My absolute favorite tools by Sue (and Gail)
1. First off, I love my Wing Clipper Ruler. I can do flying geese 4 at a time for any project I choose.
2. Quilt in a day Triangle square up ruler: It cuts your trimming time in half.
I have one of these... but it is way bigger!
My favourite Rulers:I love my OLFA rulers. I have almost every size and duplicates of some (so I can use them at my sewing table and cutting table). Years ago I wrote a blog about how much I loved these rulers and OLFA somehow got wind of it and sent me all the ruler sizes I was missing.... such a great company!!!
3. Quilt in a day, battery operated seam ripper. It is very clean and fast to use. I haven't ever made a rip in anything. less chance of poking holes in your fabric.
I have one of these! Its a Wahl dog clipper... I use it for cleaning the threads on the back of an embroidery piece when I make a mistake and also trimming the dogs whiskers when they get too long...
4. Pressing stick. It's small and easy to find and you don't have to get up and go to the iron. Excellent for paper piecing. And good looking too!
I like my little Cricket Iron! And I love the little bag I got at one of the Guild Quilt shows... we should make those bags again!
5. Fray Check. I use this for when my sewing isn't perfect and I have a little booboo and I get some fraying and this solves the problem without having to rip it out..
6. Liquid basting glue. It has a fine tip and a wide tip and its perfect for when you are doing Heat and Bond and one corner sticks up. This glue will hold it down so you can stitch it safely. Also good for tacking your corners of your binding on your quilt before you sew it down.
I love my Elmers glue. I have it in several forms, stick pen and glue bottle with twist top. I just twist the cap until the proper amount of glue comes out and away I go. Sharon Schamber, who was the queen of quilting many years did this great video on binding a quilt. I loved her work so much and was glad to see that her video on this process is still on You Tube today. The best, neatest bindings I have ever seen and she used.... Elmers Glue. Click below to watch her video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2hWQ5-ZccE
7. Invisible thread: Excellent for applique on it where you don't want to see the thread, or change colours. Also excellent for quilting on a multi coloured quilt. I have never had an issue with ironing, and perfect on your domestic, sit down or long arm quilting machines. Rarely breaks. Gives you all the texture you need without seeing the thread.
8. Pencils and Markers: Sometimes you need a Chalk pencil to mark the edges of your appliqué pieces so you can see it on a similar coloured background. I use chalk to mark my lines for quilting and they wipe off easily with water. I like my blue water removable marker and this fun little toy I bought at Walmart. You just fill it up with water and the marker comes right out.
9. Scissors and things: I love my Scissors!!! My favourites are my GINGHERS, my FIDDY'S, and my HENCKEL'S. they are not inexpensive but I have them tucked fully out of site so no one else ever touches them. (and neither do I... lol)
I have about three or four to maybe more of these magnets. I mean who wants to bend over and pick up pins that fall on the floor. Or pens or scissors or bobbin cases ... well anything that is metal. Is this not the best tool ever made! I think so.
Along with that I love my little pin/needle/scissor magnets that make it easy find all that stuff on my very clutter sewing table.
Your challenge this month is to pick 2 of your favourite tools, and bring them to the meeting in June. Be prepared to talk about them and tell us why you love them!
