Gift Ideas for Quilters

Are you still wondering what to give your quilty friend for the holidays?  Sure there are journal covers and zip pouches to make, but if you are running out of time and would rather purchase a product for your friend, I put together a tiny list of things you might not have thought of.

First, my new seam ripper:

I recently listened to a podcast by the lovely Sandy at Quilting for the Rest of Us, where she reviewed this seam ripper and a couple others.  After hearing her thoughts, I wanted to try it myself, so I ordered one.  It does look a little scary, but it works really well.  You use it by sliding the scalpel between the layers of fabric.

I found this ripper EXTREMELY useful when paper piecing (it is really hard to use a regular seam ripper when your stitch length is so short), but I've also used it with regular sewing and applique stitches.  I think it would also work really well if you had to undo any satin stitching or machine embroidery.  You can get it at the Havel's website.   $10 may seem like a lot for a seam ripper, but it comes with blade refills, so I will last you quite a while.

My next recommendation would be great for anyone who does applique or paper piecing and frequently has to trace patterns.   The Crayola Light Up Tracing Pad:



I totally stole this from my daughter!  It is super thin and light and uses a couple of batteries, so it is extremely portable.  The size of the light up space is roughly 8.5 x 11 - so the size of a sheet of regular copy paper.  It is great for paper piecing (checking to be sure that first piece of fabric is placed properly), and would be great for tracing applique shapes.

Now, I've seen and heard of people taking storage boxes and filling them with tap-on lights.  When the costs add up, that makeshift version is about the same as this, but it is much less portable.  Also!  As I write this, the price on the Amazon link is $35, BUT I've seen it closer to $25 on Amazon (you just have to check periodically), AND I saw the same toy at Target last week for $20 (regular price).  So shop around.

For the free motion quilter:

Machinger Quilting Gloves



Supreme Slider



Both of these products make free motion quilting on a domestic quilting machine so much easier.  The gloves help you grip the fabric to move it around easier, and some say it alleviates the strain on your shoulders as you quilt.  I tend to hunch no matter what, so I can't really attest to this benefit.

The Supreme Slider just makes your quilting table surface slippery, thus making your quilt move around with less friction.  I use both products, and love them.

For the quilter who has everything......get something completely NEW.....



This book is available from some of the authors' websites now (like HERE at Fresh Lemons Quilts or HERE at Swim, Bike, Quilt), but the regular release date is not until December 31st, meaning it is highly unlikely that your friend already has this book.  This means you can pre-order it from your bookstore, or Amazon, OR you can buy directly from the authors.  I love to support the authors directly, especially if you want an actual book to present instead of an IOU.

Well, there you go.  I hope I gave you a few new ideas for gifts (or something to put in your own stocking).

Thanks for reading,

Jen

Binding Tool - Trial and Error Tuesday

Product Review time!

Frustrated when trying to finish off attaching your binding?  You might like the "Binding Tool" from TQM Products.  I got mine at Missouri Quilt Co.  As of today, it is under $8 (plus shipping).  A deal!

I was constantly frustrated when attaching my binding to my quilts.  For some reason, I just couldn't get it through my head how to do it.  I had at least 6 different versions of instructions telling me how to, but I kept struggling.  I either ended up with my tails too long and an enormous amount of binding for that last 10 inches  of quilt or sometimes only 8 inches of binding for the last 10 inches of quilt!  The most difficult part for me was figuring out which way to twist the binding open to attach it to the other side.  So even when I had the length right, I ended up with multiple twists which were unacceptable.  Enter the binding tool.

It was actually featured in one of my magazines over the holidays as an excellent stocking stuffer.  And since I am in charge of stuffing stockings around here, I bought myself one!

Now there are several videos out there for how to use this tool.  I just felt like doing my own pictures for fun!

First, attach your binding as usual, EXCEPT leave a 12 inch opening.  I like to put pins in these places, so I know where I need to start and stop.  You will also need to start with approximately 10 inch tails.  Go ahead, attach that binding all the way around your quilt.

When you make it all the way around to your 12 inch opening.  Nestle the binding tool, letter side up, against that last pin, and mark along the line (I used red pen below).

Now, move your binding over to the cutting mat.  Line up that mark under the "Mark here" line.

Then trim with your rotary cutter.  You will notice that it makes a little notch mark at the bottom.  Those notches save my sanity!

Next, rotate the tool around to your other side of the 12 inch opening and nestle the tool against that pin.  Your letters on the tool are still facing up!

Mark a line along the "Mark Here" line.

This is the only tricky part!  THIS time line up your line with the end of the tool. (Your line will end up where the notch is going to be).

Then trim with your rotary cutter.

Now align the two pieces of binding.  You will have a notch on both sides to help you!

Pin if you need to, and sew the two pieces of binding together.

You will end up with perfectly measured binding to continue to attach to your quilt, AND no twists!!!

As I mentioned above, the instructions have you do a 12 inch opening.  That doesn't give you a whole lot of room if you are making something small - like a placemat, or a mug rug.  I have gotten by with less, and will tell you how next Tuesday!  (Read, I didn't take pictures of this, so now I will have to do make something in order to show you how!)

Am I the only one out there that ended up with those twists in their binding??