Favorite tools: The screw punch

Today I’m sharing one of my favorite tools when cutting and marking patterns: the humble screw punch.

What is a screw punch? It’s basically a hole punch. But unlike your regular office hole punch, you can punch holes anywhere on your paper, not just near an edge.

It has a removable tip for various hole sizes. You simply press down on it to punch a hole. Be sure to have a cutting mat underneath, or a thick surface you don’t mind cutting up (like cardboard), because it will punch straight through.

I use it every single time I cut a pattern to punch holes in the markings.

As soon as I cut my patterns, I punch holes in the markings. It’s part of my process. Here, I’ve punched a hole in the circle that indicates the shoulder seam on a sleeve.

Then I just mark the fabric with my handy Clover pencil, and that’s that!

Also very helpful for dart tips, or any other markings on the interior of a pattern.

There are lots of them at various price points on Amazon, so pick one up! It’s worth it, I assure you.