Setting Up A Sewing Studio

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There are many advantages to setting up a sewing studio in your own home. While you can commission for traditional and modern outfits to be made by a dressmaker working from their own premises, a tailor working in your home will create a more desirable and well-made garment. Why? Because you’ll be on hand for fittings and to answer any niggling questions or make slight adjustments to the design in real-time, before it’s too late. Here’s a list of basic equipment you’ll need to get your studio up and running.

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An industrial sewing machine and an overlocker machine are essential. Machines come in a wide range of sizes, models and price points. However, if you have some money to splurge, automatic sewing machines will give you the best finishing. Commit to your sewing studio by investing in a blind hem machine, a coverstitch machine – great for sewing swimwear, knits and other stretchy materials -, a button-hole machine and a leather sewing machine, if you’re looking to make leather a regular staple in your designs. Different fabrics such as silk, cotton, suede and leather require different sewing needles, so make sure you stock up on a wide range of machine needles. It is also wise to purchase an adjustable stool or chair so that your seamstress can sit comfortably while tailoring your garment.

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Industrial steam irons usually come with an iron table. These irons will help you get professional and high quality results and are longer lasting when compared to household irons. It is important that the room is always well ventilated when using these irons.

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A pattern cutting table does not need to be a professional tailor’s table. As long as it is wide, long, stable and completely flat, it should do the job just fine. Should your pattern cutting table not be long or wide enough for a particular garment, a pattern cutting mat would be a good investment.

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Calico, also called muslin, is a cheap unbleached cotton fabric that tailors use to test out a design, after the pattern cutting stage, to ensure that the design and fit are perfect. Once the changes have been made and the pattern has been approved and adjusted, the tailor then sews the garment in the final, expensive fabric.

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Cutting and measuring tools play an important role in tailoring a beautiful garment. Tailoring scissors are required in all sizes from large scissors, for cutting thick fabrics, to shears with a zigzag blade, which create fray-resistant edges on garments to embroidery scissors, for close-up detailed handwork such as unpicking hems. All scissors should be sharp and used specifically for garment cutting. Other tools required include: thread clippers, rotary cutter, tracing wheel, tape measure – preferably with centimeters on one side and inches on the other-, button hole spacer and sizer and both wooden and metal rulers.

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Other essential bits and bobs you need include: a wide array of buttons in different sizes and styles, hook and eyes, diamanté stones and all other trimmings of your choice. Stock up on trimmings and fabrics whenever you spot one that catches your eye. Even though you might not use it that very week or month, chances are that one day you’ll find that a trimming you once purchased will be the perfect accompaniment to the irò, bùbà and gele that you commissioned.

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Miscellaneous sewing suppliers: Tailoring pins, the longer the better. A pin cushion or a magnet is also a great buy, perfect for keeping loose pins in one place. A thumb thimble. Safety pins of different sizes. Assorted sewing and embroidery threads (120 gauge sewing threads is a good quality to use for most fabrics), thread clippers, at least one garment rail, tailor’s dummy, tailor’s chalk, seam ripper and pattern paper or card.