Page:A complete course in dressmaking, (Vol. 1, Introduction) (IA completecoursein01cono).pdf/121



Heavy shears are needed for cutting fabrics, as illustrated in fig. 62. These ought to be kept very sharp and used only for cutting fabric. Keep a second pair of shears for cutting paper, and a small pair of scissors for clipping threads.

Many of the cloth tape measures are not accurately marked. Compare your cloth tape measure with the yard stick. A steel tape such as the one shown in Fig. 63 is always right.

Keep tailor’s wax and chalk for marking around the pattern on the goods. Use the wax only on the outer edges where the marks will be cut off. Chalk marks can be whisked off of woolens. The chalk and wax come in little cakes, as Fig. 64, and are packed in boxes. They come in white; also gray, black and red, and are on sale at all dressmaking and tailors’ supply stores.

A steel tracing wheel is a good investment. It can be used for copying patterns or marking tucks or pleats on fine silk without injuring the fabric. A tracing wheel with rough or blunt points will tear and cut silk.