Gadgets: Immersive Digital Painting

Ok, normally I don't share ART supplies on my blog - I try to stick to sewing gadgets with a little craft thrown in here and there.  But this was an awesome experience.  I got to try out the new immersive Microsoft Digital Painting program. 

Favorite Gadgets: Automatic Seam Ripper

Favorite Gadgets: Spring Loaded Scissors

Ok, if you don't have a pair of these, you MUST get some!

Favorite Gadgets: Sewing Organizer

I bought myself one of these organizers so I could sew in the car while I am playing "soccer mom" (which in my case is not really soccer mom, but really dance & drama mom).

It's a great way to keep all of your sewing supplies together, both while it is rolled up and ready for transport; but also when it is unrolled and on the arm of your chair or hanging over the car door in my case. I actually unroll the window and hang the organizer over my car door (through the open window) when it isn't raining - when it is raining, it rests over my thigh.  

There is a place to put needles, a pocket for scissors, a pop-out trash bin, elastic bungees to hold spools of thread, and pockets for a ripper and a pen.


You'll notice the nifty clasp on the strap that holds it together when it is closed up - it's from a cat collar - isn't that clever?

Very handy! You can buy 'em at flossieblossoms on etsy.

Favorite Gadgets: Pin Cushion Ring

I love mine. I think it is stylish (I've actually worn it out & about a few times, just to be a rebel). It's comfortable and adjustable. The red part is actually felt rolled up tight - that's where you stick the pins (there is metal between the felt & your finger so you won't get poked if you get too aggressive).

I think everybody should have one! You can buy 'em at artnestshop on etsy.

Favorite Gadgets: Elastic Wizard

I bought the Bonfit Elastic Wizard online - only to find out it was back-ordered. I waited only to find out the supplier did not have them in stock. I got annoyed and searched the internet for another source to no avail. I cancelled my order and watched eBay. One day while trolling etsy, I ran across click4crafts - who had one listed. I purchased it and in less than a week I had it in hand - JOY!

I tried it out today and learned that it isn't as straight forward as they would like you to believe. After much trial and error, here is what I learned:

1. Start by putting the metal presser foot on, without the plastic clamp, and lower the needle into the elastic & fabric to hold the end of the elastic in place.
2. Now put the plastic clamp on and thread the other end of the elastic into it, then adjust the tension on it.
3. Don't hold the elastic while sewing - that's kind of the point of the attachment, to be able to sew "hands free".
4. It's not going to be precise, so don't use it where you need precision. It works great if you are not working in a tight space - leave 1/8" at least for error. The elastic floats a bit under the presser foot, so to get a very straight line will take a lot of practice and patience.

I haven't figured out how to use it on cashmere yet - sewing on sweaters is a whole different ball game. All-in-all I like the idea of it, but I can see I need alot more time practicing and getting my machine adjusted (my Brother zigzags slightly left of center and the Elastic Wizard feeds the elastic down the center). I also want to work with ribbon and ric-rac with the wizard.

And as an FYI - they make REAL elasticator feet for some newer sergers. This foot is much sturdier than the Elastic Wizard, and I suspect it feeds the elastic straighter. I bought the Elastic Wizard to use on my regular, low-shank sewing machine. Ultimately I would like to find someone that welds that can weld a low-shank shank onto this foot for me, so that I can use this on my old Pfaff! (If you know of someone, send 'em my way!)

Favorite Gadget: Cutting Glove

This is something I can't live without. I have cut my fingers so many times with the rotary cutter (and rotary cutter cuts with cashmere fuzz hurt like the dickens) that I won't cut without a glove on now. I bought this glove at a kitchen store (Sur la Table). Kitchen workers wear them to protect their hands from knife cuts - which probably hurt worse when mixed with onion juice or salt. But I don't know that for a fact. Anyway, the glove is AMAZING. I rolled the cutter across it (albeit without much pressure) and it didn't even cut a thread on the glove!

My only complaint about the glove is that it is kinda bulky. I can't button cardigan sweaters with it on. But then again, taking a few minutes to slip the glove off to button the sweater before I cut it, and then put the glove back on is a small price to pay for a week of agony from a bloody finger.

Favorite Gadget: Cake Measuring Tape

I just bought this for myself - kind of a treat you could say. (In case you can't tell, it's a crocheted two-tier cake measuring tape). I bought it at one of my new favorite stores: Fiber Gallery on 80th & Greenwood in Seattle. Mine is actually a chocolate cake on a lime green plate - perfect for me! AND as an added bonus, as it is sitting on the table (as in the photo), you just press on the top and the tape retracts :) It makes me smile.

P.S. as I was surfing Lantern Moon's site, I ran across this - I think I need it for my garden!

Yummies: Sun Reaction

Just a little trivia about me. I worked at Generra Sportswear up until they came out with Hypercolor (which I believe was their demise). I quit before the company closed, and Hypercolor was just in the development stage - that exciting stage. I wasn't there to see any problems with it, so I will always have very fond memories of heat-activated, color-changing apparel.

And here's a YouTube commercial for Hypercolor, just in case you want to relieve the early 90's:

I stumbled upon these links - and you know I'm DYING to buy some, but where to start?

Sun Print Fabric

Solar Active Yarn

Sewing / Embroidery Thread

Favorite Gadget: Walking Foot

This is a must have if you sew on stretchy or slippery fabrics. Basically the foot acts as "upper feed-dogs" pulling the upper layer of fabric along with the lower layer. (You can see the white plastic "walking feet" in the second photo). With a walking foot, both layers move at the same rate so your seams don't pucker and the fabric pieces match up at the end.

I do all of my cashmere sewing with the walking foot.

You can buy universal walking feet like this one at JoAnns or online. I have noticed that many of the new "fancy" sewing machines come with walking feet built-in.

Favorite Gadgets: Gingher Rotary Cutter

You may think all rotary cutters are created equal - just like all scissors are created equal. It's not true. There is a big difference in a quality cutter - just like there is a big difference in kitchen knives. Gingher has designed a cutter that is weighted appropriately and the handle is ergonomic, so that your hand & wrist don't get tired and sore when you are doing a lot of cutting. I love my Gingher cutter. I bought it at JoAnns on a whim because it was on clearance. And the pattern on the handle makes me grin - it seems so superfluous.
I will also mention I have an ergonomic Fiskars cutter. It works. I like it. But the Gingher cutter is worlds apart.

Favorite Gadgets: Singercraft Fringe Maker

Singer made this attachment from about the 1930's to 1950's. It is used to make fringe, rugs, pile fabrics and "ric rac" from ribbon. I use it to make cashmere fringe. I frog some of the sweater scraps I have left over from cutting scarf pieces to make yarn (sometimes I ply it together since 1-ply cashmere yarn is VERY thin).


Here is a little tutorial I put together for using the singer guide. And here is a link to a wonderful website with a full discussion of the guide, as well as hints on how to buy one - and links to more links re: the Singercraft!


AND: you can buy one here on etsy among other places...

Favorite Gadget: Embellish Knit I-Cord Knitter

I bought this on a whim. I've been trying to teach my daughter how to spool knit and it just wasn't going well. Then one day when I was at the craft store I saw the Embellish Knit and thought I would try it out. My daughter's biggest obstacle was getting the yarn to stay on the pegs - and the Embellish Knit has latched hooks, so it looked like it would cure the problem. It ends up that I kept it for myself. I frog cashmere scraps to get 100% cashmere yarn - and this is a great tool to turn the fine yarn into something thicker, stronger and usable!

It is easy to use once you get the hang of it. The clamp is actually the weight that holds the finished cord down so it doesn't get tangled in the hooks which rotate. You have to remember to move the clamp up periodically otherwise the cord will a) get tangled b) get to heavy or c) break the cord if the yarn is weak (e.g. cashmere). I'm hoping to use some of the finished I-cord to make Celtic knots on my scarves as embellishments... fingers crossed I get around to it this year.