Best of Madam Sew: Press & Mark Edition

The Press & Mark Edition is built around the two things that make sewing look finished: crisp pressing and accurate marking. It brings together ten Madam Sew favourites, from the 17 by 24 inch wool pressing mat and the 18 inch hot hem ruler to heat erasable pens, a seam guide ruler, and a sliding measuring gauge. It is a friendly start for a new sewist and a real time saver for anyone who sews a lot.

Measure with the gauge, mark with the pens, and fold and press hems straight on the hot hem ruler. Press seams flat on the wool, hold thick layers with the XL clips, and cut with less effort using the spring scissors. The pin retriever finds the pins that hit the floor, and it all fits in the red project bag.

Press it. Mark it. Finish it beautifully.

Why You'll Love It

• Hems Pressed in One Step: Fold your fabric over the 18 inch hot hem ruler to the line you want and press right on top. The felted wool stays cool, so your hem comes out straight and even.
• Press Crisp From Both Sides: The 17 by 24 inch wool mat sends your iron's heat back through the fabric so seams lie flat, and the protective cloth keeps delicate fabric safe from shine marks.
• Mark and Measure With Confidence: Set the sliding gauge once and check the same hem again and again, then mark with heat erasable pens that vanish under the iron.
• Seams That Line Up: The seam guide ruler shows you exactly where to set your needle, and the magnetic seam guide keeps your fabric the same distance from it all the way along.
• Hold, Cut, and Tidy Up Easily: XL clips grip thick layers without pins, the spring scissors open on their own after every cut, and the lighted pin retriever picks up dropped pins in seconds.

1. Extra Large Wool Pressing Mat, 17 by 24 inches

• Size: 17 by 24 inches and half an inch thick, about 10.5 inches longer than the original mat
• Material: 100% felted New Zealand wool, naturally fire resistant
• How it helps: The dense wool absorbs your iron's heat and gives it back through the fabric, so seams and hems come out crisp and flat, with no puckering or stretching
• Weight: 34.5 oz (980 g), light enough to take to class
• Includes: A clear vinyl storage bag that closes with 2 snaps
• Good to know: Steam and moisture can seep through the mat, so protect wood or other sensitive surfaces underneath

2. Spring Loaded Fabric Scissors

• What they do: A spring gently opens the blades after each cut, so you use less hand effort, especially on several layers or long cutting sessions
• Blades: Long, precision ground stainless steel blades that cut all the way to the tip
• Handle: Soft, non-slip thermoplastic rubber grip with room for four fingers and a rest for your thumb
• Fits: Both right and left handed users
• Safety: A slide lock keeps the blades closed for safe storage
• Good for: Heavy cutting, and anyone with weakness or pain in their hands

3. Hot Hem Ruler, 18 inches

• Size: 18 inches long by 2.5 inches wide
• Material: Heat resistant, non-slip felted wool that stays cool to the touch, even under the iron
• Markings: Grid lines for hems from one-eighth inch up to 18 inches, with 45 degree guides for mitered corners (neat, angled corners where two hems meet)
• How you use it: Lay it along the fabric edge, fold the fabric over to the line you want, and press right on top with steam or dry heat
• Good to know: The longer version of our 10 inch hot hem ruler, so it handles wider hems and longer folds

4. Telescopic Needle and Pin Retriever

• What it does: A strong magnet in the tip picks up dropped needles, pins, and other small metal bits, with an LED light in the middle to help you spot them
• Size: 7.5 inches folded, and it extends up to 32 inches, so there is no bending or reaching into tight spaces
• Magnet: Lifts up to 8 lbs, with a magnetic surface half an inch across. How much it lifts depends on the size and position of the item
• Material and weight: Stainless steel with an anti-slip grip, 2.89 oz
• Light: Comes with 3 LR44 button cell batteries. Turn the head to switch the light on
• Good to know: Safe to use around computerized sewing machines

5. Project Bag, Madam Sew Red

• Colour: Madam Sew Red
• Size: Two pockets, a large back pocket of 16 by 16 inches and a small front pocket of 10 by 16 inches
• Material: Durable, tear resistant, waterproof mesh PVC, with nylon handles and binding and a nylon and metal zipper
• Features: See-through mesh so you can spot your project at a glance, and a front slot with a two sided project card for labelling
• How you use it: Holds cut pieces, quilt blocks, patterns, threads, and notions. Carry it by the handles or hang it from a hook, hanger, or door knob
• Care: Dust out the inside, wipe the plastic with a damp or soapy cloth, and dry it fully before using it again

6. XL Sewing Clips, 25 pieces

• Count: 25 clips per box, in bright mixed colours that are easy to spot if one drops
• Size: 2.25 inches long by half an inch wide, and they open to three-quarters of an inch to hold many layers
• Seam markings: On the flat base at 0.20, 0.25, 0.40, 0.60, 0.80, and 1 inch
• Made of: Plastic and steel (contains nickel)
• Good for: Thick fabrics, many layers, and fabrics where you do not want pin holes, like vinyl or leather. The flat base feeds smoothly under the presser foot

7. Heat Erasable Fabric Marking Pens with Refills

• Contents: 4 pens (white, black, red, and blue) plus 4 refills, one for each colour
• Tip: A fine 0.7mm point that draws a thin 0.35mm line
• How they erase: The marks stay as long as you need, then vanish with the heat of your iron
• Works on: Nearly all fabrics. Use the white pen on dark fabric; white ink can take a few seconds to show up
• Good to know: Test on a scrap of every fabric first, as faint ghost marks can appear on some. Marks can come back in very cold conditions, so skip them on the top of a show quilt. Store capped and tip down, and use within 5 months

8. Seam Guide Ruler with Magnetic Seam Guide

• Ruler size: 5.5 by 2.5 inches, in sturdy, see-through fluorescent yellow green plastic
• Needle holes: 16 holes for seam allowances from one-eighth inch to 2 inches. Lower your needle into the hole you want to set your seam
• Extra markings: One-eighth, one-quarter, and 1 inch markings, a 45 degree line, quarter and half inch lines, and a quarter inch pivot cross for marking corners
• Magnetic seam guide: Steel with a strong magnet, about half an inch by 2 inches. It sits on most needle plates or metal machines to guide your fabric
• Good to know: For quarter inch seams, place the magnetic guide in front of the presser foot or move your needle to the right. For seams narrower than a quarter inch, use washi tape instead

9. Protective Ironing Cloth

• Size: 15.5 by 23.5 inches
• Material: See-through mesh, so you can watch exactly where you are ironing
• What it does: Prevents shine marks, scorch marks, and flattening on delicate and textured fabrics like silk, nylon, corduroy, and velour
• Heat: Made for delicate fabrics, so avoid your iron's highest settings
• Care: Reusable and machine washable

10. Sliding Measuring Gauge, 6 inches

• Size: 6 inches (15.2 cm) long, in light, rust resistant aluminum with smooth edges
• Scale: Inches and centimetres, accurate to 1/16 inch (1 mm)
• How it works: Slide the red guide to your measurement and it stays put, so you can check the same hem or seam allowance again and again
• Uses: Measuring hems and seam allowances, and marking even spacing for buttonholes, pleats, or trims
• Extras: Small holes to pin the gauge in place, a corner hole to trace circles like a compass, a point for turning corners, and a notch at every inch

• Set the sliding gauge to your hem or seam allowance and check it along the edge.
• Mark your lines with the heat erasable pens, testing on a scrap first.
• Set your seam with the seam guide ruler and magnetic guide, and hold your layers with the XL clips.
• Cut with the spring loaded scissors.
• Fold your hem over the hot hem ruler to the line you want, and press right on top.
• Press seams on the wool mat, laying the protective cloth over delicate fabric. The heat also clears your pen marks.
• Pick up dropped pins with the retriever, and pack everything into the red project bag.