Trying Out a New Ruler

 I recently came across a new-to-me ruler: Cat's Cradle Tool from Creative Grids.

This is the original size and it makes units that finish from 1.5" to 4". There is a larger size too that makes units that finish from 4.5" to 8". I don't have the larger one yet, but I've ordered it!

What can you do with this tool you may wonder? Well, it makes these units.

I have always struggled with these units. I don't have the patience to cut triangles (which always have at least one bias edge) and sew them accurately to anything. With this tool you don't have to do that. AND, plenty of wiggle room is built into the cutting sizes so that you can square up your unit at the end and it's perfect! I had a little bundle of older Kim Diehl fabrics that I am using up with this tool. My plan is to make a bunch of these 4" finished size units then set them on point with 4" finished sized squares for a charity quilt.

After Market Needle Threader for a Sewing Machine

 I've been carrying these needle threaders for a while now and still love them. My husband uses one all the time when servicing machines and I keep mine with my Featherweight as it is the only machine I own that doesn't have a needle threader. I made a short video showing how it works, because this is the kind of thing that is easier to explain with video rather than words. It's less than 2 minutes long if you want to see how these things work.

If the embedded video doesn't work you can click the following link instead:

 https://youtu.be/AZPq_RsOCoY

These threaders take a bit of practice to get the hang of, but once you do there is no going back!

My New Favorite Thing

I got a pair of these gloves for machine quilting today and I absolutely love them. I've tried gloves for quilting in the past without good success. They either didn't work any better than my bare hands, they were too hot, or I got frustrated because I had to take them off to do anything else like snip threads or pull out pins. I had none of those problems with these. If you want to try free-motion quilting or you are struggling with free-motion quilting, invest in a pair of these. They aren't that expensive. I got mine for $8.00 and that is a really good price. Most places are selling them for around $10, but they are worth it.

Another tool I'm using is the Free-Motion Slider. I bought it several years ago and wasn't impressed. I didn't have a large enough table for my sewing machine and didn't want to cut it to size because I had read people had trouble once they cut it. However, now that I have a larger flat surface for my machine I can tell a difference when I use it and when I don't. Now they are selling the Supreme Slider, but it looks just like an improved version of what I have.

My only complaint, and it really isn't the slider's fault, is that I have to remove it to change bobbins because of where the bobbin compartment is on my sewing machine. However, I think I have finally figured out how to tape it down securely so that I can just lift up the edge to access my bobbin compartment. These are a bit pricey, well, more than my impulse-spending limit. I paid $20 for my slider about 8 years ago but the Supreme Slider is selling for about $30.

I wouldn't say that the slider is a necessity for free-motion quilting, unlike the gloves, but it is really nice to have and does make a noticeable difference in the ease of movement of the quilt under the needle.

So, run out and buy a pair of Machingers Quilting Gloves right now. If you have the money, get the slider too.