Cheongsam tailoring tools: Chalk powder bags

Chalk powder bags
1960s to 1970s
Hong Kong Museum of History collection
The chalk powder bag is a small leather or fabric pouch holding coloured chalk powder with both ends fastened by a thread. A cord consisting of several strands of cotton thread runs through the centre. As the cord is pulled out of the bag, the coloured chalk powder adhering to it casts lines on the fabric, which is then cut along the chalk marks. Tailors usually have several of these bags each containing a different colour powder to be used on fabrics of different colours.