Tools for Sewing Clothes

To share some of the tools I found useful when sewing clothes.

Measuring tape! To measure your size and also to measure the fabric.

Pins, lots of pins to hold the pattern to the fabric and to hold fabric together when sewing. When sewing lace or tulle, you will need to use safety pins.

Pincushion or the newer magnetic pin bowls (grabbits).

Tailor's chalk or the newer water soluble marker pens.

 Thread cutters, only if your sewing machine doesn't have one.

Unpicker, for all those mistakes you will be making. This tool was specifically made for this purpose and comes in really handy.

Fabric Shears, 1 for plain fabric and 1 more for sequins/beads. A scissors sharpener will come in handy for the latter.

Lotsa thread colours. I usually get 1 or 2 per sewing project and it gets used up. I do buy larger spools of white and black thread as it goes with almost everything.

Extra bobbins as the sewing machine only comes with 1 or 2 pieces. You need at least 1 bobbin per thread colour.

Sewing Machine needles. The sewing machine only comes with 1 piece that will break after a couple months of use. I get different types of needles for different fabrics, you have bigger needles for thick fabrics like denim and sharper needles for stretch fabrics, etc.

A ready stock of fasteners (hook & eye, press studs, buttons, zips). It's nice to pick out custom pieces for your sewing project, but such a nuisance when you have to make a trip to town everytime to get it.

Sewing Machine Presser Foots. Your sewing machine will come with 1 or 2 basic presser foots, you have to buy the rest separately. So far I have bought a few additional presser foots, am considering getting more but not sure if I will really use them.

Lierac Huile Sensorielle

Lierac's regenerating dry oil with 3 white flower extracts (jasmine, camellia, gardenia) strikes me as really traditional. 3 timeless prized flowers to create a deep heavy perfume oil that deeply moisturizes hair & skin, my hair even started curling @ the ends.

The regenerating oil is sold in 100ml pump bottles or as a water-based toning mist 100ml spray bottle. Personally, I really like the lighter & brighter perfume of the toning mist and can really see myself using the mist daily, although its not really value for money like the dry oil.

The Sensorielle range includes shower gel ($38), body scrub ($80), lotion ($58), dry oil ($68) and toning mist ($78). Lierac recently released within the Sensorielle range, a fresh new scent/oil of 3 citrus flowers (grapefruit, mandarin, orange). 

Thai Express

Stopped for a power lunch of authentic Thai food, cheaper than a holiday to Thailand and just as good.

Batik from KL

I bought some batik from a Royal Selangor shop in KL, its sold pre-cut to tourists. Gonna sew me some contemporary basics, an item on my to-do list since I was a kid.

Short batik dress with pockets and a sash. I made full use of the batik design by arranging it on the front of this dress. On the back, flowers line up nicely around the neck and all the way down the back.

Local Designers

Singapore based label Ong Shunmugam was founded by Priscilla Shunmugam, who won the Grand Award at the Design For Asia Awards 2013. Instead of seasonal collections, the label comes up with ready-to-wear collections annually and has an atelier shop space for custom designs.

It's all about Asia sourced fabrics and inspirations, delivered in high fashion style.

For modern classics we look to local blogger Velda Tan's newly formed Collate the Label, available for sale online and @ Tangs Orchard.

 This former co-founder of local blogshop Love, Bonito has been receiving loads of publicity in the last 2 years, even participating in Singapore's Fashion Week regularly.

My SG50 Project

Celebrating Singapore's Golden Jubilee (50th year) with a personal project of my own: sewing 50 articles of clothing. It's kinda ambitious, kinda ridiculous and I can't believe it is almost complete, 4 more dresses to go.

6 Amazing Fit (plus size) dresses
4 Cynthia Rowley (bubble/toga) dresses
3 Jessica McClintock (tutu skirt) dresses
2 Leanne Marshall dresses
1 re-sewn Yukata
2 Batik Dresses
5 Tutu Skirts + 1 matching Pink Top
5 Evening Gowns
3 Short Party Dresses
2 "X" Dresses
3 Jackets + 3 matching Dresses
2 Personalized Dresses
3 Hipster Dresses
2 exact same Day Dresses in Butterfly Velvet
1 Navy Blue Dress
2 Purple Day Dresses (Applique Waistband/Cutout Sleeves)

Spending my GST credits with these SG50 vouchers...

Madeleines and sandwiches from Delifrance...

SG50 raspberry tau hauy jelly frappucinos from Starbucks...

Curry puffs from Old Chang Kee.

Singapore Skincare Brands

DrGL is the brainchild of Dr Georgia Lee, local socialite and aesthetic doctor to the stars. It was inevitable that she should start selling her skincare and makeup products as regular clients would ask to buy her recommended brands. DrGL carries men & women products that cover all aspects of beauty (hair, face, body, makeup). Prices range from $100 to $200 for moisturizer. Buy from her website, Luxola.com, Tangs Orchard or Robinsons Orchard.

Rachel K cosmetics is by former Miss Singapore (2009) Rachel Kum.

The signature product is CC cream ($48) for anti-aging and colour correction. Rachel K Cosmetics is not limited to cosmetics and covers skincare for ladies as well. Buy from her website, luxola.com, Guardian, SASA.