Sewing Equipment and Hardware

You are about to make beautiful curtains for your home. The task ahead will be much more fun, and much easier if you have all the sewing equipment you will need before you make a start.

It's not necessary to make an endless list of complicated equipment you have never heard of. If you need piping cord, stiffening buckram, heading tape, thread (aways an exact match to the main color of fabric and always the right sort for the weight of fabric), pins (colored, round heads are easier to use), and needles (buy a packet to get an assortment of sizes), then purchase these at the same time you buy your fabric. Buy what you need only, there is no need to keep an endless supply in your sewing box, you may find you waste more than you use.

Let's assume you have a sewing machine and you know how to use it. So here's the short list of essential sewing equipment that will ensure your curtain-making is an enjoyable task.

Trestle table and fold-away chair are two of the most important pieces of sewing equipment you could own. Of course we've all worked on the floor before now, but the result is never as good, the process takes longer, and your back and knees ache. A fold away table and chair placed where you can comfortably work in good light is essential. Try to get a table as long as 2 metres if you can. Many people have found that their kitchen table is perfect for the job. Just remember to protect the table top before you start sewing.

Table clamps are fantastic for clamping the fabric to the table top to ensure it doesn't move when measuring, pinning, tacking, hand stitching, or drawing up headings. It ensures interlining and lining is places precisely over fabric and stays put. Buy about six clamps and be sure to protect the table top if you don't want the clamps to leave marks.

Staple guns are useful when making pelmets and covering a pelmet board with fabric, and essential when mounting a roman blind. But of course there's no need to buy one if you are not planning on making pelmets or blinds.

Scissors for cutting out fabric should be hidden away from everyday use. A good sharp pair should be used just for the making of your curtains.

Step ladders that are small and safe are great for taking out of the closet and standing on to hang your curtains safely. But we've all used the kitchen chair before and it works just as well. Just make sure you keep your balance.

Ironing your curtains as you make them means that seams are flat and smooth and the final result is crisp and professional. Ironing creases also makes seams and hems much easier to sew straight. Ideally you would press your curtains on the table you are working on, without having to move your fabric to an ironing board each time. But to be able to do this, you must remember to pad your table underneath well so the iron doesn't scorch the table top.

And then there are the little items I promise you will need:

Calculator

Small plastic ruler

Wooden folding ruler (4 meters) or metal retractable tape measure

Seam ripper - a little sharp curved blade that has a second short point that picks up stitches easily and slices them open. You will use it, as you will make a bad seam at some point. We all do.

Embroidery scissors are used for snipping small edges and seams of the fabric.

Tailor's chalk - essential for marking up seams where necessary and placement of fabric layers. It's easily removed with a brush.

Set square - used to check your right angles on corners and folds. If you have never used on then you should start. Your curtains will always then hang perfectly straight.

Now, it's time to start.

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