Last week, we kicked off National Sewing Month by talking about Learning to See and finding inspiration in the world around us. This week, we’re going to move from inspiration to action and talk about some of the tools that help us turn those ideas into something we can actually sew.
And I’m going to start with a confession. I have a LOT of sewing tools.
Some live in drawers. Some are tucked away in cabinets. Some come out only when I’m working on a particular project. But there are a handful of tools and notions that are always right next to my sewing machine.
They’re the ones I reach for over and over again. Some make sewing easier. Some make it more comfortable. Some help me be more accurate. And at least one of them is there because I’ve learned an important lesson the hard way!
So, in no particular order, here are some of my favorite – can’t sew without these tools.
Magic Flat Head Applique Pins
These tiny little pins are one of my favorites. They’re small, easy to grab, and I can actually see them when they’re stuck in my fabric. That’s a pretty important feature when you’re working on small pieces or applique.
I keep mine in a tiny pincushion that was made for me by a friend, which makes this particular tool even more special.
Sometimes a sewing tool becomes a favorite because it works really well. And sometimes it becomes a favorite because of the little story attached to it. This one is both.
Quilt Barn Coasters
I’ve been using these Quilt Barn Coasters for years in my sewing space. They just make me happy – and give my beverage a landing spot. Even better – no one makes off with them to use in some other space! Wouldn’t they make a great gift for some quilty friends?
Quilt Clips
I use quilting clips instead of pins whenever I can. They’re especially handy when I’m sewing pieces together, but I also use them for something you might not immediately think of: keeping groups of block pieces together.
If I’m working on several blocks at once, I’ll clip the pieces for each block together, so they don’t wander off and become part of some completely different block. Ask me how many times I’ve looked for a missing piece that was sitting right in front of me!
I have quite a collection of these handy little clips, so I keep them in a jar beside my sewing machine. And because I’m always looking for ways to make things easier, the lid of the jar has become my “landing pad.”
When I’m sewing, I take a clip out, of the way of the needle, put it on the lid, and then toss it back into the jar when I’m finished. It’s a tiny thing, but having a place for everything makes a difference when you’re sewing.
Fiskars Micro-Tip Scissors
I am NEVER without these. They fit my hand perfectly, and I love the spring action that helps open and close the scissors.
They’re small enough for detailed work but incredibly handy for all those little snipping jobs that happen constantly when you’re sewing.
These are one of those tools that have simply become part of my sewing routine. If I’m sitting at my machine, they’re absolutely within reach.
Knife Edge Applique Scissors
And now we get to the tool that has a story behind it. I use knife edge applique scissors for snipping threads from the top of my projects. Why?
Because I have learned the hard way that ordinary scissors and a finished quilt can be a dangerous combination. I once snipped a hole in the top of a completed quilt while I was trimming a thread.
Yep. Never again.
The knife edge on these scissors lets me get underneath those threads without worrying nearly as much about poking the fabric with the tip of my scissors.
Sometimes our favorite tools are the ones we appreciate because we’ve already learned what happens when we don’t use them!
Dritz Sewing Gauge
I learned how to check my seam widths using a sewing gauge, and I still keep one right beside my machine. It’s especially useful when I want to check my seam width as I sew, rather than discovering later that something is a little off.
And I love that it’s adjustable. If I need to check a different measurement, I simply adjust the gauge.
It’s one of those simple tools that doesn’t look particularly exciting, but it can be incredibly useful when you’re trying to improve accuracy.
Ergonomic Seam Ripper
Let’s be honest. Every sewing machine needs a seam ripper. Actually, every sewing room probably needs several.
I bought a set of five ergonomic seam rippers, and now I have one everywhere I might need one. That’s my kind of organization! I really like the way this one feels in my hand, and the blade is very sharp.
And since we’re talking about sewing tools that make life easier, having a seam ripper within reach instead of having to stop what I’m doing and go find one is a definite win.
Wonder Pins
These little beauties are much easier on my hands than traditional safety pins. I use them for all kinds of things, including pin-basting quilts.
That’s one of the things I think is worth remembering when we’re talking about sewing tools: the tool that works best for you may not be the tool someone else prefers.
If something makes a sewing task easier or more comfortable, that’s a good reason to put it in your toolbox.
June Tailor Cut n Press
This one has been sitting next to my sewing machine for years. Maybe decades. And that’s saying something.
One side of the Cut ‘n Press gives me a small cutting surface, which means I can trim a block without getting up. Turn it over and I have a pressing surface that works with my project iron.
Again, without getting up. Are you sensing a theme here?
I love tools that allow me to keep sewing instead of constantly getting up, walking across the room, finding something, and coming back to my machine.
The Cut ‘n Press has earned its permanent spot beside my machine because it does exactly that.
And Then There Are the Non-Sewing Essentials
Of course, no sewing machine setup would be complete without a few things that have absolutely nothing to do with sewing.
For me, that includes my phone holder and TV remote. Because sometimes I’m sewing. Sometimes I’m watching something or listening to music. And often, I’m doing both.
And at times, the sewing machine is just sitting there while I scroll through my phones looking for inspiration for the next project. You too?
That’s sewing life.
What Makes a Tool a Favorite?
Looking at this list, I realize that my favorite tools aren’t necessarily the fanciest or most complicated tools in my sewing room. They’re the ones that:
- do something useful for me.
- make a task easier.
- help me sew more accurately.
- save me time.
- are more comfortable to use.
- solve a problem.
Or, in the case of my little appliqué pin pincushion, they simply make me happy (Thanks, Mary!).
And I think that’s an important thing to remember when you’re building your own collection of sewing tools. You don’t need every gadget that comes along, and you don’t need to have the same favorites as the quilter sitting next to you.
It’s not necessary to love the tools that everyone else seems to swear by, if they aren’t a good fit for you. Your sewing tools should work for you, in the way you want to work.
What’s Your Favorite?
Now it’s your turn: What’s the one sewing tool or notion you reach for again and again? Maybe it’s:
- something you’ve used for decades.
- a tool you discovered last month and now wonder how you ever lived without.
- an ordinary tool that has simply become indispensable to the way you sew.
I’d love to know what lives permanently beside your sewing machine. Because one of the best things about being part of a sewing community is learning about those little tools, tricks, and discoveries that make someone else’s creative life just a little bit easier.
And who knows? Your favorite tool might become someone else’s new favorite, too.
Happy Stitching!