We all have favorite things in our sewing spaces that make life a little easier when we’re quilting. They can be notions that are made specifically for quilting, or they can be something else entirely! Those of us who work at Studio 180 Design are no exception. Here are the things in our sewing rooms that we love working with.
Deb Tucker, Creative Kingpin
My Daylight Slimline lamp that illuminates my sewing machine is probably the item I can least live without. As I age, I truly miss my younger vision and will never again sew without this lamp attached to my table. (But then again there's my Daylight lamp over my cutting mat, and the one over my ironing board, and of course the one at my sofa table for when I do handwork.) So I recommend that quilter's don't skimp on their lighting. You'll be thankful in the end!
Sue Tucker, CFO
After I position my blocks on my design wall, I like to sew entire rows together, but don't like the constant jumping up and down to get the next block and then take a chance it might be turned wrong. I also like to get all the rows ready to stitch at this point. To keep everything organized, I use two things. First, I use Marilee's number pins to identify each row. Then, for each row, I pin the blocks right sides together in the correct orientation with a single pin in the middle of the seam allowance. Then to keep the blocks together when I sew, I align all of the unsewn seams except for the one I'm about to sew, and clip them together with a big Chip Clip. Then after I stitch a seam, I just remove the next seam from the clip and I'm ready to sew without worrying about the block orientation or losing a pin and having the whole bundle fall apart.
Sarah Furrer, COO
I like using extra fine short pins when pinning my seam intersections. With extra fine pins, I don't have to worry about the fabric shifting. I prefer the Clover Glasshead pins or the Magic Pins which are Extra Fine. Having the right pins can make pinning easier and more accurate.
Diane Marvin, Certified Instructor Program Coordinator
I love using my little page holder for keeping my pattern near my machine. This way it doesn’t take up the flat surface that I want for my units.
Amy Lemke, Graphic Designer
My must-have quilting notion is my seam ripper, and not just for unsewing! I use it to cut threads when I finish sewing blocks, use it to pick loose threads out of seams, as a stiletto to guide my fabric under my sewing needle (especially when I need to hold seams together), or even to draw out my thread when I load a new bobbin. It's certainly not my most glamorous tool, but it's the one I reach for most often.
Diana Mann, Social Media and Marketing Specialist
I use a file organizer on my cutting table to hold my rulers and tools. It allows me to only have the tool I need on the mat as I’m working, but keeps the others that I’m using for the project on my table easily available. I love that it is slanted and that I can also put my patterns and technique sheets in it. Then when I’m done with the specific tools for a project, I can put them back in my Tucker bucket. Of course, I always have at least one Tucker Trimmer on my table at all times!
Debbie Thomas, Accounting and Pattern Specialist
I love my By Annie stiletto and pressing tool. I keep it at my sewing machine and use it to easily hold pieces in place when feeding my fabric under my needle. I am able to keep the fabric in place almost until the needle reaches the point. The other end of the tool is great for pressing seams open, especially when I’m just sewing a small seam. This saves me from getting up and going to my ironing board. Another great feature are the flat edges on each side of the tool. They prevent the tool from rolling off my sewing table.
We would be remiss if we didn't include something from our wonderful warehouse team!
Jeff Tucker, CEO
Toby Tucker, Accounts and Logistics Manager
Jeff and Toby actually use a fantastic tool in the warehouse that's sewing related! They use a Quilter's Magic Wand to help them keep track of their spots on invoices and paperwork. Everyone in the company has a use for the tools in one way or another.
Some of these things are small, but make such a big difference! What do you use in your sewing space that you just can’t live without?
