On vacation...the whole month of July and am still "vacating" even as I write. I decided to take the month of July off to try to get some projects finished and get ahead in the classes I teach. I was asked to teach another beginners quilt class starting this fall, so I also had to deal with possible new lesson plans to a whole different group of quilters. There is still some discussion on whether or not this group will actually be beginners or intermediate/advanced beginners. So there was much rifling through patterns and thinking and planning.
My son finished college at the end July and wanted to take one more family vacation before he started work, so that is why I'm still "vacating" in Atlantic Beach, NC. The month off has been nice, but I'm ready to get back to my schedule, my quilts, and my quilting friends.
Of course, while traveling, I've hit quilt shops and talked to quilters. It was while I was at one of these quilt shops a woman asked what I considered my "I-gotta-have-these-with-me-at-all-times" tools. There are several I keep in a Vera Bradley pouch.
Inside, I keep all these...
These are tools I simply can't live without....
The first are marking tools that can be picked up just about anywhere...a fine-tipped marker for marking templates, a #2 mechanical pencil, an eraser stick, and another pencil, just in case the other pencil runs out of lead. The pencils are great for use on the wrong side of the material or for making notes.
These are for marking the right side of the fabric -- in other words, they wash out quickly and easily. One of the Fons and Porter mechanical pencils holds white lead for dark fabrics and the other holds dark lead for light fabrics. There is also a chalk marker with additional white chalk and colored chalk and a sharpener. The black sponge can be easily dampened with a drop or two of water to remove the chalk marks if I make a mistake and the F & P pencils come with their own erasers and extra lead.
I also keep an Add A Quarter ruler -- the small version -- the large version stays in my quilting kit at home. This is the yellow ruler at the top. These are wonderful for paper piecing, English paper piecing or just quick measuring. The next, the blue plastic strip, is a half-square triangle marker. Below is a two-pronged awl, which has saved my fingers many times both sewing and ironing tiny pieces of fabric. And finally a toothpick. I cannot applique without a toothpick. A moistened toothpick is wonderful for turning under fabric when you're doing needle-turn applique -- especially the corners and curves.
Two pairs of scissors. The ones at the tops are actually called lace scissors and are used in French heirloom sewing. The flattened edge makes these great for cutting the backs off large appliqued pieces. They allow you to get between pieces of fabric without cutting through the front of the applique. The scissors with the green handles are serrated applique scissors. The blades have tiny "teeth" that keeps the fabric from raveling too much. I just bought them and absolutely love them. They are by Karen Kay Blakely and I do not leave home without them!
These don't fit in my tiny pouch, but they stay near it. The thread is specially made applique thread from Superior Thread Company. It's a little pricey, but it lasts a long time. I used to applique with nothing but 100% silk thread, but always had trouble keeping my needle threaded because it was so slippery. This thread is 100% cotton, fine, and the colors blend wonderfully with just about anything.
A needle keeper. You can keep your threaded needles in here. This works great when you're appliqueing several colors of cloth and you have to keep several needles threaded. The threads don't tangle. And the best part about the bobbin holder and the keeper?
They nest!
And finally, I keep applique pins with me. These are much smaller than the standard pins most of us keep on hand, even smaller than the dressmaker pins. Some quilt stores sell these, but if you can't find them there, go to just about any craft store and look for sequin pins, which are usually located in the make-it-yourself Christmas ornament section. They're the same thing.
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