• Tools and Machinery
• Measurement Equipment
• Drafting and Marking-out Equipment
• Loosening and Cutting Equipment
• Joining/Sewing Equipment
• Finishing/decoration Equipment

Tools usually refer to handheld devices used to carry out basic skill operations, but then, machinery is used to refer to larger devices that are used to carry out specialized skill operation(s). Essentially, machinery is larger and less mobile than tools.

When it comes to sewing, which is the stitching together of fabric pieces to make a clothing piece, we can easily pinpoint basic tools (e.g. sewing needle) and contrast them from larger machinery (e.g. sewing machine). Tools and machinery are collectively called equipment.

In sewing, the basic operations are measuring, drafting and marking out, loosening and cutting, sewing, and finishing. For each operation, there are a collection of tools and machinery that can be used to complete the task. Thus, the discussion on sewing equipment is graduated based on sewing operations.

Here are tools for taking measurements:

1.	Measuring Tape:	Measuring tape is used for taking measurement of the human body and fabric pieces. They are usually calibrated in both centimeters and inches.
2.	Straight ruler:	Straight ruler is used to measure and draw straight lines on a tracing paper or textile fabric.
3.	Camera app: (in a smartphone/ camera)	The use of cameras to take measurements is a very technical skill. A person who stands at a known distance could be snapped and then the photo is analyzed to match the pixels of the camera/smartphone to the actual centimeters of the person. This is the best option for taking measurements at a distance and serving the world.
4.	3D Body scanner:	3D body scanners are the future of body measurement. They usually scan the person’s image into a 3D software so the tailor can make make a custom fit design for the scanned image.

Here are tools for drafting and marking out:

1.	Tracing paper:	Tracing papers are used for pattern drafting and transfer. Brown papers and tailor’s carbon paper is used as tracing papers in cloth making.
2.	Tailor’s chalk:	Tailor’s chalk is used to trace fine lines on fabrics before cutting. They come in different colours.
3.	French curve:	French curves are used as guides for drawing curves onto a fabric. They come in different shapes and sizes.
4.	Straight rule/stick:	A straight rule or stick is also used as a guide for drawing straight lines on a fabric or tracing paper. Any fine straight edged rule-like stick would be fine.
5.	Pencil:	Pencils are used with tracing papers for drawing patterns.

Here are tools for loosening of seams and cutting of fabrics:

1.	Scissors and shears:	Scissors and shears are used for cutting tracing papers and fabrics. Scissors are usually much smaller while shears are generally larger and more specialized.
2.	Electric scissors:	Electric scissors is used for cutting just like the normal scissors but then it run on battery and does not release the finger fatigue from cutting too many fabrics.
3.	Razor blade:	Razor blades are used for loosening seams. Also, they are used for used for cutting tracing papers and sometimes fabrics, but is safest to use scissors or shears.
4.	Stitch ripper:	Stitch rippers are used for ripping or picking unwanted seams.
5.	Electric hand-held fabric cutter machine.	Electric hand-held fabric cutter machine is a portable cutting tool for fabrics.

Here are some tools used for sewing fabrics together into clothing pieces:

1.	Dressmaking pins:	Dressmaking pins are used to hold fabric pieces together while stitching is being done.
2.	Pincushion:	Pincushions are used to hold pins safely when not in use.
3.	Sewing needles:	Sewing needles are used to carry out hand sewing. There are different sizes.
4.	Thimble:	Thimbles are worn on fingers to protect them from possible injury while using a sewing needle.
5.	Sewing box/bag:	A suitable box or bag is a very important necessity to keep all the other tools in safe and secure condition.
6.	Sewing machine:	Sewing machines are used basically to stitch fabrics pieces together. They do the actual sewing.

Here are some tools and machinery used for finishing sewn clothing:

1.	Overlock machine:	Overlock machine is used for weaving the edges of cut fabrics or already sewn clothes. They give the clothing a well finished edges.
2.	Coverstitch machine:	Coverstick machines are used in finishing hems professionally, giving them a stretchy form and decorative look. Without it, you may have to use a sewing machine to finish your hems.
3.	Embroidery needle:	Embroidery needles are used for hand embroidery on fabrics or finished clothing pieces. Hand embroidery is the use of needles to make decorative stitches on a fabric.
4.	Embroidery machine:	Embroidery machine is a machine used to make decorative stitches on fabric.
5.	Pressing iron:	Pressing irons are used to remove wrinkles on finished clothing piece. There are steam irons and dry irons. Steam irons do not require sprinkling of water to the clothing piece, but dry irons do.
6.	Steamer:	Some clothes can’t be ironed to remove wrinkles because of their designs. Such clothes require a steamer to remove the wrinkles.

• Sewing tools and machinery are collectively called equipment.
• Sewing equipment are the devices used to measure, mark out, cut, sew, and finish textile fabrics into clothing pieces.
• Measuring equipment includes measuring tape, straight rule, etc.
• Drafting and marking out equipment includes tracing paper, tailor's chalk, French curve, pencil, etc.
• Loosening and cutting equipment includes scissors, shears, razor blades, stitch rippers, etc.
• Joining/sewing equipment includes dressmaking pins, sewing needles, sewing machine, etc.
• Finishing/decoration equipment includes overlock machine, coverstitch machine, embroidery needle, embroidery machine, pressing irons, etc.