Fashion Notions - My Label 3D Fashion Pattern Software

Creative and professional garment sewing requires many things including a well-maintained sewingmachine, a style to create and the fabric with which to create it. But that is definitely not all that isrequired. Garment sewing involves a variety of different techniques, many of which can bechallenging if the “right tools” are not used for the process. In the sewing world these “right tools” aredefined as “notions” and sewing without “notions” would be extremely challenging!In the Webster dictionary, notions are defined as “small useful articles.” As sewers, “our sewingresource center” is probably very full of many notions already! We have pins, needles, pressing tools,marking pens, rulers, and . . . . the list goes on and on. Depending on the type of sewing that you do,your notions assortment will probably change. Different “tools” (notions) are needed for quilting thanthose that are needed for garment sewing. This article looks at the notions needed for garmentsewing and the best way to find these is to ask a group of clothing designers about their favorites.Here are the designers/experts that we asked - - -Fashion NotionsbyBarbara AlenciLouise Cutting Linda Lee Debra YoungsCutting Line DesignsThe Sewing Workshop PatternArt U WearCollectionWinter Park, Florida, USA Topeka, Kansas, USA Schoolcraft, Michigan, USAwww.cuttinglinedesigns.com www.sewingworkshop.com www.artuwear.net

Fashion NotionsSo many notions to choose from . . . . how do I decide? Let these three clothing designers help you.An example of where the point press is used is:When sewing the seam in a collar or cuff – Lay the seam on thePoint Presser and press the seam open, it enables you to get all theway into the corners. Complete the final press and your seam will bepressed all the way open – no more pleats along the seams.Point Presser and PounderDressmaker’s HamRecommended by: Louise CuttingThis is an invaluable notion – pressing is so important in garmentsewing as well as any other type of sewing. But, there are unusualshapes in garment sewing. When sewing garments you are taking atwo dimensional form and making it three dimensional – thisoftentimes includes sewing darts. The best way to press darts isover a dressmaker’s ham. This tool is also very useful for pressingshaped seams, collars and sleeve caps. The wool covering on oneside holds steam when pressing. Use the cotton covered side forpressing at high temperatures.Recommended by: Louise CuttingA sleeve board is a miniature ironing board – but for things that youcannot pull over the regular board because they are too narrow.When seams need to be pressed like those on sleeves, pant legsetc. pressing over a sleeve board is easier. The cap of a sleeve ispulled over the end of a sleeve board and is steamed so the capshape is “set”.Sleeve BoardPoint TurnerRecommended by: Louise Cutting“This tool has a very particular home in the top drawer of my sewingcabinet; I just cannot be without this.” When you sew a corner andhave to turn the piece right sides out if you do not push the cornerout all the way, the corner looks really sloppy and “homemade”. Thepoint turner makes easy work of pushing out that corner. Using apencil or a knitting needle may result in a hole in the corner. ThePoint Turner is designed for this function and will not make a hole!Your corners will never look better!Recommended by: Louise Cutting

Fashion NotionsFabulous notion for keeping hand sewing to a minimum or not at all!When there is a collar or a cuff that needs to be slip stitched to finish– just fuse a little of the Steam-A-Seam 2 ® tape to the fold of theunsewn cuff or collar, then fuse to the garment and using theEdgestitch Foot #10, edgestitch the piece on the right side of thegarment. The Steam-A-Seam 2 ® tape keeps everything held inplace, no puckers and no gapping! Try it you will love it! No morehand sewing! (available in ½” and ¼” wide tapes)Steam-A-Seam2 ®“See-thru” RulersRecommended by: Louise CuttingLining up the straight of grain on a pattern piece is easy with a “seethru”ruler! Being able to see lines on pattern pieces or for drawingmarked lines on your fabric is so much easier when using a rulerthat you can see through and that has lots of reference pointmarkings on the ruler. There are many different brands on themarket, so use one that you are comfortable with.Recommended by: Linda LeeThis is similar to Steam-A-Seam 2 ® tape, but sheerer. This is veryhandy when trying to “nail something down” before stitching – adifficult area, slippery fabric, etc. It is great for inserting an invisiblezipper. “Glue” down the zipper tapes before sewing them so thatpinning is no longer necessary – no slipping!Recommended by: Linda LeeExtra Fine Fusing TapeIBC Glass Head PinsLinda and Debra are very picky about pins! It is not just the glasshead aspect of the pin that is important, but they wanted the IBCbrand as well. They are incredibly precise, sharp and they glideeasily through the fabric. They are perfect for fine and delicatefabrics and they won’t snag the fabric either. Changing pinsconstantly, throwing away anything that even begins to act like it hasa burr on it or is even slightly bent is the best course of action!Recommended by: Linda Lee and Debra Youngs

Fashion NotionsLinda says she rips a lot! In fact she loves to rip! The Clover ripperwith the white handle is the sharpest to her and has the smallestpoint on the market. She also replaces them often. No dagger ripperfor her!Recommended by: Linda LeeClover Seam RipperGingher 5” Craft/Tailor’s Point ScissorsButton CoversChalk MarkersLinda loves the shape and feel of these scissors for trimming seams,clipping curves and corners and generally small cutting tasks. Shehas tried many brands and kinds, but these work the best for her.They are smooth and precise. They cut the fabric without pushingthe fabric ahead of the scissors. They bite the fabric!Recommended by: Linda LeeAs per the name of Debra’s company – Art U Wear – she createsgarments that look like art. Buttons are very difficult to find that willgo with a piece of art so Debra covers her own with fabric or trims orwhatever works for the garment! You will have to give it a try!Recommended by: Debra YoungsDebra and Linda both use Chalk Markers for their garment sewing. Itmakes nice sharp lines that are easily removed after the stitching isdone. White is the best color for marking most fabrics and you donot have to worry about the color not coming out of the fabric! TheChalk Marker from Clover makes a very narrow, consistent line andis refillable. Linda states that for topstitching she only wants totopstitch once, so she uses a ruler and chalk to mark the line on theright side of the fabric as a guide for stitching. The chalk markdisappears after stitching over it.Recommended by: Linda Lee and Debra YoungsPattern weights save so much time! Instead of pinning just place theweights on the pattern piece and cut out! There are several differentbrands on the market, check them out and only pin when it isabsolutely necessary!Recommended by: Debra YoungsPattern Weights