- tool,
- gadget,
- or piece of machinery
- you just HAD to HAVE, or
- you thought would make your sewing experience SOOOO much easier, or
- more professionally polished, or
- that was so "STATE OF THE ART" you thought every sewing room needed to have one.
 |
| FASTTURN..still unopened - never used. I should be ashamed of myself! Good thing it cost under $20. Maybe one day I'll open it up and at least read the instructions. |
Go ahead. Fess up! Tell us what you've got...
Cute post... I would have to say my electric rotary cutter. Used it twice since purchasing it 2 years ago.
ReplyDeleteLike I said, we all have something. I'd be real scared of an electric rotary cutter.
DeleteI bought TWO rotary cutters since everyone sang its praises...I'm a shears kinda girl!
ReplyDeleteAnd my dress form. Shhhhh. Don't tell. I rarely use it for anything than to pop a picture. It's pretty close too in proportions (not just measurements)
I only use my three rotary cutters every once in a while. I'm a shears girl too. But occasionally mine do come in handy.
DeleteA magnetic seam gauge. I've had it for a few years, and finally pulled it out the other day, only to realize that when I pin perpendicular to the seam line, the pins bump into the seam gauge. Back in the drawer it will go.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a nifty idea Meigan as so many other things do. I've never seen one or I'm sure I would own it too.
DeleteBelieve it or not I don't have any sewing related gadgets that I don't use at some time or another. I make a point of only buying those things that I absolutely know I'm going to use. If I do think of something, I'll come back and retract this statement! LOL
ReplyDeleteNow this is a sewing miracle - you are a very smart sewist!
Deletewelll I'll start with the worse of it lol! way back & I mean way back I bought a serger, used it maybe twice, couldn't really figure out how to use it much less thread it so in the closet it went for over 20 years I'm not kidding lol gave it away & now here I am back into sewing for myself & I think I need one again! lol!
ReplyDeleteHelen
A serger is a wonderful machinery tool to have Helen. Everything's great until you have to thread the loser looper UNLESS you are fortunate to own one of those jet stream models.
Deletemmmmmmm, you name I have it....serger bought yyyyyears ago off HSN (still in the box, took it out in attempts to thread it) rotary thingamagig....shameless
ReplyDeleteHow much you wanna sell that serger for?
DeleteI was SCARED of my serger when I first bought it - knives and me don't fair too well. BUT, it's a wonderful piece of machinery and I use mine to finish ALL my seams - even knits. Again it's wonderful UNTIL you have to thread the lower looper. But that doesn't happen often.
DeleteMy felting machine. Bought it on sale for less than 1/2 its original purchase price. Had wonderful visions of what I'd do with it. Have I used it? Not once. But everything else I've bought I use.
ReplyDeleteIf you only have one thing, then you are doing great Melodye!
DeleteMine is a ruffler. I hunted that thing down all over the metro Atlanta area and used it once....
ReplyDeleteI've got a ruffler foot. Thing is so big and clunky that I'm afraid it will tear my machine up if I use it.
DeleteThe tools I thought would be useful, but are hardly used are my bodkin and loop turner. Those damn things are so frustrating that I find it easier to use a safety pin.
ReplyDeleteI have several bodkins in here and don't even know how to use them. And as for that loop turner thing with the little hook on the end @$@#%#%^%^&@@#$@%^%^%^%!!! That's how I feel about it too.
DeleteFaye! Open up that fasturn tool! It will change your life!!! I would not be without mine. My confession is that I got a coverhem machine for Christmas and I have only used it twice, but I still have hope that I will become competent and using it, and it will be used more often.
ReplyDeleteOK Becky, the very next time I make a tube, I'll open that package up.
DeleteI bought a bias strip cutter and a bobbin winder. I could NEVER get the cutter to actually cut all the way through the fabric, so back in the box it went. As for the bobbin winder I never remember it until I am halfway into winding a bobbin on the sewing machine. Oh well....
ReplyDeleteI didn't get the bias strip cutter, but I do use my bobbin winder almost every time I sew.
DeleteThose bias binding makers by Clover. I have yet to make bias strips period on my own let alone to whip out that thing.
ReplyDeleteI'm guilty - have 3 or 4 of them myself. I have tried to use them with no success, but instead learned to make my own using bias strips, a pin and my iron. This method always works.
DeleteMy narrow hem foot - it was a total disaster when I tried to use it! Every so often I think about taking it out of the time out box and giving it another try...
ReplyDeleteI do understand Clio, when narrow hemming chiffon my fabric has gotten in the throat plate badly, not to mention ending up with a wonky hem. Hint: Smoking Needles just recently did a video tutorial on using the foot. I'm sure it will help.
DeleteI have that magnetic seam guage thing too and have not really used it either. It gets caught for me too :)
ReplyDeleteI must have missed the magnetic seam guage, if not I'm certain I would have picked one up myself.
DeleteI have one of those hem marker things which blows a puff of chalk onto the hem when you press the rubber bulb thing, at least that's how I think it should work having never used it. I think I took it out of the box, read the instructions, went 'n'uh??' and put it back in the box.
ReplyDeleteIt took me 18 months to actually use my coverhem machine after I bought it but now I LOVE it and use it on every knit project. Sometimes its worth learning how to use something.
We've all got something that fits this category. Glad you gave your coverhem machine another try.
DeleteI do use my fast turners - not super often, but when I need them I.NEED.THEM. I bought a bobbin winder machine that came out a few years ago (so I wouldn't have to unthread my machine to wind a bobbin) - think I've used it twice in however many years I've had it. Not that convenient after all...........
ReplyDeleteI do use my bobbin winder a lot, but there are many more things that I never use.
DeleteI just thought about something that I have but have not used the other day... the bone marker. I think I tried to use it once. Can't remember if it worked or not. I also brought a bias tape maker by Clover that is still in its packaging.
ReplyDeleteI use my Fasturn-ers All. The. Time. Open them up Faye!!!
ReplyDeleteCan't think of any gadget I've bought (and it's a lot) that I don't use. But I tend to just blank out bad memories. LOL!!!
I have never once used my rotary cutter or my bias maker - I just buy the bias. I promise myself that one day they will come in handy!
ReplyDeleteIt seems wrong to admit in some circles but I LOVE store bought bias tape!
DeleteOh, my heavens, Faye, I just love my fasturn and use it often. Give it a shot! Now, my mistake purchase that I had to have - an olfa circle cutter. I have never needed to cut a perfect circle since the day I bought it . Eventually it found a home in some nook or cranny and I haven't missed it a bit. Big waste of money!
ReplyDeleteI bought one of those expensive Clover bias tape folders, and I find it much harder to use than manually folding the bias tape with the iron.
ReplyDeleteI think I am finally getting the hang of the loop turner--the one with the annoying useless clasp on the end. I'm not certain that a safety pin or bobby pin isn't easier, though.
LOL! Mine is some accordion like gadget used to precisely measure the distance between buttonholes.... Yeah right! Great post!
ReplyDeleteI love my fasturn thingie. :-) I cannot remember buying something I haven't used...except for patterns and fabric. !!
ReplyDeleteI really loved reading this post and all the comments! I have a few Clover bias tape makers that were given to me and I never used...The gift giver thought I was going to be really excited, but I wasn't!
ReplyDeleteThe thing I bought myself and haven't used much is the Ottlite from Joann's. I thought it was going to be a miracle lighting device for my sewing and waited for a big sale and bought it....but it doesn't get much use as it didn't really illuminate my sewing area all that much. I have now re-positioned it on my desk to see if that will make a difference....
Anyway, thanks for asking the question!!