Craft to Career: Designing with Textiles: DIY Fabric & Fiber Projects

Craft to Career: Designing with Textiles: DIY Fabric & Fiber Projects — page 9
TOOLS OF THE TRADE Here are some of the tools you will need as you dive into the world of fiber arts BASIC ITEMS SEWING SCISSORS Fabric shears are scissors designed for use in sewing They are often a bit longer and heavier than standard scissors There are also small detail scissors They are perfect for trimming loose threads NEEDLE & THREAD Natural and synthetic threads come in almost any color you can imagine Thread has different weights You can learn more about choosing the right thread on pages 16-17 Needles also come in different shapes and sizes Choose a needle with an eye large enough for your thread Needles also have 12 different lengths and thicknesses A thinner shorter needle is better for lightweight fabric such as cotton A longer thicker needle is needed for thick fabric such as denim FABRIC Fabric comes in countless styles colors and patterns You can purchase new fabric or upcycle used fabric from clothing bedsheets or curtains Consider whether the fabric is right for what you want to make A fabric that can't be machine washed such as silk might not be a good choice for a product that you will use often such as a tote bag Some fabrics are easier to work with than others Slippery fabrics such as satin can be much more difficult to sew than a fabric like cotton