth.
 5. A sewing tool that has one sharp end and a hole at the other end to make the thread pass
 6. A measuring tool used to measure fabric.
 7. is a marking tool with saw tooth blade used to transfer the marks from the pattern paper to
the cloth.
 8. This is a measuring tool used in drafting curves in the pattern of the arm, neckline, and crotch.
 9. A measuring tool used to measure and draft lines on a fabric or pattern.
 10. this is an orange colored hard square wax used for marking guidelines or sewing lines in
fabric.