stitchinwitch

little bitty iron perfect to press itty bitty seams - like well, NY beauty. The 12 1/2 ruler?? Do you ever make that size blocks? Just plog that puppy on top, and you have a perfectly sized block after cutting!

SHayes

I have to agree with quiltinghere, I love, love, love my June Tailor Shape Cut and rotary cutter. I use the ruler all the time to cut strips and squares. Also has anyone seen Billie Lauder use an eyebrow razor to un-sew? Neat idea, but I just have not been able to locate one to try. Sherry

BellaBoo

The new surgical steel seam rippers are the best I have ever used. It's like unzipping a zipper on a seam, fast and no damage. They cost 1/2 what a regular seam ripper sells for. Gingher makes one that is weighted and has a full handle but expensive. I find them for about $3 with small handle and tip protector. I have lots of seam rippers and scissors of every brand. I love the thin sharp glass headed sewing pins. The big yellow head pins can't compare.
With the Clover mini iron, it has to be brought up to temp at least four or five times before it will reach the hottest temp. After that it will heat to the hottest every time. (an electrician told me to that and he was right).
The Sidewinder has a tension setting, different bobbins and thread take different tension setting. It's not labeled, you have to turn the knob. I opened mine and put in a big weight, now it does not tip over when opened. I also made a taller thread spool buy slipping straw over it that had a snug fit. When I find a metal tube the size I need I'll use that.
My favorite new tool is the Go die cut machine. It's cheaper then a new sewing machine and I would buy a used thrift store sewing machine and the Go instead of a new machine and no Go.

I love the Simplicity bias maker machine. I use it weekly. I sew my scrap strips together and make binding. The 2 1/2" straight fold tip is the one I use the most with it. I can make a strip of binding in seconds, a big roll in a few minutes.

BellaBoo

They are on the aisle with the tweezer most of the time. They come in a package of three but those aren't as sharp as the package of just one. Don't make a sawing motion with it or you will cut the fabric. I learned that lesson. They are the safest rippers to use around kids.

quilt addict

How do you keep a ripper that long? You must not use it often or your husband also sharpens it for you....

amandasgramma

My favorite is the table top cutting mat I bought 100 yrs ago. They don't make them like this anymore...it's not self-healing. I don't care...it's BIG! I also love my scalpel type seam ripper.....I must love it, I use it all the time! I use a portable travel iron, too!!! Just started using it! It's much hotter than my iron....and DecoBond really DOES bond! (won't with my regular iron). I LOVE LOVE LOVE my 1/4" foot for my machine! WOW...I'm sewing almost like a professional!

The least liked is a small iron that someone gave me....looks like a regular iron but is only about 3" long. The cord comes out the left side....took me three attempts before I figured out it was for left-handed people. Also, the cord constantly falls out...!!!!

amandasgramma

I have that tabletop needle threader. I discovered I have to hold both sides of the thread (wrap your hand around the machine) at an angle. Hold the thread tight!!! I worked and worked at it and figured it out.....now it threads my needle EVERY time!;-)

Charlee

BellaBoo...you have to bring it to temp each time you use it or is that a one time thing that after you use it 3 or 4 times it will heat to a higher temp from then on?
I have one....used it once...my coffee was hotter than that thing got and haven't tried it since! :thumbdown:

jackkip

My favs are my 6x24 fiskar ruler. I use it all the time. I have bought others, but I just love the black and orange markings. I can't live without. I love my Kai scissors. So light and always sharp.

the notion that I hated the most was the martelli binding system. Bought it at the houston quilt show. They did a demo and it was oh so easy. just do this and this and this and then your quilt is binded by machine. Brought it home and never could get the hang of it. Was really disappointed when asked the company for help. They couldn't care less. Sold it on ebay and recouped some of my money.

StitchinJoy

I remember well what quilting was like back in the olden days, when I would cut templates out of cereal boxes, pencil around the template, cut outside of those pencil lines, and sew by hand on the pencil lines.

I love my sewing machine and my rotary cutter. I still hand piece some of my quilts, but I do all the cutting with rotary tools!