Saturday, January 22, 2011

Tools of the Trade

I had a wonderful rare, day to myself today. Not just an hour or two, but 9 AM to 4 PM. I spent a great deal of time this week deciding how I'd spend it, and as I'm sure you can imagine, once it started, it flew by!

After a manicure and pedicure (the world's best accessible luxury), I headed off to JoAnn fabrics. When I need a bunch of supplies, this is usually where I go. The other hobby/craft stores in my area have little to no sewing tools. I had made a list of things I'd read about (like the quilting gloves in Bari J's new book "Inspired to Sew") and I've seen the binding clips on a number of quilts-in-progress on Julie's (Jaybird Quilts) site. I have two quilts that need to be quilted and bound, so I want to be ready, right? Somehow, I always manage to come home with a bag full of stuff.

I try to spend the vast majority of my sewing dollars at either online independent stores, or local quilt shops. Alas, sometimes I need to go to the Target of sewing...and here's what today yielded.



The best purchase by far are these great baskets to hold all of the many patterns I accumulated last year. They were $5 each, and i think they look so much nicer than a plastic bin. One of my goals for 2011 is make fabric ones for my sewing room, but in the meantime, I had to clean up the mess!



The other great thing I got was a Clover mini-iron for my upcoming work on the Roses of Remembrance BOM. Everyone I speak to says you "HAVE" to have one of these to make applique easier.



Truth of the matter is, I am a total tool geek. Not to mention a magazine hoarder. I can't wait to dig into my new issue of Stitch magazine.

But here's what I'd like to know...what are YOUR favorite tools? What can't you sew without?

5 comments:

Ana @ Don't Fear the Ripper said...

My Fasturn tube turners!! Love them!

http://www.amazon.com/Fasturn-fabric-turners-turning-straps/dp/B002IT01TG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295732217&sr=8-1

Anonymous said...

my favorite tool is my rotary cutter and rulers. It looks like you got a good haul of stuff at Joann's today. You are lucky to have the day to yourself.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, the seam ripper is usually my most used tool. Wish I could use it a little less often!

My favorite tool might be my Cushioned Quilter's Square'n Blocker. I keep it right on my sewing table and use it to iron my seams instead of dragging out my ironing board.

Anonymous said...

You'll love that mini iron. I've not appliqued before, but I have used mine quite a bit- when I just need to iron a small seam. Quick and next to the sewing machine.

My favorite "tool" is a bottle of Best Press. A couple of women told me about it and it has made piecing so wonderful!

Unknown said...

Thanks ladies! I'll have to check out Best Press...I've not seen that before.