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Having a fabulous pair of scissors made for machine embroidery appliqué is a joy.  Since there are quite a few embroidery designs and garments that use this technique...I’m excited to tell you about these special scissors.
 
I am very proud to say that the Heritage Cutlery Company has developed a pair of scissors just for me. 
 
Well, sort of.  I was doing a show where Heritage Cutlery had a booth.  I spoke to Chris Olix, who was working for the Heritage Cutlery Company at that time, and explained that I needed a special pair scissors to cut within the hoop…something that would cut multiple layers of fabric or heavier fabrics than just a single layer of cotton.

When using my Crocheted Lady Patterns and creating a sweatshirt, I needed a strong pair of curved, appliqué scissors when cutting away the fabric below the skirt.  All the ones I had purchased wouldn’t do it so I was frustrated.  Chris said if I would help him and do the testing, he would see that they were created.  He told me that his company was always interested in finding a need in the sewing world and designing a product to fill the need. 

So for about six months they would send me the test pair and I would critique them and send back my thoughts on their performance.  At the very end, I didn’t feel like they were cutting as well as they should.  So I asked what kind of fabric they were testing them on.  Chris said 2 layers of muslin.  I told him that they needed to be testing them on four layers of denim.  He was shocked but said he would try.  By the next time they were shipped back to me, they were PERFECT!  I was so excited!!  Heritage had finally come up with a fabulous scissors that worked beautifully. 

The name of these fabulous scissors is…
Machine Embroidery Appliqué Scissors.  You will love them!  I have had several people come back and buy a second pair because they tell me they want one at home and one for classes they love them so much!
 
And don’t forget…like all of the Heritage Scissor products…they have a lifetime guarantee.  Just give the company a call and they will tell you how to send them back for repair or replacement.  Amazing!

$32.95 each.

The 5" Art Quilt Scissors by Heritage are my favorite trimming scissors.  They are large enough for your hands to hold them comfortably but small enough to get into the tightest spots.  I use them when cutting out appliqués, trimming around anything and just an overall scissor.  Since I use my hands so much, the large openings in the handles are wonderful…and they cut sooooo well!!! 

These are an extension of my right arm.  These scissors are very maneuverable around trees and foliage and they cut right to the tip.  Their serrated cutting edge seems to help hold the fabric from slipping.  I promise, you will love them!

$22.95 each.

These are the best tweezers you will ever buy!

There is a story that goes with these tweezers and it’s not for the faint of heart…but I’ll tell you anyway!    If you have been to one of my seminars, it’s possible you may have heard this before but just in case you haven’t…here goes.

Most of you know I have four sons…and we lived on a farm…which meant all those little boys had lots of opportunities for getting splinters, bits of rock or glass, and a myriad of other things lodged in said boys bodies.  MANY years ago when everyone was little, we had lots of “things” to remove…which generally involved a needle and much screaming and gnashing of teeth. 

One day, I came across a pair of these tweezers and I thought “Eureka”!  I had found the perfect answer for removing the bits.  The children were so happy…they no longer screamed while the removal was taking place…in fact they gave the little life savers their very own pet name…are you ready?  This is the faint of heart part…they named them the “booger getters” Oh Dear!  Life is just different when you have a passel of boys! 

As life has a way of doing…the boys grew and moved out…taking their very own pair of “___ _____” with them so they could continue the tradition.

This is about the time the embroidery machines came into the market place.  Oh My!  How am I ever going to rip out my misplaced embroideries?

How to Rip Out an Embroidery Design

I came up with a great duo.  The Ultra Pro Seam Ripper and the Thread Tweezers.  You can use these two tools to remove "embroidery gone wrong" (which happens to the best of us!) Leave it in the hoop or put the design area back in the hoop so the hoop helps hold the area to be rescued and have it stretched taught.  Then scratch at the bobbin threads with the Ultra-Pro Seam Ripper, turn it over, and pull out the threads with the Thread Tweezers.  You need to repeat this until you have all the threads out, but it works beautifully and can save a garment! Just be careful to “scratch”!!!  Don’t dig or cut…just scratch!

Hold the little tweezers with the “butt” end in the palm of your hand and use the 3/8” beveled blade to pull out the majority of the threads.  You will use the tips only when you get down to the very last of the threads that just will not come out…you know…those last two stitches that are glued into the fabric.  Just a little work with those sharp tips and voila!  You are ready to press the area, and re-embroider it.

I promise you will actually LOVE these little sweeties!  They are small…better get two or three! 

These grab your project and Won't Let Go!

The Grip-n-Grip no-slip mat is the answer to all the prayers of those textile artists that have been frustrated by fabric that won't stay put while embellishing. Those who have tried to paint on fabric, and even those of you applying hot fix rhinestones to a garment, may have prayed to the textile gods for just this very thing!

This 12.5" x 17" mat is made from a heat resistant rubber that won't move about when laid down on a table, and fabric will 'stick' to it rather than slide. You can heat press or iron fabrics directly on this mat, making placement of tiny rhinestones easier as you don't have to move anything to heat set.

I use it when I am silk screening.  Click here to see the video of me in action.

Grip-n-Grip is a great little accessory for any textile artist, this no-slip mat has many, many uses. It helps in hooping embroidery hoops, marking quilt tops, coloring on fabric, making quilt labels, and many other uses. Also great for signing friendship quilts. 

When hooping…lay Grip-n-Grip on the table and place your hoop on top…continue with hooping and your hoop stays put!  No more “just about having the garment hooped and “whoosh!” It moves and you have to start over.  That hoop NEVER moves until you want it to.

Made in the UNITED STATES Yea!!!  $16.95 each

Hoop Grip will hold your fabric within your embroidery hoops, so your fabric will not slip.  Hoop Grip is made to placed around the outer rim of the inside hoop.  It comes in a roll... 1/3” wide by 9 yards long.  You can use Hoop Grip on rulers to keep them from moving while cutting, to keep your sewing machine pedal from runing away from you or even to mark the perfect quarter inch on your sewing machine.  It will basically keep anything from moving, shifting or slipping, try it on different things.

I just tried this some free standing lace I’m testing, and it really keeps the water soluble stabilizer tight!  A roll will do all your hoops with tape left over.  You put it on the outside of the inner hoop.  It has adhesive on it, and it stays there.  If it gets lint on it, and it will... just take a damp cloth and gently wash it off.  Let it dry and it will be sticky again.

How to use Hoop Grop...

Separate your hoop
Measure around the outside of your inner hoop (the one that gets “squished” inside the other one... technical terms you know), add about one inch and make a mark on the yellow.

Both sides of the Hoop Grip are tacky feeling... so it’s easy to get mixed up.

The side that is covered with the yellow is the actual adhesive side and is the one you will adhere to the outside of your inner hoop.

Tear away the yellow covering going 1/2” past the marking you made.

THis stuff is really hard to get separated if you cut where the yellow covering hasn’t been loosened you will probably NEVER get it apart again.

Cut on the line and then fold a little of the yellow tape under.  This is to help you get a start after you use it on one hoop... you know like you do with sealing tape and duct tape.

Apply the side that had the yellow tape on it... you should be able to overlap just a tiny bit.

If for some reason you want to remove the Hoop Grip, just pull it away and stick a pin through the end and hang it on the wall till you want to put it back on.  If it’s a very long time, it might not be sticky any more but for a short period of time, it will sustain the adhesive qualities.

*A Tip From Suzio*

Jim also put strips of the Hoop Grip on the bottom of his inner hoop so the fabrics will slip even less.  Thanks Jim!

Made in the UNITED STATES Yea!!!

$11.95 each

An all natural fabric spot & stain remover!!!

Whether your priceless project was made by you or someone else, pamper it with SEW CLEAN!  Great for quilts, wall hangings and wearables. This all natural cleaner is biodegradable, non-toxic and has NO butyl or harsh alkalis.

SEW CLEAN POWERS OUT STAINS -- NATURALLY!