Information Sheet No.

1
Subject: T.L.E. 7/8 - Dressmaking
Grade: 7 - Quarter 1 – Lesson 1

The lesson deals with the study of the different kinds of sewing tools and equipment their
classification and uses.

What Will You Learn?

After reading this information sheet, you will be able to:

Define terms
Identify the different sewing tools and equipment and tell their uses.

Definition of terms:

Sewing tools – are those which are smaller and do not require the use of electricity, these are tools that
are manually or by hand.
Equipment - would be the heavy duty items such as sewing machine, electric iron.

CLASSIFICATION OF SEWING TOOLS

Sewing tools are classified into 5 groups according to their uses

A. MARKING TOOLS – used in marking fabrics and patterns

1. Tailor’s chalk – it is a flat square chalk use for marking fabrics.
2. Pencil – use to mark line when the absence of the tailor’s chalk.
3. Tracing Wheel – used to transfer marks easily.
4. Dressmaker’s Carbon Paper – use together with the tracing to transfer pattern markings to the fabric.

B. CUTTING TOOLS – used in cutting paper, threads and fabric

1. Scissors – used for cutting lightweight materials.
- is has the same handle.
- Usually smaller than the shears 3”-6”
2. Shears – use for cutting heavy weight materials.
- One handle is bigger than the other.
- Usually bigger than the scissors.
3. Seam ripper – used for ripping seams.
4. Embroidery scissors – used for cutting the threads in making embroidery works.
5. Buttonhole scissors – use to cut a slit for a buttonhole.
6. Knife – use to curve design for pattern.
7. Pinking shears – use to finish raw edges of the fabric that does not ravel easily.

C. MEASURING TOOLS
1. Tape measure – used for taking body measurement and drafting the pattern, 60” or 150 cm long.
2. Ruler – used for making straight lines.
3. Hem gauge – used for making hem.
4. Yardstick / Meter stick – used for measuring bolt of cloth.

D. DRAFTING TOOLS – used for marking lines in drafting the pattern

1. L-square / Tailor’s square / Proportional Square – used for constructing perpendicular lines
- for dividing purposes.
- Used to measure short distances up to 24”.
- Used to draw straight lines.
2. Curve ruler or Hip curve – used for shaping side seam of the blouse and hipline.
3. French curve – used for shaping armholes and necklines.

E. ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR SEWING

1. Eyelet puncher – use to make or punch a hole for eyelet.
2. Eyelet pliers – use to attach metal eyelet.

1
 3. Screwdriver – use to tighten and loosen screws.
4. Thimble – worn in the middle finger to facilitate hand sewing.
5. Emery bag – used for cleaning rusty needles and pins.
6. Pincushion – used for keeping pins and needles handy while sewing.
7. Hand needles – used for hand stitching.
- with an eye in one end and pointed in the other end.
8. Pins – used to hold layers of fabric to facilitate cutting and sewing.
9. Sewing box – used for keeping small sewing tools.

Prepared by:

Miss Jessie Z. Sinday

Hilongos National Vocational School