Sewing Tools
When I was working on my bag the other night, I was kind of fascinated by all the tools I was using. Sewing, I have to say, is one of the most intensive tool-based crafts I do. And I have a lot of tools and gadgets, but there are so many more out there that you can buy that the array is just stunning. Sewing implements seems to be kind of a personal thing. People have definite preferences about what sorts of pins, irons, machines, needles, etc work for them best. Things they can’t live without.
Due to school, I took a five-year hiatus from crafting because my work/school schedule was so crap-tastic I didn’t have a choice. I missed it a lot. It’s actually been fun over the past months to get involved in machine sewing in particular again. I get to see what tools I used to prefer before I packed ‘em all away, and look at how my skills have changed and what I prefer these days.
I’ve realized I was either missing things because I avoided some part of sewing (hello, zippers?) or that my tools needed some care, updating and replacement. So I’ve been in the process of buying various new things. My next couple of buys will be new fabric scissors, but good scissors are not cheap! Plus my sewing machine is squeaking (horrid noise!) and it needs a tuneup as well. So here’s the tools I can’t live without, and for those of you without a machine sewing addiction, I’ll even tell you what the hell these things are. I’ve spend literally hours on websites and in craft stores figuring out what all the gadgets do. I don’t have nearly enough of them.
Top - Measuring things: Omnigrid ruler, curve ruler, my trusty retractable measuring tape from the Container store and my cutting mat that I found on sale for 75% off. Nice!
Right - Cutting implements: Rotary cutter with 2 settings for fabric thickness (needs new blade, maybe I should get a new daisy cutter?), one pair of nice scissors (not so nice now), a pair of stork embroidery scissors (very sharp, from Jeff’s grandmother) and one with one flat, blunt side from his grandma that I’m not exactly sure what it’s for except probably embroidery - if you have an idea, let me know! I also have a larger pair of shears and pinking shears, and some folding scissors (one pair of which I actually got on the plane with!).
Left Top - Marking, Pinning: 3 different pin holders, one for regular pins, the one with an M is what I made while trying out the Berninas at the Maker Faire and it holds big quilting pins, and the other wrist one is one I got because my mom always used one like this. It holds actual needles for sewing & embroidery. Plus I have chalk thing that has interchangeable colored chalk, the inevitable seam ripper for those times when you just have to piss yourself off, and a sewing gauge with slidable guide. That last one - I had to look up its real name just now, and I once believed a ruler was just as good, but - NO.
Left Bottom - Pins and Needles: I have buckets of pins and needles. Seems like every new project needs some sort of different flippin’ needle. I have actually read where people think you ought to change the needle with each new project - no way, Jose. I have to change the durn thing often enough anyway. I do like my different upholstery and special purpose needles, and I have plastic ones for yarn, too. I think I like quilting pins and embroidery needles the best - they’re Huge!
What I don’t have, and am apparently wanting to spend all my money on: good scissors of various sorts, and maybe a circle cutter, bias tape maker and loop turner, different sizes of the omnigrid ruler (mostly a bigger one), fabric grips, a yardstick, and some sort of thing that’s reasonable for basting quilts. Oh, and I need about a metric ton more bobbins. I’m sure there’s more stuff I want, gadgets are the awesomest.
When not in use, the majority gets dumped into a basket for easy access. It also usually holds scraps of thread and some empty bobbins down at the bottom. And rats, didn’t actually mention the 1st and 2nd most important tools of machine sewing - a machine and an iron!
