Visual Materials Guide

The following images may help you identify unfamiliar parts from the course supplies. This is not a complete guide as many parts are either well-labeled or likely clear from context.

Textile Materials

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Sew-On Hook & Loop Fasteners Set - 1 Yd. X 5/8”. Use sew on hook and loop fastener sets (hook and loop) are a quick attachment and release item most often sewn into fabric items. Also called velcro.

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Cotton Piping Drapery Cord - 3/8”/Size 4 - White. Cotton piping drapery cord is used for both light and heavy-weight fabrics. Also used in seams of seats or cushions (as piping) to strengthen and improve durability.

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Braided Elastic - 1/4” - White. Braided elastic is shrink-resistant and features a horizontal pull that stretches lengthwise. It narrows when stretched. It is not recommended that you cut braided elastic horizontally. Braided elastic is both washable and dry cleanable. A light-weight elastic that can be used with or encased by all types of fabrics.

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Gutermann Mara 100 is an all-purpose sewing thread for high-quality holding and closing seams.

  • 100% polyester

  • General purpose thread for medium-weight fabrics

  • Recommended needle size 10-14

  • Tex 30 (refers to size of thread

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Muslin fabric. Unbleached, mid-weight woven fabric. Muslin fabric is considered the best fabric for mocking up most sewn projects.

  • 100% Cotton

  • 3.2 oz per square yard, 60” wide

  • Thread count is 68 threads per inch x 68 threads per inch

  • When washed, this fabric shrinks about 4% in Length and 1% in Width

  • Machine wash in any temperature water

Structural

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The Plastic Tension Locks Triglide are useful for quickly rigging webbing straps to attach pieces to the body.

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Aluminum armature wire is a soft, ductile wire which is easily bent and holds a shape. It can be used to make freeform stiffening elements for on-body wearables.

Cardboard Materials

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Single-faced cardboard is sold as a packaging material but we use it for making lightweight wearable structures and mechanisms. It has only one continuous face so the flutes are exposed. We stock ‘B-flute’ which has 1/8 inch flute size.

Cardboard Tools

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Bone folders are traditional bookbinding tools for creasing paper or cardboard.

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Plier staplers can be used to quickly join cardboard.

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Cutting rulers can be used to make precision cuts safely in cardboard; the ruler guides a blade and keeps it away from your fingers. Please be sure to put a cutting mat underneath.

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An awl is a tool in the form of a sharp steel spike used to poke holes in cardboard or fabric.

Textile Tools

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Sewing Machine Needles - Size 12 - Regular Point. For use with most consumer-level sewing machines (not for industrial machines. Size 12 is an average size needle that can be used with middle weight fabrics such as muslin. “Regular Point” needles have a sharp tip and are used for woven materials. (“Ball Point” needles have a slightly more rounded tip and are used for knit materials.)

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Assorted hand sewing needles and needle threader. This assortment pack comes with 25 steel hand-sewing needles and 1 needle threader in a compact storage case. Includes Betweens, Sharps, Straw/Milliners, Chenille, Tapestry and Crewel. Use the back of the compact to identify the needle size and style. Click here for the Dritz Needle Tutorial (PDF) about different kinds of hand sewing needs.

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For cutting fabric and paper by hand. Often people will have one pair of scissors dedicated for fabric and another pair of scissors for all other items.

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A seam ripper is used to cut and remove unwanted stitches; such as when one has made a sewing mistake and needs to be removed. Lift threads with the point and cut threads with the blade. Point can also be used to remove threads. Seam ripper measures 2-1/2”.

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Grabbit steel sewing pins are easy to grasp and push into fabric. They feature a smooth finish and work great with pin and wrist cushions. 80 per package.