A week ago, when this was posted, I was asked to describe how these things are used. I thought that was a pretty great idea for a post, so here we go. Tell us what your favorite tools are. If you'd like, steal the button below, paste it into your blog and participate.
Kai -Super sharp scissors cut through lots of layers of fabric. I have had them for six years now and they have never needed sharpening. They are my favorite scissors for pattern cutting. And I love how comfortable the rubber gripped handles are.
Stitch Witchery is used when you want to fuse fabric together. I have seen it used like this:
1. Some folks like to use it as hem tape to take up their pants and then reinforced with a stitch.
2. Others like to use it when making incredible things such as this.
3. I have used it as a lazy way to do applique. First fuse applique to base fabric and then machine stitch around the edges. It's really fun.
And there's a plethora of other uses for this wonderful sticky when warm wonder tape!
Fray Check - I use this to seal the raw edges of appliques that I am not going to hand sew under in the traditional applique way. It sort of fuses the little loose ends in place. I remember when I first heard of using this I thought, "oh, like super glue." I hope this helps.
Yoyo maker - Yoyo baby! Sorry, I just couldn't help it. It's the Berkeley in me, perhaps? This dandy of a tool I discovered here. Thanks, Lyn. I noticed that they didn't have it in stock at Lyn's favorite place any longer, so I visited Nicole at the Material Girl Fabric shop here in the wine country. I love being able to reduce my carbon footprint by shopping locally. (More on that later in Favorite Places and Faces!)
Rotary Cutter - Once upon a time, nearly fifteen years ago, I happened upon New Pieces on Solano Avenue in Albany, California. Albany is really North Berkeley to me, just for the record. Anyway, I first fell in love with the idea of quilting way back then and bought a self healing mat, some fabric, and my very first of many Olfa Rotary cutters. Oh, and I forgot, the cutting ruler too. When I bought it, they were hesitant to sell it to me. (Had they witnessed my driving in Berkeley? These were my college days and I was always zipping around in my little yellow Opel Manta.)They explained and explained and overexplained that I wasn't to use it this way or that for I may lose a digit, perhaps even two of maybe even a whole hand if I were really unlucky. Well, I got my goodies home and with the bejesus scared outta me, it took me nearly a year to even try it. And I remembered very clearly - I MUST ALWAYS CLOSE THE BLADE WHEN NOT IN USE AND NEVER RUN IT BACKWARD ALONG THE CUTTING RULER. I was good and followed those instructions to the T. Until one day, when I had gotten really good at it, I decided that I would use the old can cut through anything tool for something completely unorthodox. If you don't like blood and gore, skip to the next tool. If you're up for the laugh of your life and a little blood, read on! So, this one day (I know I'm digressing here) after five years of dating, my husband and I decided to move in together. Now up until then I had been collecting vintage bulb vases, some even leaded. We had moved into an incredible loft in San Francisco with an amazing amount of light. My vases were each wrapped very well with copious amounts of bubble wrap and tape. I just couldn't wait until I saw the light through my neatly lined up vases. So guess what I did? Yep, I used the rotary cutter and promptly sliced a nice flap onto my left middle finger. Had it been at more of a right angle, it would have very neatly sliced it off and showed us a nice cross section (Did I mention I love biology?). Very calmly I put the finger under the water and asked Jason to get me a rag and find the car keys. The rest of the story will have to be for another day, when telling sappy love stories. Anyhoo, that was the lesson of a lifetime. Thank goodness I hadn't been playing softball that year, lest I would be benched for a good half season.
Bias tape maker - I just had to try this. I bought it this past Spring, after making a buncha crazy nine potholders. I learned how to do this here, with Jenny. This is one of the best and most colorful tutorials I have ever seen. (No wonder I am motivated and yet intimidated to do my own tutorials. ) So after making about fifteen! crazy nine potholders and binding them all by hand using no bias tape maker, I decided that I might give it a try. I have to admit I really do like the way that Heather has taught us to do quiltbinding much better than using the tape maker.
Grabbit - Not only do I love the name of this product, but I love what it does. I am messy when working - unfortunate but true. As I approach old age, I am improving in this department. This tool is great for picking up pins quickly because it's a giant magnet. So often after I remove pins quickly from a cut pattern or zipper or anything, picking them up and having them in their place is a snap! I found mine at the Sewing Workshop. (They have great pics of kanzashi right now! I remember when I was looking for kanzashi back in 2005, I stumbled upon Molly Chicken. I don't remember if it was because she did a tutorial or not.
Bamboo Pressing Tool and Point Turner - For when I have little itty bitty pieces to turn (Read: 2 inch squares pieced together) and don't feel like getting the big ole iron out. Also for when I need those corners, like collar corners or little zippy pouches, to look just perf!
Schmetz Machine Needles - I just prefer these over the others. Some folks change their needles after so many machine hours and some after each large project. I have a poor time remembering when it's time to change the needle, but I do change them to be appropriate per use. My favorite is the wing needle for Spanish hemstitching. I'll have to show you some pics sometime. I don't currently have any good pics and I haven't done this much either. But it's really cool and worth posting about and showing photos.
Vial - an easy poke free way to keep my needles organized until I free myself up enough to make one of these. Or these. (I love the work at Turkey Feathers. She keeps me inspired!)
Heritage Cutlery Bent Embroidery Scissors - I'm no embroidery pro, but when I heard these keep the pointy blade away from your just finished design, I had to have them. That's just me being a gearhead.
So . . .do tell us what your favorite tools are!
