Costuming Tools

Cover Photo by Susan Holt Simpson on Unsplash

When costuming, or doing any kind of sewing for that matter, I use many tools. I thought I’d share my 3 favorite costuming tools here.

1. Seam Ripper

To alter existing costumes, you will likely need to remove many seams. My favorite costuming tool to for this is a “surgical seam ripper” or a disposable scalpel. You can find the seam ripper on Amazon. It costs between $2.50 and $15.00 each.

However, I have found that a #12 Disposable Scalpel is almost exactly the same tool (if not sharper). You can find this scalpel on Amazon for around $8 for a box of 10. Just be careful when using either of these to rip seams. Both are super-sharp, and if you don’t pay attention, it’s pretty easy to slice a finger.

2. Steam Iron

My second favorite costuming tool is my steam iron. Buy the best steam iron you can afford, preferably one that is made for garment construction, and that has a separate water tank.

I am on my second Rowenta steam iron. I used the first one every single day for about 7 years before it died, and have been using my current one for more than 5 years with no problems. This iron produces a large amount of steam, and holds a large amount of water. This means you don’t have to stop to refill the tank as often.

The design with the water stored in a separate tank means that the actual iron is very light-weight. This saves wear-and-tear on your wrists when using it for large projects. This iron is designed to be also used as a vertical steamer. This comes in handy when refreshing costumes between performances.

Between my two Rowenta irons, I had a Duetto iron that I thought would be similar, but unfortunately I was never able to make it stop spitting water on my fabric, which was a mess.

3. Furrier Thread

My third favorite costuming tool is Furrier Thread, also known as Silamide. For any hand-sewing on costumes – especially dance costumes – it is best to use a heavy, coated thread that won’t easy break under stress. I prefer Silamide waxed nylon thread (traditionally used by furriers to securely sew skins for coats).

This thread is not cheap, usually $12 – $23 per skein (depending on where you buy it), but I have found that a skein will last several years, and it is well worth the price for the seam strength that results. A limited range of Silamide colors is available on Amazon, and Manhattan Wardrobe Supply carries the full range of colors.