Welcome to “How Do I Use It?” where you’ll learn how even expert sewers use the basic sewing supplies that we recommend and use at Sewing Starter.

How Do I Use Glass-Headed Pins?
Pins are used to hold fabric in a variety of ways: Pins can be used to anchor pattern tissue paper to one or more fabric layers. Pins also come in handy in securing two pieces of fabric together as you sew. Some machines do a better job of sewing over pins, so if you’re new to using a sewing machine, it’s a safe bet to remove the pins as you come to them. Why do we recommend glass-headed pins? Because you will often use a hot iron as you sew, and pins with plastic heads WILL MELT under your hot iron. So we recommend only glass-headed pins. If you have plastic-headed pins, we strongly suggest donating them or tossing them because cleaning up a sticky iron is frustrating and time consuming. If you have only metal headed pins, they can be hard to see in carpet, but they will do just fine for ironing and sewing.

How Do I Use a Disappearing Fabric Marker?
Disappearing fabric markers, such as the marker we recommend from Collins, are felt-tip pens designed especially for fabric. The ink rinses out with water or disappears in about 72 hours, so liquid markers can be used on the right side of most fabrics. These are great for quick projects, such as crafts and skirt or pant hems.

How Do I Use a Seam Gauge?
Seam gauge helps make quick, accurate measurements for hems, buttonholes, scallops, and pleats. It is a small 6” metal or plastic ruler with a sliding marker. For instance, you’ll use a seam gauge to measure how much to turn up and sew a hem at the bottom of a skirt or pants legs.

A seam gauge is one of the measuring tools we recommend on SewingStarter.com. Don’t have a seam gauge? They’re only a few dollars on our Supplies page.