Top 11 tools I Use All the Time

It's a short list and worth it if you are going to make soft furnishings projects.   All of these tools are available online or in High Street hobby or sewing shops and DIY stores. 

I am including the manufacturer of some of the tools (those I personally have), but these are by no means the only makes you can buy.  I just happen to use certain makes of certain tools.  Other makes are available. 

The numbers below refer to each tool in the photo.
 
1.   Quilters’ Ruler (metric) 
A  ruler like this in clear acrylic, 60cm long and 15cm wide is ideal for measuring soft furnishings and I wouldn’t be without it!  Mine is made by Janome and is clearly and simply marked with metric measurements.   I work in centimetres, so this is perfect for me but you will find that many of these quilters’ or quilting rulers are made in imperial measurements (inches). 
 
2.    LARGE set square  
The key with one of these is to have each each side of the right-angle (axis) measuring no less than 24cm.
The one I use is called a Graded Set Square from a company online called Morplan.com.  Type Graded Set Square into the Search bar on their website to find it as it is not easy to navigate to find it any other way.  This professional set square also has an extra ruler on it which is useful for working out the placement of pattern on a cushion (not absolutely necessary but nice to have). 
The VAT is added at the end when you purchase.
Cheaper versions, which are slightly smaller work just as well.  They are, however, sometimes tricky to find but I have managed to source some made by Staedtler.  The model to get is the 36-45 Mars Set Square, 36cm 45/45 Degree.
 
3.    Small metal sewing gauge 
This is particularly useful for any small bits of measuring; anything in millimetres, less than 1cm, and up to 8cms, which I find I often need to measure.  It’s essentially a small, light ruler (10cm long) which is much easier to use on these small measurements rather than a big metal tape measure or the Quilters’ Ruler which doesn’t have millimetres.  These metal gauges are originally designed for measuring the placement of buttonholes and hems.  Mine is one made by Hemline.
 
4. Scissors – large and small 
A good large pair of cutting scissors is really important.  They need to be sharp right down to the end of the tips.  You also need to make sure you keep them away from anyone who might ‘borrow’ them to cut paper or anything else!  Cutting paper with these will ruin them for cutting fabric.
On searching for them online they appear to now be called Fiskars RazorEdge Fabric Scissors.  They are also advertised as 8” and sometimes as 23cm! Mine don’t have the newly added softer handles.  I personally find the Taylor’s Scissors (27cm) a bit big and clunky. 
I have a pair of a previous model of orange-handled Fiskars scissors which are 23cm in length.  I also have a pair of Prym ones (purple handles) of the same length.
For lots of cutting of large amounts of fabric I also have a pair of spring-loaded ones which are called Fiskars Easy Action Scissors (26cm). 
My small scissors are Prym ones, called Professional Embroidery and Needlecraft Scissors 5”.   
I also have a Fiskars Scissor Sharpener, which I haven’t included in my list.  You can get scissors sharpened at some High Street Heel Bars so a sharpener isn’t absolutely necessary.  Whichever way you sharpen your scissors, make sure it is done delicately!
 
5.   Pins - large and small
I use glass-headed pins which are particularly useful when you have accidentally sewn a pin into the header of a curtain and the only way to get this out is to bash it with a hammer so the glass head turns to dust and you can then poke the metal shaft out!  Believe me, this does happen!
Some fabric is easier to pin with the smaller pins so I have a few of each.
Large or Extra-long are 48mm long.  Glass-headed.
Shorter smaller ones are 30mm long.  Glass-headed.
 
6.  Darner’s needles
I find these a good length to hold on to and they have a decent eye for threading.
 
7.   Unpicker 
One of these probably comes with your sewing machine but an extra one is always useful! One with a slightly longer handle than the one from your machine is easier on your hands.   
 
8.  Frixion pen (erasable pen)
These are ‘magic’.  You can get these online or from a stationery shop.  They are a normal pen which can be rubbed out using the friction of the rubber on the end.  Amazingly, as I discovered on an embroidery course, you can use a hot iron to erase the line!  Magic!
Don’t scribble all over the fabric as it does sometimes leave a slight faint line.  You can buy packs of these but you can also just buy refills!
I do occasionally use chalk pencils – I use a white one if I am working with dark fabric as my Frixion pens are dark blue.  I recommend using these pencils rather than a large piece of chalk as they are more precise.  The chalk won’t disappear with heat or even rubbing it with your fingers so don’t be over liberal with your marking.
There are various other ‘invisible’ pens available, but I find the above work best for me.
 
9.   Metal tape measure
Any metal tape measure will do as it just needs to be sturdier and sometimes longer than a fabric one.  Especially important when measuring large areas of fabric.
 
10.    An iron
I use a cheap iron all the time.  I personally don’t tend to fill it with water as the water is very hard here so it can sometimes spurt brown liquid out!  I keep an ironing board and my iron nearby whenever I am sewing as I am always pressing the fabric at each stage of a project.  I also have a long extension lead which allows me to use the iron at any point around my worktable.
 
11. Long metal ruler
A 100cm ruler from a DIY store is really useful when you are measuring and cutting large lengths of fabric for curtains and blinds.