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Posted by The Wanderer on February 3, 2007, 3:29 am
Responding to another thread got me thinking about things in our workbox
that we wouldn't do without, and apologies if the subject has been raised
in the past.
First and foremost I reckon has to be good scissors. We have some Fiskars
spring-loaded, large and small, and they're excellent.
Extending magnet, for retrieving dropped pins.
A cheapo combined needle threader and seam ripper - I seem forever to be
reaching for the seam ripper, and my fat fingers always struggle to thread
a needle. Got three or four always in reserve for when the threader wire
parts!
A flexible wire bodkin about 6" long.
Several scalpels of various shapes.
Oh, and my clip-on magnifying glasses! :-)
Needless to say, there are lots of things we need and use, but those are
things I wouldn't want to be without.
--
the dot wanderer at tesco dot net
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Posted by Kate XXXXXX on February 3, 2007, 5:17 am
The Wanderer wrote:
show/hide quoted text
> Responding to another thread got me thinking about things in our workbox
> that we wouldn't do without, and apologies if the subject has been raised
> in the past.
>
> First and foremost I reckon has to be good scissors. We have some Fiskars
> spring-loaded, large and small, and they're excellent.
>
> Extending magnet, for retrieving dropped pins.
>
> A cheapo combined needle threader and seam ripper - I seem forever to be
> reaching for the seam ripper, and my fat fingers always struggle to thread
> a needle. Got three or four always in reserve for when the threader wire
> parts!
>
> A flexible wire bodkin about 6" long.
>
> Several scalpels of various shapes.
>
> Oh, and my clip-on magnifying glasses! :-)
>
> Needless to say, there are lots of things we need and use, but those are
> things I wouldn't want to be without.
>
We do air this one out and dust it off now and again, but it does help
as people are always coming up with new ideas, and it's good for the new
sewists to see what us oldies use and find most useful.
Personally, I'm a pin freak, and couldn't sew without a good selection
of good quality pins! I like the big flower head jobs for using with
thick fabrics and with the kids, and very fine long ones for both
patchwork and silks and other fine fabrics.
I also like my rotary cutters and mats! Great for cutting multiple
layers and long seams...
Other things that are maybe a tad odd but I really need at times:
Tin snips - used for cutting corset boning! No more wrecked scissors
HERE, I'm telling you!
Nail clippers: used for rounding the ends of plastic boning!
A file for cleaning off the ends of metal boning.
A hammer! MUCH better for whacking studs and grommets and things in
than those plier tools... Just don't whack your thumb by mistake!
Doll needles: perfect for miles of cartridge pleating in costume skirts...
I think favourite tools depend largely on what one is doing at the time.
Gotta love my hand crank sewing machines when a job like yesterday's
comes in!
--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!
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Posted by on February 5, 2007, 7:14 am
Kate XXXXXX wrote:
show/hide quoted text
> A hammer! MUCH better for whacking studs and grommets and things in
> than those plier tools... Just don't whack your thumb by mistake!
> Doll needles: perfect for miles of cartridge pleating in costume skirts...
>
> I think favourite tools depend largely on what one is doing at the time.
> Gotta love my hand crank sewing machines when a job like yesterday's
> comes in!
Oh good. Kate has now started the topic of dragging "regular tools" into the
sewing room for possibly violent usage. ;)
I have a hammer in my sewing room too. AND!!! I have a scrap piece of
2"x4" to put under it. I don't want to whack directly away on my ceramic
tile floor, or my work tables. So I put the wood under whatever I'm
beating on with the hammer. Usually that's blue jeans. If you ever need
to work around/sew over a flat felled seam on a pair of blue jeans, whack
it with a hammer when you have it all lined up. Makes it so much easier to
sew over.
Medical implements are another one I like to drag in there. :) I have a
scalpel for delicate seam ripping. I have a pair of mayo scissors for
getting at funny spots that need trimmed. I have a pair of stitch cutting
scissors too. Those I use A LOT!! Great for opening out a hem fast.
Then I have a lot of traditional notions too. Some of my favorites are:
Space Tape, for helping size button holes correctly; Wash Away Wonder Tape,
I use that for everything from putting in zippers to putting on patch
pockets--Love it!; and glass head pins!!! Don't care what shape the glass
is, flat flower pins or little bitty bead heads. They are wonderful.
(Having had to pick a melted plastic pinhead off my iron once, I decided
never to go there again!)
Oh! And rubber shelf liner. Have it under my machines (the ones that
aren't mounted in a table.) Have it under my foot pedals so they don't
slide around. Have it lining the plastic drawers where I store thread so
the spools don't slide around. And I am sure I will find more uses for it
too. ;)
Sharon
---
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of time and just annoys the
pig.
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Posted by David Harmon on February 3, 2007, 7:29 pm
On Sat, 3 Feb 2007 08:29:17 +0000 in alt.sewing, The Wanderer
show/hide quoted text
>Oh, and my clip-on magnifying glasses! :-)
I've been looking for a pair of those. Found plenty of reading
glasses, but no clip-ons. I guess more people just use bifocals.
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Posted by Kate XXXXXX on February 3, 2007, 7:46 pm
David Harmon wrote:
show/hide quoted text
> On Sat, 3 Feb 2007 08:29:17 +0000 in alt.sewing, The Wanderer
>> Oh, and my clip-on magnifying glasses! :-)
>
> I've been looking for a pair of those. Found plenty of reading
> glasses, but no clip-ons. I guess more people just use bifocals.
>
Varifocals here! 'Distance, computer screen, sewing' is what I told the
optician! :)
--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!
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> that we wouldn't do without, and apologies if the subject has been raised
> in the past.
>
> First and foremost I reckon has to be good scissors. We have some Fiskars
> spring-loaded, large and small, and they're excellent.
>
> Extending magnet, for retrieving dropped pins.
>
> A cheapo combined needle threader and seam ripper - I seem forever to be
> reaching for the seam ripper, and my fat fingers always struggle to thread
> a needle. Got three or four always in reserve for when the threader wire
> parts!
>
> A flexible wire bodkin about 6" long.
>
> Several scalpels of various shapes.
>
> Oh, and my clip-on magnifying glasses! :-)
>
> Needless to say, there are lots of things we need and use, but those are
> things I wouldn't want to be without.
>