Eight sewing tools for the non-sewer!

Years ago, when I still lived at home with the folks, my younger brother came into the kitchen, pulled out the stapler and proceeded to use it to hem his pants. That memory is the inspiration for this post. Below are inexpensive items you can find in most housewares departments or fabric stores that are useful if you're nimble with a  needle or not.  I took these pictures at Burkholder Fabrics in Lancaster County Pa.  https://www.burkfabric.com/store/, a great source of gadgets and fabric.  That said   Joanne Fabrics carries all these and you can almost always find a 50% off coupon on their site!

1. Heat-n-Bond - an alternative to staples. Simply place under the hem of a clothing item and press the fabric in place with an iron. It creates a lovely hem without the glitzy glint of the staples with no sewing at all. (This also can be purchased in a wide version from a bolt so you can make any fabric into an iron-on  patch!)

 2. Stitch Witchery - used the same as Heat-n-Bond without as strong a bond.  This is good if you do want to sew it as well because it does not gum up you needle. 

3. Beeswax - You will probably have to use a needle and thread sometime since staplers don't work on buttons. If you slide the thread through beeswax first it will be stronger and will not tangle.  If you don't have beeswax, a white candle also works well!

4. Fray Check - a liquid you put on the edge of fabric to keep it from fraying.  If you don't plan to wash the fabric, a thin smear of Elmers Glue works as well.

5. Bodkin - Ever have to put a drawstring back in? A safety pin does a decent job but a bodkin was built for it. One end has teeth that clasps the end and then the ring slides down to hold it tight. Then just run this sleek baby through the casing!

6.  Snag Nab it - This is a barbed needle designed to address snags in clothing like sweaters. You place the needle at the base of the snag, grab the snag by wrapping or placing against the barbed end and pull the snag through to the inside of the fabric!  Nifty!

7. Seam Ripper (no relation to Jack) - a pointy tool with a razor blade in the curve.  It is used for picking or cutting stitches out of fabric. It is also great for a letter opener, or any time a thin pointy object is just what you need. (I just learned that when using it to tear out a seam, the red ball should be down to make it glide through the seam more easily.  Who knew!)

8.  Magnetic pincushion - This is one of my favorite things because I just have to get a pin near it and it hops on board!  This would also work great for anyone who works with small metal parts like nuts and bolts to keep them from going astray.

Hope you now have a notion about some notions you might use! (hee, hee)