I always starch my fabric befgore cutting out the pieces, helps prevent fraying. I use Caryola washable markers for marking I need to do. I alos use a round wooden toothpick to roll under my seam allowance as stitching. The roughness of the wood grips the fabvric and makes turning under a breeze. The last itme I cant be without is my 3.50X magnifing glasses, so much easier when you can see what youre doing!