Session 14, Sewing/Quilting

Curve Ruler

What is it? -All right, we’ve decided to do a little fashion sewing.  Cool.  We’ve visited our local shop and poured over the pattern catalogs or perhaps searched favorite sites on the internet.  In either case we’ve found a pattern that’s just what we’re looking for.  We’ve reviewed the instructions on the back of the… Read More Curve Ruler

Session 13, Sewing/Quilting

I Sew For Fun

What is it? – What would you do if you wanted to give someone the gift that is sewing?  You know, to enable an individual to achieve their creative expression through sewing, whether that be fashion, quilting, home décor or crafting.  Or, for that matter, any variation or combination of all of the above.  What’s important… Read More I Sew For Fun

Knitting/Crochet, Session 13

Marking Pins

  What is it? – Whether we’re into knitting or crochet we’re always making something, something made of individual pieces.  And that something usually means putting those component pieces together.  We all know there are several techniques for joining our knitted or crocheted pieces and that those techniques vary depending on our creative inspiration.  Do… Read More Marking Pins

Session 12, Sewing/Quilting

Wonder Fuse

   What is it? – Welcome to the wonderful world of Wonder Fuse.  What is it?  It’s appliqué.  Well, more accurately, it’s how you do appliqué.  Why do we want to do appliqué?  Unlimited creative potential.  We can take any fabric, plain or with design, and cut it in any shape to represent pieces of… Read More Wonder Fuse

Crafts, Session 12

Rosette Makers

What is it? – Kudos!  Well done!  Grand Prize! First place!  Honorable mention! Special achievement!  Student of the month! Employee of the year!  It’s all recognition, plain and simple, and we all like it.  When we do something exceptional, remarkable or noteworthy, a little personal recognition makes it all the more rewarding.  And tangible evidence… Read More Rosette Makers

Session 11, Sewing/Quilting

Roll & Press

  What is it? – These are pressing issues.  Shakespeare might even ask, “To press or not to press, that is the question.”  Well, no matter who is asking the question, the answer is the same, a resounding yes to press.  Some very important things happen when we press each seam as we sew it… Read More Roll & Press

Session 11, Sewing/Quilting

Nancy Zieman Hobo Tote

  What is it? – For today’s active life styles a handy tote is a required accessory.  Satisfying requirements of both form and function they are both fashionable and useful.  Totes of one kind or another are available everywhere.  So many styles, so many colors, so embellishments.  But therein lies the problem.  Which one?  Choices,… Read More Nancy Zieman Hobo Tote

Knitting/Crochet, Session 11

Darning Needles

  What is it?– In the history of mankind it is hard to find a tool that is more enduring, more useful than the hand sewing needle.  Initially they were basic to the production of everything we made from clothing to shelter.  And we still use them today.  Modern needles, however, have become much more specialized,… Read More Darning Needles

Session 10, Sewing/Quilting

Chacopy Tracing Paper

What is it?– Fashion, fashion accessories, heirloom sewing, quilting and home decor.  All of these projects are often one time or another blank canvases that are truly enhanced with the addition of the appropriate decorative pattern.  Some of these pattern designs are professionally developed while others are original work we’ve created all by ourselves.  Beautiful, often… Read More Chacopy Tracing Paper

Crafts, Session 9

Bead Embroidery “Kantan Couture” Tool

What is it?-To most of us “couture” means high fashion and rightly so.  It’s something special, something elegant.  Unfortunately it also often means something expensive and something unreachable for most of us.  It’s custom made clothing and accessories made by the most exclusive designers.  And often the feature that sets the couture garment apart from… Read More Bead Embroidery “Kantan Couture” Tool

Session 8, Sewing/Quilting

Mini Wonder Clips

    What is it? – You know them.  You love them.  And they’re everywhere.  Few sewing, knitting or crafting tools have ever enjoyed a more widespread and enthusiastic reception.  Years after their introduction they are still perhaps the most versatile and useful sewing tool ever devised.  Often copied but never equaled, the Wonder Clip… Read More Mini Wonder Clips

Crafts, Session 7

Pom-Pom Makers

What is it? – Think of the stereotypical ski hat and you’ll realize that it just wouldn’t be complete without a pom-pom on the pointy tip.  Actually I think it’s a requirement.  But pom-poms are much more than funny hats emblazoned with snowflakes and deer heads.  Pom-poms are everywhere we look.  Home decor, jewelry, fashion… Read More Pom-Pom Makers

Session 7, Sewing/Quilting

Silk Threads

What is it? – China, circa 3600 BC.  That’s where it all started.  A young Chinese empress expressed a desire for a luxurious new fiber and silk was the result.  Threads of different types had been around for many years but this was different.  In fact, silk was very different.  It had a texture and… Read More Silk Threads

Session 7, Sewing/Quilting

Scissors

What is it? – Scissors.  It’s hard to imagine doing anything in sewing, knitting or crafts without them.  They are, in fact, one of the most common tools used universally by us humans.  They were even carried by Apollo 12 astronauts on the surface of the moon.  The earliest known scissors appeared in Mesopotamia 3,000… Read More Scissors

Crafts, Session 7

Wonder Knitter

What is it? – As children, most of us can remember having an old wooden spool with four rounded metal pegs protruding from one end.  By threading yarn up through the center and then wrapping the yarn around the pegs we could maneuver bottom loops over top loops.  As a result we were able to… Read More Wonder Knitter

Crafts, Session 6

Felting

What is it? – Needle felting is an age old art form that has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity and is being enthusiastically embraced by an increasingly wide spectrum of creative expression.  Art, jewelry, fashion embellishment, home decor, toys . . . it does them all.  Needle felting techniques are applied globally but are adapted… Read More Felting

Session 6, Sewing/Quilting

Hot Ruler

What is it? – What do you do when you have a hit?  That’s a no brainer.  You make the sequel.  And if you make the sequel well you will have another hit.  And that’s exactly what Clover has done.  The success of the Hot Hemmer was and is unprecedented.  There is nothing like it… Read More Hot Ruler

Session 5, Sewing/Quilting

Tracing Wheels

What is it? – The venerable tracing wheel.  The first one I ever saw was as a youngster looking through my grandmother’s sewing basket.  I thought it was there by mistake.  It was obviously a toy.  What could a stick and a wheel possibly have to do with sewing?  Fast forward a few decades and… Read More Tracing Wheels

Session 5, Sewing/Quilting

Thimbles

What is it? – Thimbles in one form or another have been around a long as needles have.  Ancient sewing artifacts include “press stones”, the precursor to modern thimbles.  Almost 2500 years ago residents of the Mediterranean area were using more familiar shaped bronze thimbles. Why?  Well, whether you’re pushing a spike through animal hides… Read More Thimbles