Useful Tools: What a Seamstress Needs for Comfortable Work
If you are sewing at a professional level, a sewing machine, thread, and needles might not be enough. To create truly beautiful and high-quality clothing, you will need a number of specific tools that will allow you to improve your skills and simplify working with various materials.
## A Set of Tailor's Hams and Rolls
These accessories are necessary for the proper pressing of various garment seams during the sewing process. Hams are made of cotton or wool fabric and filled with beech, ash, or birch sawdust. They can come in different shapes and sizes:
- a seam roll for straight seams;
- a tailor's ham for curves and darts;
- a pressing cushion for large areas with darts and curved seams.
The ham absorbs moisture, helps prevent creases, and helps avoid shine. Read about shine here: Tips - Lifehacks - How to avoid iron marks when pressing seams?
## Tailor's Clapper
A clapper is in every professional seamstress's arsenal. This item is made of solid wood (usually oak or beech) and vaguely resembles a primitive iron. Its purpose is to form neat, flat seams, which is especially important for synthetic fabrics whose edges lift after pressing. To prevent this, steam a section of the seam and press it down with the clapper for a few seconds – the wood will absorb the moisture, and the fabric will have time to cool and set.
## Pressing Board for Curved Seams
A special elongated and slightly convex pressing board will help you press curved seams quickly and conveniently. With its help, you can not only effectively process a large area of the garment but also press seams open while avoiding shine.
## Universal Pressing Board
The essence is clear from the name. This oak or beech tool helps smooth out various seams – from sleeve caps to sleeves. Here, a craftswoman shares a tutorial on making a universal round pressing board: ()
## Tailor's Shears
Sharp, high-quality, and reliable. The tool should fit comfortably in your hand and allow for a clean cut. We have a separate discussion about scissors in this thread: Questions - Help me choose cutting shears
## And what can't you do without?
My best purchase has been a steam generator. I didn't understand where all the excitement came from before… Now I understand and I'm thrilled with it myself.
No iron can smooth out wrinkles the way a powerful steam system does. With its help, you can steam a garment while it's hanging, which is especially relevant for dresses, curtains, pillows, and shirts, so if you have the opportunity to buy one, I highly recommend it!
We discussed steamers here Questions - Tips - How to choose a steam station for work? Help with advice! and here Voting - Rating - Steam machines for home and studio: choosing the ideal price/quality ratio. 😉