Instagram has been buzzing in the past week or so with quilters sharing pictures of their favorite notions. I thought that would be a great topic for a blog post, but I have so many favorites, I think I have to divide them up into several posts!
Some of my absolute essentials are in the photo above. Starting at the top left, I have a funny wool ball pin cushion that holds my specialty pins:
These numbered pins are so great for marking quilt rows as you sew them together.
I use these forked pins to keep my seam intersections exact and also to prevent seams from flopping over and getting sewn wrong.
I couldn't live without these binding clips. They hold your binding in exactly the right fold while you are sewing it to your quilt. No more wonky bindings. Love these things.
Just below the box of binding clips is my needle threader. Goodness, no binding would be sewn on without that little tool. My old eyes need all the help they can get.
Just to the left of the binding clips is my Roxanne thimble.
These thimbles are extremely expensive ($65), but are custom sized for your finger and last a life time. If you get yourself fitted for one of these thimbles you can pass it down in your will. I have had mine for over 15 years and would be devastated if I lost it. I have very small tapered fingers and regular thimbles literally fall off my fingers. I have never found one to fit me until I discovered Roxanne.
Next is my handy lint roller. I wear a lot of black, and let me tell you, it is not a great look to find yourself covered in little threads and pieces of lint. I am in the habit of not leaving my sewing room until I give myself a once over with my lint roller.
Below the lint roller is my Zirkel magnetic pin dish. Love the way the pins fan out in it. In the dish are my Little House quilting pins. Super fine and even if I accidentally sew over one, the needle seems to miss it.
Next, we have my favorite seam ripper, which is made by Bernina. One came with my first Bernina sewing machine and I have purchased many more over the years. They have a super sharp and tiny blade that picks out threads or rips entire seams with ease.
Then we have a pair of Tweezerman tweezers. These are a must for picking out threads after you have done some "un-sewing". I can't tell you how often I use these. Ahem.
Next to the tweezers is my Clover chalk wheel marker. I use this all the time to mark lines on my quilt tops when I am doing straight line machine quilting.
I keep a little pair of thread snipping scissors next to my sewing machine at all times. These little pink ones are by Singer, but Olfa makes great ones, as do several other manufacturers. These little scissors get a lot of use, and they do get dull over time and need to be sharpened or replaced.
Last up is my Olfa rotary cutter. This pretty one was a gift from a friend years ago, and I enjoy it's orange floral design so much. I am coveting the new pink ones that are coming out soon. I prefer the 45 mm size.
Please share what your favorite notions are, and check back tomorrow for a few more of mine.
21 responses to “Favorite Notions”
Nicole, I totally agree about the Roxanne thimbles! I bought a sterling silver one over 25 years ago…I think I paid $115 for it, which was a huge investment for me at the time. I use it for everything from hand quilting to binding to hemming pants and skirts. I’ve managed not to lose it through two moves. One of the best investments I’ve ever made!
Nicole, I totally agree about the Roxanne thimbles! I bought a sterling silver one over 25 years ago…I think I paid $115 for it, which was a huge investment for me at the time. I use it for everything from hand quilting to binding to hemming pants and skirts. I’ve managed not to lose it through two moves. One of the best investments I’ve ever made!
Nicole, I totally agree about the Roxanne thimbles! I bought a sterling silver one over 25 years ago…I think I paid $115 for it, which was a huge investment for me at the time. I use it for everything from hand quilting to binding to hemming pants and skirts. I’ve managed not to lose it through two moves. One of the best investments I’ve ever made!
You’ve included a few things that I would like to try in my sewing room. My two favourite notions would be the Clover awl…I don’t hardly sew without it in my hand! And the Angler 2. It is always attached to my machine and makes my sewing much easier in many ways. And I love Superior needles in my machine, too. I guess I am in the market for some new fabric scissors as my daughter used mine to cut half a dozen pipe cleaners into 1″ chunks! Have a great day, Nicole.
You’ve included a few things that I would like to try in my sewing room. My two favourite notions would be the Clover awl…I don’t hardly sew without it in my hand! And the Angler 2. It is always attached to my machine and makes my sewing much easier in many ways. And I love Superior needles in my machine, too. I guess I am in the market for some new fabric scissors as my daughter used mine to cut half a dozen pipe cleaners into 1″ chunks! Have a great day, Nicole.
You’ve included a few things that I would like to try in my sewing room. My two favourite notions would be the Clover awl…I don’t hardly sew without it in my hand! And the Angler 2. It is always attached to my machine and makes my sewing much easier in many ways. And I love Superior needles in my machine, too. I guess I am in the market for some new fabric scissors as my daughter used mine to cut half a dozen pipe cleaners into 1″ chunks! Have a great day, Nicole.
love those little house pins as well…and gotta try the clover forked pins…thanks!
love those little house pins as well…and gotta try the clover forked pins…thanks!
love those little house pins as well…and gotta try the clover forked pins…thanks!
I agree that the Bernina seam ripper is really sharp but have you tried the Mini Seam Fix ripper? It’s a little more than 3″ long, extremely sharp & the best feature is a beehive shaped ‘eraser’ on the end. It gets those tiny ripped out threads out like using an eraser on a pencil without leaving marks.
I agree that the Bernina seam ripper is really sharp but have you tried the Mini Seam Fix ripper? It’s a little more than 3″ long, extremely sharp & the best feature is a beehive shaped ‘eraser’ on the end. It gets those tiny ripped out threads out like using an eraser on a pencil without leaving marks.
I agree that the Bernina seam ripper is really sharp but have you tried the Mini Seam Fix ripper? It’s a little more than 3″ long, extremely sharp & the best feature is a beehive shaped ‘eraser’ on the end. It gets those tiny ripped out threads out like using an eraser on a pencil without leaving marks.
Love and have a lot of things you have in your picture too.
I have a beautiful pair of scissors by @warm_crochet (instagram) and I really love them and already bought a second pair.
Love and have a lot of things you have in your picture too.
I have a beautiful pair of scissors by @warm_crochet (instagram) and I really love them and already bought a second pair.
Love and have a lot of things you have in your picture too.
I have a beautiful pair of scissors by @warm_crochet (instagram) and I really love them and already bought a second pair.
Love your notions as they are some of my fave as well! Not sure how I could survive without those little binding clips! I also love my 1/4″ ruler, it’s great for foundation piecing and checking seams.
Love your notions as they are some of my fave as well! Not sure how I could survive without those little binding clips! I also love my 1/4″ ruler, it’s great for foundation piecing and checking seams.
Love your notions as they are some of my fave as well! Not sure how I could survive without those little binding clips! I also love my 1/4″ ruler, it’s great for foundation piecing and checking seams.
Interesting things there Nicole, like the thimbles and the numbered pins. I never knew they existed! Thanks for sharing!
Interesting things there Nicole, like the thimbles and the numbered pins. I never knew they existed! Thanks for sharing!
Interesting things there Nicole, like the thimbles and the numbered pins. I never knew they existed! Thanks for sharing!