A designer is only as good as his/her tools, and these days, you'll find some of the very latest and greatest online.

In sewing circles, these tools are called notions, and here are a few of my absolute favorites:

Transferring accurate markings onto your fabric is critical for good construction and that requires more than the standard and messy tailor's chalk found at chain fabric stores -- it cracks and crumbles and can be hard to remove.

Enter the elegant, heart-shaped Chakoner (below), which lays down a chalk line so precise you'll smile every time you pull it out of your kit. The chalk has just the right consistency, not too dense or too faint.

While I prefer traditional chalk, you can also go spy-style with dual-marking disappearing ink, water soluble pens.
Flexible rulers, from 16 to 40 inches, can be a designer's best friend, especially when you are draping and navigating the curves of your dress form.

Unlike a traditional measuring tape, they hold their shape -- a lifesaver for designing, drafting and fitting. To see how to use it, check out this fab video tip.

Surgical supply stores are a surprisingly great resource for sewing and design tools. Consider the bad-boy hemostat (as in "Nurse, hemostat!): It's the perfect tool for pulling things through tight spaces and embellishment work like ribbon- and fabric-weaving.

Rolls of examining room table paper are a great substitute for pattern paper (and much cheaper), especially when you buy the rolls in bulk. (Though tempting, don't even consider "borrowing" this awkwardly-sized item from your doctor's office!)

Tool Tip: Looking in unexpected places like surgical, office supply and hardware stores can save you money over the usual marked-up and pricey sewing shops.

Next week, we'll discover some of the best DIY fashion blogs around, so you can start your sewing, stat!


Amber Eden is the former editor-in-chief of Threads magazine and founding editor of SewStylish magazine and CraftStylish.com. She has studied draping and haute couture techniques at The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and according to her, will probably be a student there for life.