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 The Stitchers Corner contains helpful tricks and tips for use with Gripit products. Gripit Plus is here to give its customers special attention. In this edition, Gripit Plus founder Lilias "Sam" Ralph talks about the stitching essentials and some neat tools she has in her "tool box" to make stitching easier and more fun. In my tool box are the essentials and some neat tools i have found to make stitching easier and more fun. The essentials include needles, needle threader, scissors and hi-liter. As for needles, I have a variety of tapestry(cross stitch) and beading needles. as for scissors, I have a small pair of embroidery scissors which are now attached to a scissor keeper. This is one of the neat tools i have found. The scissors are attached to a clip which in turn is attached to a wire that retracts into a pin with a clip on it. This clip can then be clipped to your clothing so your scissors are always handy. I keep a stitch blade around to cut the threads just incase mistakes are made. This a very sharp curved blade attached to a handle. It lets you cut up and away from the fabric. I then use my boo boo stick to remove the cut stitches. There are two brushes attached to a wooden handle (one at each end); the large tapered one you use first to loosen and remove the cut stitches from the back side of the fabric instead of pulling them out one at a time. The other brush is much finer and is used to remove the fuzz that is left. In case I encounter a stubborn thread or two, a pair of bill tweezers comes in very handy. They are small and compact and have a very fine precision point. I'm listing the laying tool in the neat tool section but after using one for almost every stitch for two years I really think it is as essential as a needle. With very little practice, using the laying tool on every stitch is as quick as without and the results are marvelous. I prefer the "perfect stitch" laying tool. It's an open ended thimble with a bent probe attached. The advantage of this laying tool is that it is worn on your finger and therefore becomes an extention of your finger. Since the probe is bent it lays on the fabric without having to move your hand. Another valuable item is a fine line water erasable marking pen. Use it to find center instead of running threads. You might want to do a test mark in the selvage edge to make sure it will washout but I haven't found anywhere it wouldn't wash out. A couple of things to keep in mind with this pen is that hot water or hot iron will make the mark permnant. So be sure to remove your marks with a damp sponge or cloth before ironing if you are not going to wash the finished project. Of course, do not use on silk or with the silk threads. When you want to check your work for missed stitches you can't beat the bugz-eye. It is a 2 inch crystal clear no focus magnifier. You can also get a carrying case to protect it. Double sided tape: This is the acid free tape that can be used for mounting your work. I have found many uses for it especially to attach the design fabric to our scroll-ette rollers (they do not come with cloth tape attached). Don't tell anybody, but on a quick project I have been known to use it on our regular rollers instead of sewing to the attached cloth tape. Remember, this is a secret. I also love the magnets that you attach directly to your project. I like the ones that attach with a tie tac backing (the magnets can't fall or get knocked off accidently). Be sure to place the magnets in the outer edge or your project. They keep your threader and extra needles handy. Here's a breakdown of my tool box:
Happy stiching! |
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