Other tools and accessories

Q: How can you mark without leaving visible residue or losing track during assembly?

Mark with lines that are easy to read at a glance but don’t overwhelm the piece. A fabric marker gives crisp lines for cuts and notches; tailor’s chalk provides a drier option on surfaces where you prefer less marking; water-erasable fabric pens and air-erasable fabric pens create temporary marks that disappear with moisture or over time. Before working directly on the garment, always test on a scrap of the same fabric and check visibility under the actual lighting in which you’ll be sewing or assembling.Set yourself a simple routine: mark → check → sew/assemble → remove the mark once that section is finished. Avoid marking the entire project at once if you’ll be handling it a lot; references may shift and cause confusion. On curves, mark key points and connect them mentally; on long straight lines, spaced points with a light guide are enough. By combining a fabric marker, tailor’s chalk, a water-erasable fabric pen and an air-erasable fabric pen, you’ll have clear guidance when needed and a clean surface once you’ve finished.

Q: How do you use a seam ripper to correct without damaging the fibre?

The seam ripper is designed for precise unpicking. Slide the fine tip under the stitch and cut with short, controlled movements; avoid pulling out long sections in one go. Work from the safer area towards the critical section, keeping the fabric supported so tension doesn’t work against you. If the thread is very tight, make spaced cuts and release the seam gradually. This way you prevent runs and tears in delicate fabrics or in narrow joins where the material won’t forgive mistakes.To protect your guiding hand, take your time and, if you’re working close to the needle, remember that a sewing thimble reduces the risk of small accidents. Check for leftover threads before resewing: hidden strands can create bumps or affect the drape. When you stitch again, rework the line with even stitches and without pulling tight, ensuring the edge recovers its shape. With patience and care, the seam ripper saves work without leaving a trace.

Q: What is a blocking mat used for?

In general, the blocking mat helps to shape and hold a damp piece in place until it dries with the desired structure. It’s useful in finishing stages where you want the fabric to stretch, settle or regain symmetry before assembling or presenting. Think of it as a surface that brings stability to the process: you place the piece, adjust the edges carefully, and let time do its work—without the need for extra tools from other families.Using it after a sewing or crochet session allows you to check proportions and correct slight ripples. Work patiently, avoiding sudden pulls; the aim is for the piece to move on to the next step in the intended shape. If you’re repeating patterns, note down positions and approximate drying times: this will give you consistency across units. In this way, the blocking mat becomes a discreet support that improves the final result without complicating your workflow.

Here you can find other tools and accessories to complete your workspace with useful items for developing your projects. Protect your fingers with a sewing thimble, guide the thread through with a needle threader, and unpick without damaging the fabric using a seam ripper. Keep your pins on your wrist with the magnetic pincushion. For marking, use a fabric marker, tailor’s chalk, water erasable fabric pen or air erasable fabric pen depending on the project. Block your granny squares with the blocking board. For lighter finishing, a blocking mat helps to set shapes with ease. If you want to buy online in Spain, at Garmon Yarns you’ll find practical options at a good price to prepare, mark and adjust smoothly, keeping every step clear from the first to the last stitch.

Looms, pom-pom makers and knitting mill

5 Products

Needle Stoppers

1 Product

Ball Winders and Swifts

2 Products

Gauges and tape measures

3 Products

Scissors and cutters

11 Products

Stitch markers and row counters

3 Products

Other tools and accessories to help with your needlework

There are other tools and accessories designed to support preparation, marking, unpicking and finishing in your workflow. A sewing thimble protects your fingers and gives leverage when pushing the needle; the needle threader makes it easier to pass the thread through when changing thicknesses or working with less rigid fibres. The seam ripper allows you to unpick stitches precisely without tearing the fabric. For marking, you can rely on a fabric marker, tailor’s chalk, a water erasable fabric pen and an air erasable fabric pen; and for shaping, the blocking mat helps to set and maintain form after dampening.

These tools complement each other to minimise mistakes and interruptions. With a basic set, you can make clear marks, test adjustments and correct with control before sewing or finishing. The needle threader saves time with tricky threads; the sewing thimble reduces strain in long sessions; the seam ripper lets you correct every stitch with accuracy. For marking, alternating between a fabric marker, tailor’s chalk, a water erasable fabric pen or an air erasable fabric pen gives you versatile temporary marking options; and with a mini iron and a blocking mat, you can set pieces neatly without resorting to complicated solutions.

How to choose other tools and accessories according to your project

Think in terms of tasks. If you hand-sew dense fabrics, a sewing thimble with solid support and a needle threader help you avoid hold-ups when preparing the thread. For corrections, choose a seam ripper with a clean tip and a cap so you can store it without snagging. For marking, use a fabric marker, tailor’s chalk, a water-erasable fabric pen or an air-erasable fabric pen according to the visibility you need and your planned working time, prioritising lines that come off easily and leave no visible residue on the piece.

For light finishing, a mini iron helps to set seams and folds with greater control than a bulky appliance. To present the shape, in general, a blocking mat lets you secure the damp piece until it dries with the desired structure (without going into other accessories). If you’d like to compare formats and availability, you can buy online in Spain at garmonyarns.com and keep what fits your worktable, avoiding extras you won’t use every day.

Another important tool: wooden blocking board for granny squares

Wooden blocking boards for granny squares are an essential tool for giving your crochet pieces shape and uniformity. They allow you to secure each square to the exact size, avoiding variations that make it harder to assemble blankets, cushions or garments. By using a board with guides and pegs, every granny square stays perfectly aligned, resulting in a neat, professional finish without irregularities.

In addition to making your work easier, blocking boards for granny squares help the fabric retain its shape better over time. They are reusable, durable and designed for comfort, even in large-scale projects. With them, you’ll save time during assembly and ensure all your pieces fit together effortlessly, raising the quality of any crochet project.

Magnetic wrist pincushions: another useful tool for your needlework bag

Traditional pincushions are a basic accessory for keeping pins close to hand and working more safely. They let you insert and organise your pins without the risk of losing them on the table or floor, helping you avoid accidents and keeping your sewing space tidy. They come in different shapes and materials, from classic fabric styles to firmer models, adapting to each person’s preferences.

On the other hand, magnetic wrist pincushions offer an even more practical solution: they fasten around the wrist and keep your pins available at all times, without interrupting your work. The magnet holds them securely, making it easy to pick up and release quickly during sewing, embroidery or patchwork projects. They’re ideal for those looking for comfort, speed and smoother progress at every stage.

Temporary marking: fabric marker, chalk and pens

First, define what you need to see: cutting lines, notches or simple reminders. The fabric marker leaves clear, easy-to-spot lines; tailor’s chalk works well on surfaces where you prefer a drier mark; the water-erasable fabric pen and the air-erasable fabric pen provide temporary markings that disappear with moisture or over time. The idea is to mark just enough to guide you and remove it effortlessly when you move on to sewing or finishing, avoiding overloading the fabric surface.

For longer workflows, set up a small routine: mark before cutting, check visibility under different lighting, and remove markings as soon as you’ve sewn the section. If you alternate between fabrics, keep a fabric marker, tailor’s chalk, a water-erasable fabric pen and an air-erasable fabric pen at hand so you have multiple temporary marking options without relying on a single tool. Less improvisation = fewer corrections. This approach keeps the project easy to read and speeds up decision-making between steps.