Creative Spaces Blog Hop, Week Two

and …

I am a Loser, I must admit it.

I apologize for missing a week and being late for my next Blog post.

But here we go:

These are the essential tools that I use for every type of quilting that I do: hand and machine piecing, hand and machine appliqué, and machine quilting. I can’t create the quilts that I do without them. They’ve been my favorites for as long as I can remember.

What you see pictured here, starting at the top, then left to right:

My trusty

I can’t do what I do without the best sewing technology. I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture. My favorite feet are the 57 – Quarter-inch foot with guidebar, and 20 – Open-toe appliqué foot. My favorite accessories are the Magnifier lenses that help me to see fine detail, like in the pic below.

2. Scissors

I love two pairs that help me to a.) clip threads close to my work without cutting the fabric and b.) do fine cutting for appliqué, all the way to the tip of the scissors. a.) Havel’s snips and b.) Elan E6 5″ patchwork scissors. I love the Elans because they’re only $16 and the blades don’t seem to get dull, and they have big finger grips that are firm.

3. Thread

Did you think I could do a post without listing my favorite thread? Nevah! Aurifil 50 weight is my go-to machine piecing, hand piecing, hand appliqué thread. I usually use the grays or beiges for neutral piecing, then match the thread color to my fabric for appliqué.

Aurifil 28 weight thread is my ULTIMATE favorite thread for machine appliqué and machine quilting. This quilt’s appliqué and quilting are done completely with 28 weight thread:

Machine quilting by Lori Kennedy. 2016

4. Thread Heaven (or Thread Magic) thread conditioner for hand piecing and hand appliqué.

5. Clover Needle Threader

I can’t see tiny needle eyes anymore but I still use tiny needles. This lovely little machine threads my needles for me. I can’t stitch without it.

6. Sharpie Ultra-fine tip permanent marking pen

I use this to mark template plastic, fabric, tape, and anything else that needs a permanent mark.

7. Ticonderoga Triwrite pencil

This is my very favorite pencil – it has three sides instead of six and I love the feel of it in my hand. Whoever wins the prize for this blogpost will get a nice little package of these new pencils. I use them for everything.

8. Clover Fork Pins

These little gems are my ULTIMATE favorite notion above and beyond my rotary cutter. No kidding. They hold butted seams perfectly so the seams are accurately aligned and the points end up where they’re supposed to be. They’re worth their weight in GOLD.

9. Microbrush

These little q-tiplike tools are the greatest for cleaning in your bobbin area and under your throatplate, which should be done every time you change your bobbin to keep your machine in tiptop shape.

10. Colonial Coppertop thimble.

My favorite for any and all hand stitching. I wear one size in the summer (fingers get bigger because of the heat) and a different size in the winter (when hands are smaller because of the cold).

11. Blue painters tape

I use this for everything. Marking quilting lines, taping fabric or blocks to the wall, marking my ruler lines for more accurate cutting. Anything I need temporary hold for.

12. My smart phone

I use the camera on my smartphone more than I make phone calls. I photograph EVERYTHING — every step of quilting detail for pattern instruction, to see if my fabric choices are right, blocks look good, block layout on my design wall, balance, and finished products. Oh – and blogpost content!

13. Bobbin Savers

I use a lot of bobbins and a variety of sizes for the various machines that I sew on. So I keep different colored bobbin rings with bobbins for the following:

a.) Different machines (BERNINA’s different models, Featherweight, Treadle, etc.)

b.) Appliqué projects (I always match my top thread color and bobbin thread color so I keep the bobbins for one project on one ring, so I don’t have to go searching for them)

c.) randomly filled bobbins by color (I’ll talk more about these in an upcoming Creative Spaces Blog Hop post and I’ll have pictures)

14. Soft Fuse fusible web

I can’t do the magic that I do with machine appliqué without this lovely stuff.

Okay — if you’ve stayed with me, here’s a list of what will be in my super-fantastic giveaway box for one lucky winner:

1.) a pack of assorted Aurifil threads

2.) a pack of Ticonderoga Triwrite pencils

3.) Microbrushes

4.) Love is Spoken Here pattern

So… head over to my Instagram… AnnieSmithQS

and Follow me, like my post and comment to a friend who would like to win a Giveaway box too! (For Real!)

Please visit the full Creative Spaces Blog Hoppers to see their Creative Spaces and tips too!

Tamarinis