What is your must have item ?
 

Hi, my husband and daughter are coming to New York from England soon as she is performing with her show choir...all very exciting, but my husband has suggested that I try and buy some items that I cannot get here in the UK , have them sent to the hotel and then they can bring them back, saving on international postage.
What I want to know is what do you think is your must have item, things like rulers, glues, pressing aids......anything that if you were coming to the UK to live you would have to bring with you and which online shop would be best to get it from.....of course he has to be conscious of weight allowance, he won't be bringing back a long arm for me.....shame !!

to help us help you, what do you have and what do you think you are lacking? Or what do you wish for but can't get where you are?

1. little red Wonder clips by Clover...get the 50-count package. The smaller package of 10 is not enough!

2. Quilt Dome by Clover. It is a gadget for holding ten needles that you have threaded yourself. Comes in handy when you are hand sewing something such as binding, and you don't feel like stopping to thread a needle.

3. Desk Needle Threader by Clover - a great gadget for cutting the thread and then threading the needle. Just put the needle with the eye down into the slot. Place the thread across the slot and press the lever. Presto, the needle is threaded for you.

These items are not heavy and can be found in local fabric and quilt stores. They are available online from usual sources as Joann Fabrics, Connecting Threads, Amazon, Walmart's website, etc.

You mentioned glue...I am partial to Elmer's school glue which is wonderful for basting, etc. and it is washable. And the cost is reasonable.

Your husband is a real gem to have thought of doing this for you! I have no idea of what is available and not available in UK but those came to my mind.

How exciting!!!
My daughter is going to the USA in January next year and I am going to get her to bring me back fabric, fabric and more fabric LOL. I might also see if I can get some silk thread for applique as well as it is hard to get here in Canberra.
Most things I have seen in the American magazines and online quilt shops are available here in Australia, usually only sightly more expensive than here, but the fabric here is around $20 to $25 per metre so that is what I will be concentrating on getting.

Im a gadget junkie so any 'quilty' thing is on my list..

What about a new rotatory cutter?
Rotary blades
fabric
rulers and templates
fabric
Quilting needles
fabric
Gingher scissors or nippers
Fabric
spools of neutral thread
Fabric...



As for locations to purchase.. Try:

Connecting threads- I like their fabric and their threads
Fabric.com
Keepsake Quillting- a lil pricier but beautiful fabrics

My guess is most supplies she can get there and might already have, if it was me I would fill my suitcase with fabric, since the cost is so much less here. Maybe some Bali Batik Pre- cut Jelly rolls. Nice high thread count extra wide muslin backings.

The bloc-loc rulers. Helps to square up hst blocks. And saves me 1/3 the time compared to regular rulers. They are a bit pricey but i ask myself how much my time is worth when i have to sq up 100's of hst.
Caution: if flying have them carry rulers in their carryon. The extreme change of temperature where they store luggages can crack the all rulers.

Ok.....let me think, things that I am interested in, and don,t have here
Rulers, like flying geese, or anything that helps making blocks more precise. Here most shops have straight rulers but anything different is hard to get
Fabric glues
Easy press? Anything that will help make seams look better.
Any scissors that are amazing, here most are fiskars....is there something better.
Fabric I will sort...and yes I want him to bring back most of his allowance in fabric

Oh scissors. My favorites gadget to collect. My favorite an d inexpensive is the Kai. Dovo are nice but very price.

I think I would look in magazines and online for any specialty rulers I think I might like (if you aren't going to use them it isn't a deal). Scissors - I think the best find I have found is the Kay Buckley scissors. Easy Press - I think you are thinking of Best Press and I am not sure I would put that in a suitcase, there is a big possiblity that it might leak as it is in a regular spray bottle - main reason I have mentioned that is I have had issues with that leaving it in my car for a day or two! Fabric Fabric Fabric - make sure you see which lines you like and then look at shops near where they are going to be. Possibly you could do some on-line looking and even pay for it, mentioning that your husband is going to be there on such and such day and will pick it up.