A few of my favorite things Part 4

Scissors! 

Top to bottom:

1.Karen Kay Buckley Micro Serrated Scissors-I use these all the time for everything.  The serrated edge grips the fabric, no sliding around.  I believe the claim is they'll cut 6-8 layers of fabric accurately - I don't know about that, but they have become my go to scissors.  I also like that they have a plastic guard for when they are not in use.

2. Gingher Knife Edge Shears - The classic.  Sharp, Straight, and can always be resharpened when they get dull.

3. Karen Kay Buckley Small Serrated Scissors - Everything I said about number 1, in a smaller size.  I carry these around for all my hand work.  They also have a plastic guard...somewhere.

4. Gingher Stork Applique Scissors - small, sharp, pointy.  Don't fall for the cheaper knock offs, I did and finally got the brand name.  Sometimes you need to pay for quality!

 Once again - these companies don't know me.  I just like this stuff.

A few of my favorite things Part 3

 Today I'll cover marking pens, thread conditioner and applique needles.  Why all together?  Because I bought them all from the same place, more on that later.

 Sewline fabric pencils.  I have been using the white one for a year, and love it. Love, love, love it. It never breaks, writes smoothly, and has always washed out.  So, I splurged and purchased the other three colors: Pink, green, and yellow.  So, while I haven't used them yet, I have high hopes!

 Thread Heaven Thread conditioner.  Run your thread through it a couple of times before hand sewing, whether its binding, applique, or piecing, and this stuff will help prevent tangles, twisting, and knots.  Now, it can't prevent them all, but I've certainly noticed a difference.  I don't do any hand sewing without it.  Another tip to prevent some of those problems: cut shorter lengths of thread.  I'm guilty of pulling ou a huge length and starting in on a binding, but the more you pull that thread through the fabric, the more its going to get roughed up and tangle-y.

Applique needles.  I first started out with the Tulip needles pictured below.  They sew like butter through anything.  Even tightly woven batiks!  When I was ordering another package (because I lost my first) I decided to also try some of the John James needles.  I've been just as happy with them.  So, two good finds for me this year.  I would recommend trying either one.

 So why all these items together?  Because I bought them all off of Karen Kay Buckley's Webstore.  I cannot find the Tulip needles anywhere else.  And they are all things that I had bought and used at her workshop that I took last year.  When I made my order they were packaged and shipped the next day! BTW, she doesn't know me from Adam, and you are welcome to buy what you want from wherever you want. I just had a good experience using her store.

 

A few of my favorite things part 2

 Lets talk thread a bit today.  I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but my most favorite piecing thread is Aurifil.  I use a lot of the cream and sometimes the grey, or if its all one color piecing I'll use a similar colored thread.  Low lint and my machine loves it.

I also very happily use it for quilting as well.  I never seem to have tension issues if Aurifil is in the machine.
I've acquired a few spools of Superior threads, and been quite pleased with how nicely they quilt with as well.  Superior usually has a deal where you can get a sample pack of threads for a discounted price, as long as they choose the colors.  I have used their Bottom Line threads in my machine and in a long arm, and loved them!

 I have lots and lots of other threads, too.  And I generally try to mention what I use in specific projects, but these two above I've never been disappointed with.

Oh, and don't be cheap about your thread.  Pay attention to how much you're actually getting on a spool, and consider your frustration in the long run with inferior quality threads.  

A few of my favorite things Part 1

Going on vacation this week, and since I don't exactly have a backlog of projects to share, I thought I'd talk about some of my favorite tools and notions.

Today we'll start with my sewing machine.

 I sew and quilt with a Husqvarna Viking Sapphire, 870 Quilt.

This machine has made me very happy.  It does everything I ask it to.  Since I do more than just quilting, this machine has knit, woven, and even leather settings.  Of course the most used function is probably the needle down function.  I can even control it with a tap of my foot.  It also has a low bobbin thread alert, my second favorite function!

I don't think it matters a huge amount what machine you have, or how new it is.  As long as its in good working order, the more you use it and become comfortable with it, you can sew or quilt with it anything with it.

Also in this picture is an extension table, that I would be lost without.  Someday perhaps I'll have a cabinet for my machine, but until then, I really rely on my table.

For free motion quilting, I use a Sew Slip brand silicone mat.  Why? Because that's the kind Mr. Riley bought me (and the kind my LQS carries)  It works.  I did accidentally cut a line into it with my needle, but some scotch tape over that and it still works just fine.