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Locking Hemostatic Forceps are Amazing

Locking Hemostatic Forceps

I don't remember when or why I started stocking these forceps and I personally hadn't used them until just a week ago and it turns out they are AMAZING for turning small things RS out and for stuffing them.

Around the holidays I start to feel like getting out some of my fancier fabrics--you know the velvets, wools, and silks--and of course, some sparkly beads.  So I made this mushroom, which was a simple project but I 100% would have abandoned it without the help of these forceps.  They made it super simple to turn the stem RS out and it was easy to stuff it.  Both of these things would have been really frustrating without these forceps and now I'm a fan.

What's New + Back in Stock

Bohin Baby Pink Pins

Bohin pins in Baby Pink are back in stock. These are a light pink color that reminds me of pink stucco.  

Stick and Stitch Flowers

These are new and are 1" in diameter flowers on Fabri-Solvy water soluble paper. Stitch them on a cardigan, t-shirt, jeans, bags, etc.  They are cute embellishments and can also be used to cover small stains, holes, or bleach spots.  

Blue Fabric Pieces

Blue patchwork is one of my all time favorite things to make. It always turns out amazing and using a blue theme keeps it simple while also taming the "do these fabrics go together????" anxious thoughts. If you like to make blue patchwork too, or would like some small pieces of blue fabrics to use for accessories or whatever you're currently making, check here for a collection of cotton, cotton/linen, and cotton/flax fabrics.

 

New Colors of Bohin Pins

Teal Bohin Murano Glass Pins

Do you have some nice pins to use when you sew?  Sewing is more satisfying when you have the right tools and it's even better when your tools also look great.

These pretty pins from Bohin are excellent all-purpose pins with sharp shanks and heads that won't melt. If you make a lot of straps or sew things where it can help to pin them to your ironing board (or a wool mat), these are helpful for keeping melted plastic off your iron and ironing board.

Pea Green Bohin Murano Glass Pins

I started stocking in a few colors when Dritz's glass head pins were out of stock (they still are hard to find). Once I started using these, they quickly became one of favorite pins. 

They are mostly 1.25" long and even though they are "fine" pins, they are pretty sturdy.

Baby Pink Bohin Murano Glass Pins

When it was time to order more, to my delight I found some new colors available and had to have them too.

Besides sewing, these pins are also awesome for using on bulletin boards or to mark places you've been on a map.

I have a huge bulletin board and these pins are excellent for pinning things to the board, or like with the Box Bottom Gauges, I punch a hole in them and then hang them on a pin so the gauges don't get lost.

If you are interested in having some lovely pins that aren't purely decorative, check out these Bohin pins at the links above.

You can also find these pins in this section of my etsy shop. 

The Blues

Ki-Mama Sevenberry Fabric

Essex Cotton/Linen Stripe in Chambray

 

Bohin Murano Glass Head Pins

FAQ - What kind of snaps do you use?

 

Two Pocket Wallet ~ Floral Fabric ~ Blue Fabric

Someone asked me which snaps I use, which is a pretty common question, and if anyone else is wondering the same thing, here is the answer:

Snap Source Size 24

The cap is 5/8" and they come in a few colors, plus a few other finishes. I adore these snaps and even though I have quite a collection of other snaps, these are the ones I like best!

Using a Sewing Gauge to Make Circles

The other day I had a "learned something new today" moment because I wasn't aware a sewing gauge can be used like a compass to mark circles and scallops.  But, yes, it most certainly can! 

All you need to do is anchor it with a pin through the hole in the slider, insert the tip of a fabric pen in the hole at the end of the gauge, and then rotate the gauge to trace the circle or scallop. 

The two things to pay attention to are:

1. If you need an exact diameter for a circle or specific height for a scallop, the hole at the end isn't actually at the very end and you'll need to accommodate for the one or two millimeter difference.  
2. Make sure nothing is in the way of the gauge rotating around!  It's easy to knock stuff around or onto the floor and end up with a wobbly looking circle if there is something in the path of the gauge while it's rotating.

A sewing gauge is one of those sewing tools that is just super useful and while you can sew without one, they are inexpensive and so very useful that it makes sense to have at least one in your sewing tool kit. Mine gets used almost daily for something (often a Grocery Bag or Basket Bag) and I have several of them since they are easy to bury under fabric or misplace in other ways.