Machines & tools

A dress form with dial-controlled sections that can be resized to approximate a range of body measurements for fitting multiple sizes on one form.

A sewing machine, typically hand-crank or treadle powered, manufactured in the 19th or early 20th century, often collected and restored for its mechanical craftsmanship.

A machine embroidery technique combining a placement stitch, a fabric piece, and tack-down and cover stitches to attach and finish a fabric applique.

An open-toe presser foot offering a clear view of the needle and stitch line, used for satin stitching and detailed applique work.

An industrial machine that sews a small, dense block of zigzag stitches to reinforce stress points such as pocket corners and belt loops.

A long, loose straight stitch used to temporarily hold fabric layers together for fitting or easing before permanent stitching is sewn.

A presser foot with a guide bar that runs along a folded hem edge, positioning the needle to catch only a thread or two for an invisible hem.

A stitch pattern combining several straight stitches with a single zigzag jog, used with a folded hem to catch fabric almost invisibly from the right side.

A small spool that holds the lower thread supply, fitting into the bobbin case beneath the needle plate to form the underside of a lockstitch.

A metal or plastic holder that houses the bobbin and regulates lower-thread tension via an adjustable spring before the thread reaches the needle plate.

Fine-tuning the small screw on the bobbin case that controls how much resistance the lower thread meets, used to correct or balance stitch formation.

A spindle and motor mechanism on a sewing machine that winds thread evenly onto an empty bobbin, usually engaged by disengaging the main stitching mechanism.

A presser foot, often with a sliding or automatic template, that guides the machine through the multiple stitch passes needed to form a buttonhole.

A dedicated industrial machine that automatically cuts and stitches buttonholes at high speed with consistent quality for mass garment production.

Small scissors, sometimes with an adjustable screw stop, designed specifically to cut open the center of a stitched buttonhole without overcutting.

A narrow, dense zigzag stitch sewn in a rectangular path with bar tacks at each end to create a reinforced opening for a button.

A looped stitch formed by a single needle thread interlocking with a looper thread in a chain-like pattern beneath the fabric, used alone or alongside cover stitching.

A smooth, flat hardwood block pressed onto a just-steamed seam or edge to flatten and set a sharp crease as it cools.

A transparent, gridded acrylic ruler used with a rotary cutter for measuring, marking, and cutting straight and angled lines through fabric.

An industrial sewing machine motor that runs continuously, engaging the machine via a friction clutch pedal, resulting in a distinctive momentum on start and stop.

A machine controlled by an onboard computer that stores stitch patterns and adjusts tension and length automatically, typically operated through a digital screen or touchpad.

A machine that sews two or three parallel rows of straight stitching on top with interlocking looper threads underneath, used for hems and flat seams on knits.

A self-healing, gridded mat that protects work surfaces and guides straight or angled cuts when used together with a rotary cutter.

A large, flat, sturdy work surface, often at standing height, sized for laying out fabric and patterns for cutting.

An industrial machine with a narrow, tube-shaped bed that allows sewing on cuffs, cylindrical items, and other hard-to-reach curved seams.

A small, often spring-loaded hoop-shaped presser foot used with the feed dogs dropped for free-motion stitching, darning, and thread sketching.

A serger or coverstitch feature using two independently adjustable feed dogs, front and back, to stretch or gather fabric as it feeds, preventing waves or puckering.

Software used to convert artwork or images into a stitch-by-stitch embroidery file, defining stitch type, direction, density, and sequence.

Long-bladed scissors with an offset, bent handle that lets the lower blade rest flat on the cutting table for accurate cutting through fabric layers.

Waxed, colored transfer paper placed between a pattern and fabric so a tracing wheel presses temporary marking lines onto the fabric surface.

Applique scissors with one wide, flat, blunt-tipped blade that slides beneath the top fabric layer to trim it without cutting the layer below.

Routine removal of lint and dust from a sewing machine's bobbin case and feed dogs to prevent overheating, jamming, and premature wear.

A presser foot with a central guide blade that rides along a folded or seamed edge, keeping the stitching a precise, consistent distance from the edge.

A machine with an electronic motor and circuit board for consistent speed control, while stitch selection is still set mechanically via dials, blending durability with convenience.

Software used to browse, resize, combine, and edit purchased or created embroidery designs before sending them to an embroidery machine.

A proprietary or standardized file type, such as .pes or .dst, that encodes stitch placement and machine commands for a specific embroidery design.

A pair of concentric rings that clamp fabric taut and, for machine embroidery, attaches to the machine's drive arm to be moved automatically during stitching.

A sewing machine, often computerized, that stitches pre-programmed decorative designs by moving a hooped fabric under the needle according to digital instructions.

Small, sharply pointed scissors, often around four inches long, used for precise trimming of thread and detail work close to fabric.

A pen filled with ink or dye designed to mark fabric temporarily, with the mark later removed by water, heat, or exposure to air.