Below are links to tools, materials and supplies that I ACTUALLY USE and RECOMMEND. Some links on this page are affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a purchase through one of these links, Artisan Vestments may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend tools, materials, and resources that I personally use or genuinely trust in my work. Your purchase helps support the work of this site. Thank you!
Bocce’s Bakery Dog Treats: These are Piper’s favorite treats. They are soft and easy to consume (even though she is missing two large back teeth). She gets one of these when she comes to visit me in my workroom. I buy these in multiple flavors, but she gets the Sweet Dreams each night before bed.
Sewline Air-Erasable Fabric Pen: This pen is indispensable for machine embroidery placement and hooping as well as aligning and placing orphreys on a vestment. I use it regularly on silk damask and taffeta and it always disappears completely.
12.5 x 12.5 Square Quilting Ruler: I like this one because it isnt as busy as some of the quilting rulers (or as expensive). It is great for trueing up the warp and weft of a piece of fabric (as best you can) so that you can align embroidery, cutouts, orphreys, whatever and ensure the fabric layout isnt crooked.
Gingher Serrated Dressmaker Scissors: I recently splurged on these. I have had the standard dressmaker scissors for decades, but I came across these recently. The serrated edge gives a grip on slippery, delicate fabrics like silk. The teeth on one blade grip the fabric for more precision. A must-have for working with all the silk taffetas and soft silk ecclesiastical fabrics.
Fiskars cutting mats: These are worth paying for the good ones. The only time one got too damaged to use was when I loaned one to a contractor who was cutting wood slats using a box cutter for a reno project. For regular sewing, these are the best. I have two 24″ x 36″ and two 18″ x 24″ so that I can cover my whole cutting surface.
Olfa 45mm Rotary Cutter: I know there are other less expensive cutter brands out there, but I use an Olfa. Mainly because the price on the replacement blades with the Olfa is better than others. You buy the cutter once. You buy the blades forever. You can get a 10 pack of Olfa blades and Olfa cutter for about the same price of one Fiskars cutter and 5 blades.
Olfa 45mm blades 10-pack: Pretty self explanatory. Since you buy these forever, spend more on the cutter and save on the blades.
Olfa 45mm pinking blades: Great for trimming off seams to help prevent fraying.
Wool Pressing Pad 18″ x 24″: I do not use an ironing board ever while sewing – my workshop is just too small to have one up all the time. This is a great size that fits on my worktop for quick seam pressing or pressing out newly stitched embroidery.
Wool Pressing Mat 22″ x 60″: I do not use an ironing board ever while sewing – my workshop is just too small to have one up all the time. This is the large size mat that I use for pressing out a roll of fabric or large vestment pieces.
Panasonic Cordless 360 Iron: Another expensive item, but extensively used and oh-so convenient. This is a newer model than mine, but same features. The cordless means I’m not fighting with a cord. It is small, and has steam holes across the entire 360 surface. It also is less powerful than my Rowenta which means less chance of accidentally scalding fabric when attaching trim to orphreys.
Stainless 18″ Ruler with rubber back: This is a good length (and significantly cheaper than the 24″) for marking lines for placing embroidery. The rubber back keeps it from slipping. I keep this one hanging over my work table so it is handy.
Wiseman Trading Glass Fabric Weights: I like that these are heavy, don’t break, are smooth and are easy to keep clean – imperative when sewing with expensive silks.
Sew Tech Thread Stand: I keep two of these around because they are great for holding large spools of embroidery thread. But they collapse down to store well in small spaces.
Sewing Clips: These come in a little metal container which is functional, but not aesthetically great. But the price is right and these are better than pins for most vestment assembly work.
HBI Tear Away Embroidery Stabilizer: This is better than any of the expensive brands that I have used when it comes to ecclesiastical embroidery. I purchase the 12″ x 50yard role.
HBI Peel-n-stick Embroidery Stabilizer: This is better than any of the expensive brands that I have used when it comes to ecclesiastical embroidery. I purchase the 12″ x 10yard role.
Odif Temporary Adhesive Spray: Great to use on the tear away stabilizer to adhere it temporarily to the fabric for stitching out the embroidery. Not too sticky and a little goes a long way.
Steam-a-Seam 2: ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL for creating and attaching orphreys for vestments. I buy this in the two pack at least – 1/4″ width. No steam-a-seam = no orphreys. ☹️