BEGINNER CUTTING BUNDLE

Starting to sew is exciting — and a lot less frustrating when you have the right four tools from the beginning. The Beginner Cutting Bundle pairs the Madam Sew 7.5" Medium Fabric Scissors with three essentials that new sewists reach for constantly: the Fantastic Elastic roll (so you never need to buy a specific elastic width again), the heat erasable fabric marking pen set (so your construction marks vanish cleanly when you iron), and the clear pattern weights (so your patterns stay flat while you cut without a single pin).

These aren't beginner compromises — they're the tools experienced sewists actually use. Getting them together from your very first project means building good habits from the start.

Why You'll Love It

• One Roll of Elastic for Every Width You'll Ever Need — The Fantastic Elastic is a 1¼" wide knitted elastic that can be cut lengthwise to any width from ¼" upward without fraying, unravelling, or losing stretch. Waistbands, cuffs, sleeves, necklines — five yards of one roll replaces five different rolls of elastic.
• Mark Your Fabric, Then Make It Disappear — The four heat erasable pens (white, black, red, blue) let you mark seam lines, darts, pleats, and pattern points clearly on any fabric colour. When you're done, press with a hot iron at 180°F/80°C and every mark vanishes cleanly — no washing, no guessing.
• Hold Patterns in Place Without Pins or Pinholes — The three clear acrylic pattern weights hold your pattern pieces and fabric flat while you cut — no shifting, no frustration, and no pin holes in delicate fabrics. The clear acrylic means you can still read every marking underneath.
• Scissors That Are Light Enough to Use All Day — The 7.5" Medium Fabric Scissors are sized for versatility and designed for comfort, making them an excellent first pair for sewists building their toolkit from scratch.
• Four Tools That Work Together Through Every Step of a Project — Weights hold the pattern, scissors cut it, pens mark the construction lines, and elastic goes into the finished garment. This bundle covers the full beginner workflow from pattern layout to completed project.

1. Medium Fabric Scissors 7.5" 

• Length: 7.5 inches
• Design: Lightweight and ergonomic
• Use: Fabric cutting for sewing projects
  

2. Fantastic Elastic Roll — Black 

• Colour: Black (also available in white — this bundle includes black per the SKU A1A-FE-B)
• Dimensions as supplied: 1¼" wide × 5 yards long
• Thickness: 0.06"
• Stretch factor: 100%
• Material: 40% polyester (dacron) + 60% rubber; knitted construction
• Key feature: Can be cut lengthwise to any width from ¼" upward without ravelling, fraying, or loss of stretch — replaces multiple rolls of different widths
• Uses: Waistbands, sleeves, necklines, cuffs, casings, shorts, maternity wear, crafts
• Instructions: Online manual available at madamsew.com/pages/fantastic-elastic-online-manual

3. Heat Erasable Fabric Marking Pens + Refills 

• Quantity: 4 pens (white, black, red, blue) + 4 free refills (1 per colour); comes in carrying pouch with pocket-clip caps
• Tip: 0.7mm fine point; 0.35mm line width
• Ink: Heat-erasable gel; erases with iron at minimum 180°F/80°C; also removable with hairdryer or tumble dryer on high
• Works on nearly all fabrics; test on scrap first; extra care with silk
• Store tip-down, tightly capped; use within 5 months of purchase
• Important: Marks may return if exposed to temperatures below 32°F/0°C; rare ghost marks treatable with Amodex®

4. Pattern Weights — 3-pack

• Quantity: 3 weights per set
• Material: Clear acrylic — see-through, will not distort or obscure pattern markings underneath
• Features: Right-sized for easy placement and pick-up; heavy enough to hold tracing paper, sewing patterns, and fabric in place without shifting; non-glass construction — safer than glass weights
• Storage: Comes in original box with individual protective cardboard sleeves for each weight; re-use box for storage
• Use: Hold patterns and/or fabric flat while tracing or cutting — eliminates the need to pin patterns to fabric; no pin holes in fabric or paper
• Note: Some users have found the weights lighter than expected on heavier or thicker materials — test before cutting

1. Prepare your pattern and fabric. Pre-wash and press your fabric. Lay your pattern pieces on the fabric as directed. Place a pattern weight on each pattern piece — one on every corner or wherever the paper tends to lift. The clear acrylic lets you see and read all markings underneath.
2. Cut out your pattern pieces with the scissors. Hold the scissors comfortably and cut along the pattern edge in smooth, long strokes where possible. Keep the fabric flat on the table rather than lifting it — this gives cleaner, more accurate cuts. Return the scissors to a safe place when not cutting.
3. Mark construction details with the heat erasable pens. Choose your pen colour (white for dark fabrics; blue, red, or black for light fabrics). Mark darts, pleat lines, notches, button placements, and seam lines directly onto the fabric. The marks stay visible for as long as you need them.
4. Sew your project. Use the marked lines to guide your sewing. The pen marks will not rub off or fade during normal handling, so they remain clear throughout construction.
5. Erase your marks when finished. Set your iron to at least 180°F/80°C. Press over the marked areas — marks disappear completely with heat. No washing required. Store pens tip-down, capped tightly.
6. Cut and insert your elastic. Measure the elastic to the length you need. Cut lengthwise with scissors to your desired width (e.g. cut a ¾" strip from the 1¼" roll for a waistband casing). Thread through the casing, overlap and stitch the ends together. The knitted construction means cut edges won't fray.