Over the holidays I picked up a few new sewing accessories that I am really enjoying, which I thought I would share with you. The first thing is a new lamp that was recommended by Lisa Bongean in a recent blog post she put up. I am constantly wishing that I had better light in my sewing room. I have a magnifying lamp that provides some extra light, but honestly, it is totally in my way when I am sewing. When she recommended The Daylight Lumios Extra Large Table Lamp I was intrigued. She said it was the best light she had ever used to sew by, and that she ended up clamping hers over her cutting table.
I won't lie, this lamp is a very high ticket item. It costs over $300, but if you buy it through Amazon, they now have a six-month payment program you can opt for when you use your Amazon charge card, which makes it slightly less painful to purchase. Mine arrived just after Christmas and I could not wait to set it up over my sewing area. I was not a bit disappointed, and in fact, this has made a huge difference in how well I can see what I am stitching. I love how it clamps onto the side of the table and is completely out of the way. The light can be adjusted in many different ways and is extremely bright. If I wanted to use it on my cutting table, it is a simple matter to unclamp it and re-affix it to another spot. So far, I am extremely happy with it, and recommend it highly.
Another item I purchased last month is a wool pressing mat. Since I was getting into more wool projects, and so many wool tutorials recommended it, I was intrigued. The mat is very thick, and when you press on it, it absorbs the steam and heats what you are pressing from both the top and the bottom. You get a flatter seam and a better press. Also, the texture of the wool holds your block in place and prevents the steam from distorting things. I tell you, when I tried this out at home, I was blown away. I love using steam to press things, and this mat made everything I pressed come out flat and perfect. I bought mine on Amazon for around $20 for the 14 x 14" size. I am kind of wishing I had gotten a larger size. Mine is made from New Zealand wool and is 1/2" thick. The only drawback is that there is a slight smell–of wet wool.
I have been fooling around making some little 3 1/2" star blocks and they are coming out great.
I have in mind to make a rectangular table runner with scrappy red stars.
Hope your new year started out well. First week down, 51 to go!
21 responses to “A Couple of New Things”
I have a small Daylight that is great for hand sewing–you can put it right over your work & see every.single.stitch. I like to take it to retreat for some of my ‘own’ lighting in a huge room. I’m also a fan of lots of steam & your wool pressing mat looks interesting. Have a good week!
I have a small Daylight that is great for hand sewing–you can put it right over your work & see every.single.stitch. I like to take it to retreat for some of my ‘own’ lighting in a huge room. I’m also a fan of lots of steam & your wool pressing mat looks interesting. Have a good week!
I have a small Daylight that is great for hand sewing–you can put it right over your work & see every.single.stitch. I like to take it to retreat for some of my ‘own’ lighting in a huge room. I’m also a fan of lots of steam & your wool pressing mat looks interesting. Have a good week!
Happt New Year Nicole! Looks like you are off to a good start! That light looks awesome.
Mary
Happt New Year Nicole! Looks like you are off to a good start! That light looks awesome.
Mary
Happt New Year Nicole! Looks like you are off to a good start! That light looks awesome.
Mary
Lighting is everything for me these days. ;p
I really like the little star blocks. The reds are so pretty.
Lighting is everything for me these days. ;p
I really like the little star blocks. The reds are so pretty.
Lighting is everything for me these days. ;p
I really like the little star blocks. The reds are so pretty.
I bought a horse saddle pad, 100% wool too. It might have a heavier animal smell than the others, but at $30 for a 30″x30″ piece I have no problem with the smell. I also knit and felt, so wet sheep smell is usual here. I cut the pad to fit my ironing board station and then cut the remaining piece in to a small square and a rectangle. The rectangle goes in my sewing case for away sewing and the small one can move around the room where I need it. Love the stars!
I bought a horse saddle pad, 100% wool too. It might have a heavier animal smell than the others, but at $30 for a 30″x30″ piece I have no problem with the smell. I also knit and felt, so wet sheep smell is usual here. I cut the pad to fit my ironing board station and then cut the remaining piece in to a small square and a rectangle. The rectangle goes in my sewing case for away sewing and the small one can move around the room where I need it. Love the stars!
I bought a horse saddle pad, 100% wool too. It might have a heavier animal smell than the others, but at $30 for a 30″x30″ piece I have no problem with the smell. I also knit and felt, so wet sheep smell is usual here. I cut the pad to fit my ironing board station and then cut the remaining piece in to a small square and a rectangle. The rectangle goes in my sewing case for away sewing and the small one can move around the room where I need it. Love the stars!
Nicole,Don’t store your wool mat flat on your ironing board, and it will help the smell. It will dry out faster if you don’t. I put a binder clip on the edge of mine and hang it from a hook by where I have my rulers hanging. It stays nice and flat, and gets good circulation.
Nicole,Don’t store your wool mat flat on your ironing board, and it will help the smell. It will dry out faster if you don’t. I put a binder clip on the edge of mine and hang it from a hook by where I have my rulers hanging. It stays nice and flat, and gets good circulation.
Nicole,Don’t store your wool mat flat on your ironing board, and it will help the smell. It will dry out faster if you don’t. I put a binder clip on the edge of mine and hang it from a hook by where I have my rulers hanging. It stays nice and flat, and gets good circulation.
I enjoy your blog so much and look forward to every post. Reading this post and the next one motivated me to get busy on some projects. And I did want to let you know that if you sign up for the Quilt in a Day newsletter (it’s daily) they have an excellent flash sale everyday. I was able to score a wool pressing mat a bit larger than my ironing board for about $40 one day which was such a great deal and I love it. Have fun in the new year!
I enjoy your blog so much and look forward to every post. Reading this post and the next one motivated me to get busy on some projects. And I did want to let you know that if you sign up for the Quilt in a Day newsletter (it’s daily) they have an excellent flash sale everyday. I was able to score a wool pressing mat a bit larger than my ironing board for about $40 one day which was such a great deal and I love it. Have fun in the new year!
I enjoy your blog so much and look forward to every post. Reading this post and the next one motivated me to get busy on some projects. And I did want to let you know that if you sign up for the Quilt in a Day newsletter (it’s daily) they have an excellent flash sale everyday. I was able to score a wool pressing mat a bit larger than my ironing board for about $40 one day which was such a great deal and I love it. Have fun in the new year!
I have a lamp similar to that and a wool mat and I love them both – the added light is soooo nice!
I have a lamp similar to that and a wool mat and I love them both – the added light is soooo nice!
I have a lamp similar to that and a wool mat and I love them both – the added light is soooo nice!