Tools, Supplies, & Materials
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Listed are the tools, supplies, and materials we will use in this course. To take the guess work out of your experience, I’ve found most of my favorites on Amazon and share clickable affiliate links for you see exactly what each item is. While I recommend you support your local independent retailer, ordering directly from the links below will earn a small commission for me at no additional cost to you. (Thank you!)
If you have a similar item, but not the specific item, feel free to use what you’ve got or take this opportunity to upgrade!
If you have questions, please email me at email@brooksann.com
Throughout the class we will often use:
- Full length mirror
- Large Table
WEEK ONE (and 1/2): Designing, Measuring and Drafting
- Measuring tape
- Elastic – 1/2″ or thinner (enough to tie around your waist and hips while we measure)
- Pencils (sharpened or mechanical)
- Scotch Tape
- Sketch paper (I prefer watercolor paper, but anything will do)
- 18”x2” See-Through Gridded Ruler
- A longer ruler or yardstick. I like this one.
- A long curved ruler, often called a “hip curve”. This one will work.
- 12” Combination Square with level
- a hem gauge
- Paper Scissors
- Pattern drafting paper: In my business, I use brown craft paper, but for class I will use this white craft paper so my work is easier to see.
- a few paper clips
- a camera
Optional:
- safety pins
- a calculator
- Needlepoint Spiky Wheel: This is a cool drafting tool, but you can get by without it.
- A cardboard cutting mat (or any large piece of cardboard or foam board) to protect your table, if you don’t have a pinnable tabletop like mine.
- printer
- a camera remote and/or tripod or phone stand
- a digital drawing program
- posterboard
- a notebook for keeping yourself organized
WEEK TWO: (we will add…)
- Muslin (or any plain inexpensive woven fabric): Approximately 2 yards might do, but having a lot more on hand is recommended.
- Fabric Scissors (I also like these)
- Snips or seam ripper
- Hand Sewing Needles (though often out of stock, these Japanese ones are my favorites, with these in 2nd place.)
- Thread
- Pins
- A Sewing Machine
- Sewing machine needles
- A steam iron
- An ironing table or ironing board
- A pressing “ham”
Optional:
- A thimble: Though I’d love to require it, a thimble is optional. This leather thimble is an excellent “starter thimble.” I highly recommend giving a thimble a try!
- Push pins or fabric weights
- If you have trouble threading needles, you might fall in love with this Clover needle threader.
- If you think you might have difficulties fitting fabric to your body, you might enjoy Wonderclips or
- a wrist pincushion or
- a zipper or some velcro
- If you want an upgrade for your sewing machine, I highly recommend a sewing machine extention table.
- a pattern notcher
WEEK THREE: (Nothing new to add!)
WEEK FOUR – SIX: Your Skirt By this time, you will need the materials for your first custom skirt. During the previous weeks of the class, we will discuss and help pick out and purchase exactly what you are going to use. Here is most likely what you will need:
- Skirt Fabric: yardage depends on your design. We will be working with woven fabrics only. (No knits or stretch fabric!)
- Matching thread
- Matching 7-9” zippers : I’ll show you how to use standard zippers and invisible zippers.
- a standard zipper foot for your machine
- Hook & Eye and Skirt Hook closures
Optional:
- Invisible zipper foot for your sewing machine
- Lining fabric
- Light pencils (if using dark fabric)
- Pinking Shears
- 1/2″ and 1″ bias tape makers
- 1/2″ single fold and double fold bias tape
- Unbound Grosgain or Petersham
- Blind hem foot for your machine
All Amazon links are affiliate links. Ordering directly from this page will earn a small commission for me at no additional costs to you. I appreciate your support!
Watch the Skirt Skills Tools and Supplies Video Lesson:
Peek into my sewing room and learn more about how upgrading your tools and materials can upgrade the quality of your garments and the experience of creating them in “Sew Like a Pro”, an article I wrote for Seamwork Magazine.
Wanna make a cool table like mine? Check out DIY Professional Sewing Room Table.
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Upcoming Course Sessions
Skirt Skills will start August 20, 2020 and will run for 6 weeks (or at your own pace).
→ Registration has SOLD OUT!
→ Though subject to change, the next opportunity to register will likely be in December for a session starting in early January 2021.