Time for some more favorites! These are the four items that I use in my studio on a regular basis.
Pre-wound bobbins are a massive time saver. I order a large
box of white, and I also have them in several colors. The last thing I want to
do when I need a bobbin is to stop and create some more. This way they are
always on hand, and I don't have to stop what I'm doing.
Basting adhesive really makes stabilizing easy. I much prefer it over pins and tape. Sometimes, depending on what I'm stabilizing, I'll use it with pins. It makes such a difference when making things that require a layer of batting such as coasters, zipper bags, etc. I used to worry about it gumming up my needle, but after several years of use, it hasn't happened yet.
These snips make clipping threads neater. I don't use these
for cutting away fabrics, but they are great when you need to clip that thread
close to the stitching. They are so thin and lightweight. As for clipping away
excess fabric for applique, I like to use my curved embroidery scissors.
Snag Nab-It Tool is probably the best thing ever
invented for embroidery, sewing, and basic snag repair. It has a sharp point on
one end, and a rough section on the other end. It's made to pull snags through
to the back which turns a damaged sweater into like new. Have you ever finished
a project, and everything looks beautiful except those one or two stiches in
your silky satin stitches that the needle obviously missed? Of course you have!
And it's not your fault. This tool is designed to make it look like it never
happened. You just find the stitch that didn't stitch (or just sticking out in
a weird way) and insert the pointed end right at that stitch on the top of the
project. Then you gently push it completely through. The rough edges on the
opposite end of the tool will catch that annoying thread and bring it right
through to the backside. If you want you can put a tiny drop of Fray Check on
the back where the stitch is but honestly, I've never worried about that. And
you know these thread mishaps always happen at the end of your project after
you've done all that work! TIP: Store it in the little plastic sleeve it came
in and maybe put a dot of paint or nail polish on the plastic sleeve. This
little thing is so easy to lose.
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