Favorite Sewing Tools of the ODACA Artists & Aux members

Sherry Goshon

Well first of all my sewing machine since I work in cloth. However I could not live with out my tube turning tools as that is how I turn fingers. There are all sorts on the market today. My favorite is a tube and a long wire with a barb at the end. There are lots of ways to make your own with a skinny straw and wooden skewer.

Jean D. Lotz

• A roto cutter and a cutting mat with grid markings have become essential tools for layout, sewing and so much more.
• I love to keep curved toe nail scissors and curved sharp point finger nail scissors with my hand sewing. I grab these scissors to cut threads and lace up close and neat on even the tiniest doll sewing. These are also tough enough to trim leather if I need to.
• I can't manage to keep a thimble on my finger, so instead I keep a small block of dense wood near me as I sew at my table. When I can't get a needle through the fabric, then I use this wood as a push block.
• To lace cord or ribbon through a tiny doll casing, I needed a very short needle with a nice long eye. I modified a needle to better suit my needs by cutting off the point end of a moderately fat needle with a nice long eye. I use this needle all of the time and keep it in a special place.
• A "wooden finger" was recommended on one of those TV sewing shows and I instantly realized it was wonderfully useful. Instead of using a knitting needle or other metal object to help hold your material under your sewing machine's foot, use a "wooden finger". It is safer for the machine and grips the material well without tearing. A "wooden finger" can easily be made out of any long skinny wooden stick: chop stick, thin dowel, or wooden skewer. Chop it off at a convenient length and sand the ends at an angle into the shape of a "cuticle pusher".

Myra Sherrod

For sewing, my thimble [is indispensable]. I learned early-on to pop one on every time I picked up a piece of sewing, and now consider it as important as my needle. Couldn't function without it.

Return to Top of Page