Sewing Gadgets Raves & Rants

[Verbena]

Originally Posted by rilysmom

Also...

Below is what I use to turn things. I think it is called "clip and turn" or "easy turners" or something like that. I love it.

I use cooking chopsticks for a turner and to make corners square

[Verbena]

I love my button hole foot. It is the best.

[rilysmom]

Originally Posted by Verbena

I use cooking chopsticks for a turner and to make corners square

I've used knitting needles to turn too. The turning tool I listed also has a slot to hook ribbon and elastic to pull turn. Easier than using a safety pin.

Originally Posted by Verbena

I love my button hole foot. It is the best.

I have never used my button hole foot. I always just use the zigzag foot. I might have to give it a try,

[Ldyrev1]

Originally Posted by rilysmom

I've used knitting needles to turn too. The turning tool I listed also has a slot to hook ribbon and elastic to pull turn. Easier than using a safety pin.

I have never used my button hole foot. I always just use the zigzag foot. I might have to give it a try,

I think the tool you are referring to that has the slot to help pull turn is a bodkin. I have one. Does yours have a round ball on the end? If yes then it's a bodkin! I use mine all the time in heirloom sewing!! It is a really neat tool!

I love my button hole foot, I could not manage button holes for the world before I got one. Now they're a snap!!

I've been trying to think of "favorite" tools and I can't think of a favorite because I use as many as I have and they all make me look like I can really sew. LOL I am lost without my notions!!

[rilysmom]

Originally Posted by Ldyrev1

I think the tool you are referring to that has the slot to help pull turn is a bodkin. I have one. Does yours have a round ball on the end? If yes then it's a bodkin! I use mine all the time in heirloom sewing!! It is a really neat tool!

I love my button hole foot, I could not manage button holes for the world before I got one. Now they're a snap!!

I've been trying to think of "favorite" tools and I can't think of a favorite because I use as many as I have and they all make me look like I can really sew. LOL I am lost without my notions!!

It is longer than a bodkin or at least it is longer than the bodkins I have. I have a couple of bodkins too. They are cool too. I think it is called a "clip and turn." I believe I got it a Hancocks. It is really handy.

[Ldyrev1]

Ok, I think I know what you are talking about. I have seen those but have not yet added them to my notions. Are they by Clover?

[dawn27]

Well I purchase a ruffler foot for my Kenmore sewing machine today. I am hoping that it will save me some time and frustration from my thread always breaking and having to rip it out and start over. I have about 6-7 dresses to make and I am really hoping that it works.

Keeping my fingers crossed

I'll let you all know if it a Rant or a Rave this weekend once I give it a try.

[Ldyrev1]

Originally Posted by dawn27

Well I purchase a ruffler foot for my Kenmore sewing machine today. I am hoping that it will save me some time and frustration from my thread always breaking and having to rip it out and start over. I have about 6-7 dresses to make and I am really hoping that it works.

Keeping my fingers crossed

I'll let you all know if it a Rant or a Rave this weekend once I give it a try.

I would love to hear your review!!!

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by Ldyrev1

I would love to hear your review!!!

I put it on and will get started on my sewing this weekend. I'll let you know how it does.

[southernbelle04]

What a great idea to use chopsticks as a turner! I'm using a scrapbooking tool that is used with rub-ons. I like it so far.

[dawn27]

Ruffler attachment:

Granted it is a less expensive model, it only cost $25.

I tried to 40 mins, took it to the sewing shop for some instructions, went back home and tried for another 40 mins to perfect the settings just right, with no luck. Took it back asked about a different model that cost more, they offered to demonstrate it. It did ok much better the the less expensive one but after seeing three different samples of ruffle it just wasn't for me. Its not the look I prefer. I really appreciated their time and the offer to give a 25% discount on the more expensive model but I had to pass.

So, if your are looking for a nice ruffler and you like the pleated look. I suggest purchasing a better model. I really considered it but I dont do a lot of sewing so I didn't feel the investment was worth it.

The more expensive model works but you really need to like a pleated ruffle look which I do not.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by dawn27

Ruffler attachment:

Granted it is a less expensive model, it only cost $25.

I tried to 40 mins, took it to the sewing shop for some instructions, went back home and tried for another 40 mins to perfect the settings just right, with no luck. Took it back asked about a different model that cost more, they offered to demonstrate it. It did ok much better the the less expensive one but after seeing three different samples of ruffle it just wasn't for me. Its not the look I prefer. I really appreciated their time and the offer to give a 25% discount on the more expensive model but I had to pass.

So, if your are looking for a nice ruffler and you like the pleated look. I suggest purchasing a better model. I really considered it but I dont do a lot of sewing so I didn't feel the investment was worth it.

The more expensive model works but you really need to like a pleated ruffle look which I do not.

There should be a setting to make just a plain ruffle, no pleats. You set it to gather on each stitch... if it's set to gather every 6 or 12 stitches, then you'll get a pleat.

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by kjc

There should be a setting to make just a plain ruffle, no pleats. You set it to gather on each stitch... if it's set to gather every 6 or 12 stitches, then you'll get a pleat.

Yes I tried that plus they showed me at the shop but it was just too tight even with the stitck set to 4. I dont like it to be so tight, I would of had to use four times the amount of fabric than I normally do.

Thanks for the info.

[southernbelle04]

I pulled mine out again too to give it another try and was not happy. I bought an inexpensive one so I'm wondering if I got a better quality one if it would be better? I'm going to look at what else is out there and visit my local sewing center to ask too.

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by southernbelle04

I pulled mine out again too to give it another try and was not happy. I bought an inexpensive one so I'm wondering if I got a better quality one if it would be better? I'm going to look at what else is out there and visit my local sewing center to ask too.

Let me know how it goes.

The one that I had and returned just did not grab the material like it should be doing. There just was not enough tension on the little jagged tooth thing to get it done.

So when I took it back the first time they did say that if you are doing a double skirt that you need to sew it, flip it and that run a base stitch across the top to keep the two side together or they will not both get ruffled. That the bottom one will slip while only the top one is being ruffled. I tried that and still nothing !

Im in luck thou, I mentioned to my mother that I had tried out the ruffler and that it sucked and she said that she had one (the better one). If I had know that I wouldn't have gone through all that nonsense with the shop. So, I to will be giving it another try and see how things go.