Measuring · tape
The standard dressmaker's tape, with each decimetre in a different colour so you stop losing your place. One reference on every Amazon store we checked.
The standard dressmaker's tape, with each decimetre in a different colour so you stop losing your place. One reference on every Amazon store we checked.
Hands-on testing pending. What follows is verified reference data and manufacturer specification, marked as such.
What we verified. The reference B000P1ASAQ designates this tape on all six
Amazon stores we checked, confirmed on EAN.
The check nobody does. A fabric tape measure is a consumable, not a tool. It stretches with use and with damp, slowly enough that you never notice, and it takes the whole garment with it. Compare yours against a rigid rule twice a year. It is the single cheapest accuracy improvement in a sewing room, and it costs nothing but a minute.
A sliding gauge for repeatable hems and seam allowances. One reference on every Amazon store we checked.
Best for: Turning an even hem, checking seam allowances, spacing buttonholes
A refillable chalk marker that draws a fine line and brushes off. One reference on every Amazon store we checked.
Best for: Marking darts, hems and buttonhole positions on anything you will not press first
The needle that turns "my machine cannot do denim" into "my machine can do denim". One reference on every Amazon store we checked.
Best for: Hemming jeans, canvas bags and workwear repairs
The needle that stops knits skipping stitches and laddering. Present on all six markets, with a separate US reference.
Best for: T-shirts, sweatshirting and anything that stretches
A wedge-shaped cutting point that slices leather instead of punching it. One reference on every Amazon store we checked.
Best for: Garment leather, suede, chamois and heavy coated cloth