Just before Christmas I did a blog posting about two neat
tools for mixed media projects and promised that I would do a subsequent post
on my favourite tools for fibre related projects. While I don’t fancy myself as
a gadget kind of gal I do have a few
“must have” gadgets on my Chatelaine
that are very useful for quilting, surface design and fibre related projects.
What is a Chatelaine
you ask? Historically it was a grouping of small items that a housekeeper or
lady of the house (a chatelaine) would have attached at her waist or neck with
keys, scissors, hanky or other items useful to her every day needs. Over the years these have morphed into use as
a sewing tool complete with scissors, needle cases etc. Some were made of
silver and very elaborate, some quite plain as mine strung on a piece of
soutache cord, but never the less just as useful. Google Sewing Chatelaine images and you’ll see quite a variety of them. On
a similar note, a Housewife or Hussif were small sewing kits often
carried by soldiers in the field to mend their uniforms or sew on loose
buttons.
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| Sliver Gripper Tweezer™ |
The first “must have” comes from my favourite Canadian store
Lee Valley Tools. The tool is the Sliver
Gripper Tweezer™ that comes with its own handy clip so that it can be
attached to your Chatelaine.
They are invaluable to those who paper piece to
get rid of those tiny pieces of paper that just won’t give way; for taking out
teeny tiny machine quilting stitches; and if you were my dad, removing slivers.
These are modestly priced, well made, and from the US.
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| Gingher Snips™ |
My second “must have” are my Gingher Snips™, well worth what I paid for them many years ago
($8), but are still worth the price at $12 - $27 depending on where you live or
if you have a coupon. Just 4” long,
sharp and light weight; they have a loop on the top so that they can be strung
onto your Chatelaine. I also like that they have no thumb hole and are easy to
pull out and return to their topper with one hand.
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| LoRan Needle Theader™ |
Lastly is the LoRan
Needle Theader™ by Dritz. This
threader is much more robust than those with the tiny piece of wire that always
pulls out with one good tug. It is not useful for small eyed needles, but great
for threading embroidery floss/perle cottons onto a larger eyed needle for hand
stitching. Once again, this handy tool can be strung onto your Chatelaine for
easy access. These are reasonably priced at about $2.
There is no affiliation to any of these companies – I’m just
pleased to share with you the tools of
the trade that I find very useful.
What’s your favourite sewing tool of all
time for quilting, hand stitching, surface design or fibre arts and why?
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