My TOP TEN Sewing Tools--and Books! 📕

[@KevKevAllen]

Hello! So a note on the titanium needles: they don’t exist. However, they do make titanium COATED needles. This coating doesn’t add strength to the needle itself, the needle is still made out of steel like every other needle, it just adds a harder-wearing coating to the outside so that it lasts longer. If there was an actual titanium needle it would cost $300 and yes it would damage your machine if it broke.

[@handmadeharriells]

Aha! That would indeed be one pricey sewing item. I gotta admit I’m still wary…but I love the clarification!

[@KevKevAllen]

@@handmadeharriells I agree, it would be a hefty expense. Bob Percell from Superior Threads explains it really well. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoaXaaaoftGhjck

[@stevezytveld6585]

They must have been created for the heavy duty machines they use in the clothing factories (the titanium coated needles, I mean). Although it's a nice flex for a sewist,, it's like Roles Royce level of flair. "Why darling, I Only Sew with titanium... you don't, oh how quaint..." - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi

[@handmadeharriells]

Now I want them just for the flex….

[@TwixyNo]

My mom was a stellar sewist. As she got older, she would occasionally leave a pin in a garment by accident and it would be so imbedded that a year or so after it would finally work its way out. Checking myself out in the mirror, looking good, smoothing out the back of the jacket, and “why am I bleeding?”Yes, there were two missed pins, one of which found my palm with the business end.

[@handmadeharriells]

Oh Twixy…… as usual I find myself yelling NOOooooooo with much laughter 🤣😂🤣

[@Musicwarmsmysoul]

Do you remeber when they used to use pins in packaging to hold shirts and baby clothes neatly? I used to catch myself on those trying on shirts. I always thought using them to package children's clothing was evil!

[@TwixyNo]

@@Musicwarmsmysoul Yes, Esther. And when trying things on, people would imbed them in the wallpaper of the try-on room. And then stores put up those squares of burlap and foam for people to stick the pins. And then all stores said, “Let us remove the pins pre-floor display.” That only took 50 or 60 years.

[@Musicwarmsmysoul]

@@TwixyNo Yep! Worked at Macy's for a year and a half. I HATED tidying up the men's dressing rooms... Pins EVERYWHERE!

[@danielewrisley328]

I laughed so hard I cried at Rob’s to the point story time! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@handmadeharriells]

*to the point storytime* NAILED IT

[@LifeWithTeriYae]

How am I just now discovering this channel!! I love it!! Great tips for tools! Who else is a sewing tool hoarder 👋🏾🙈

[@handmadeharriells]

I’m so glad you found us, fellow sewist!!!

[@harperreads]

If you want to go really fancy with the quilting rulers, try the Creative Grids rulers! I love that they don’t have the wide yellow lines, and that they do have grippy dots on the back that keep the ruler from sliding across your fabric. They can be pricey, but worth it.

[@handmadeharriells]

Well, that’s another notion on the list 😁

[@laurawhittaker7217]

Soooo funny! Just the other day my hubby asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I told him I wanted a headlamp to replace the one that just broke 😂

[@handmadeharriells]

Ooooooo please check out that hoot owl headlamp link so that I might live vicariously 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

[@jlgreer01]

Laugh until I cry! You are the best tool out there! Can they be a sewing machine repairist? Rob needs a podcast!

[@handmadeharriells]

Doesn’t he? Those dulcet tones! Thankya Janice 💗

[@jac308]

Always make me laugh, love you guys. Oh and you give fabulous advice.

[@MadeByPam]

Loved the story time.

[@lindaguerrero945]

I love learning from you! I didn’t realize that there so many neat gadgets to sewing adventures. My sewing has gotten “sew” 😉 much better since I started following you. Do you have any suggestions on how to maintain your sewing machine healthy?

[@handmadeharriells]

Ah thankya Linda! I do have some tips, lemme see what I can do 🎥

[@cassandrawade460]

I found the Kai rotary cutter last year and I love it! The blades are superior to any others I’ve tried. I love the 28mm size; cuts through everything I’ve tried so far.

[@luzUpcycles]

Interesting books!, I love the section on buttons! :)

[@handmadeharriells]

The announcer really brought the VO on that one 🎙

[@IMOO1896]

Y’all are so cute!, and very easy to watch.

[@traciperdue]

Another great one!!! Have a great day!!!

[@Jen_S_Hassler1258]

😯 Rob was doing a FANTASTIC Jim Henson impression while he was reading about buttons! I LOVE IT!! And OUCH on the stabbing of the ...p-word. I thought it was bad enough to step on a pin, but that... I imagine it was a level of giving birth or kidney stone pain. Yikes! So glad to see you both on my little screen, can't wait for more. Lots of love to you both!!

[@handmadeharriells]

AHAHAHAHAA don’t encourage him! (i really did think a Yellowjacket got his butt, tho)

[@Queenread82]

Thanks for the links Marcy! I use a lot of these already but - bulk needles! Mega spools of thread! Detachable water tank iron! Extra long pins! Hi Rob… oh no I know how this story goes. 😲😢😬

[@melaniejurgovan]

You two crack me up

[@alexandrawellington8028]

Oh poor wonderful Rob and his PTSD for the pin in his "P" And being a quilter myself, yes we do have the best tools!! I have a confession to make....I keep envisioning meeting you both after a concert you give in Australia .... and running up to you (in a marvelous self made vibrant dress) yelling your names and giving you big hugs. My husband and Rob can swap manly stories of their wives sewing, and we giggle over fabrics and sewing!!! Ah the dream is real xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[@handmadeharriells]

Alexandra, I second that dream and will be happy to hug in handmade should it come true!

[@alexandrawellington8028]

@@handmadeharriells awwww you just made my day xxxxxxxx

[@christineclarke1653]

Damn you Marcy! I've broken my no more sewing books rule - they are both on their way to me - grrrrrr!

[@handmadeharriells]

MUAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA THAT IS EXCELLENT 😈

[@47retta]

Those books are great but i also like Sandra Betzina's books.

[@handmadeharriells]

I don’t have any of hers, I need to add to my library!

[@CulinaryGuide]

I love this video. Thank you Marcy.

[@Musicwarmsmysoul]

Enjoyed this episode so much! So many fun things to talk about. First, Rob should talk to audible, srsly. We have a rule in my house, if you find a pin away from a pin cushion, it goes on the trash. I set this rule because when I was about 8, I was shuffling (I think I was actually practicing a dance, but I don't remember what dance at the time) around my mother's sewing cabinet (all cleaned and closed up) and managed to shove a pin about a half inch into the ball of my foot. That.hurt.SO.MUCH that I enacted the above rule to try to help protect us from the above ever happening again. Protection is important and something to be mindful of (says I, mother of 3, wife of he who never intended to be outnumbered ;).

[@handmadeharriells]

Hahaha! Akin to whoever does laundry and finds change in pockets gets to keep it? But reversed. I bet whoever throws it away does it with great relish.

[@Musicwarmsmysoul]

@@handmadeharriells *Chuckle!* I know I do!

[@esthernelson4894]

I haven't been getting notifications about your videos. This was the first one that popped up in months. Loved it . Not only informative but also very entertaining. I think I will unscrble on some sites so yours will pop up again.

[@handmadeharriells]

🤗that notifications bell is a tricky little bugger. Glad you’re back!

[@jenaryjones2657]

I just love, love, love ya'll stories ❤. Thank you for sharing the awesome sewing tools and your wonderful sense of humor 😀 👏👏👏💯💯💯❤❤❤

[@handmadeharriells]

We are both so glad to hear that!! Hope you pick up some sewing goodies 😁🛍

[@1947dhammond]

Thanks Marcy! I love your guidance and enrichments you bring to the world of sewing! Most of your genuine love and sensitive nature you have for a ammeter sexist. Thank you, once again. I'm following your lead. Will pick up my scissors after i survey it all. Ive subscribed recently.

[@handmadeharriells]

🥰thank you so much!! I hope your scissors are getting you into some excellent sewing 💗

[@rachellynncreates2703]

1 that’s what she said! And 2 I got Kai scissors for my birthday and I love them. Now I need the rotary cutters! Edit to add: we were so proud of the jogs this year! They scored in the second half!

[@nancyring8104]

I’m cryin’ here!!🤣 But, seriously, great information!! Love y’all!!❤️

[@handmadeharriells]

😁😁😁that’s the kind of crying in sewing we approve of…

[@candacej.wilson3770]

Your amazing!! I brought the books. One Love!❤️❤️❤️

[@handmadeharriells]

Oh excellent! You’re gonna love them!

[@katpuppy-love1923]

What a GREAT idea on the head lamp!!! Going to try that for sure!

[@handmadeharriells]

it is really SO helpful, not just for late night sewing, I also use it when cleaning my machine!

[@creating1_c1999]

😍 those spirals are hypnotizing. I remember the first rotary cutter I purchased. It didn't make a lot of sense until I invested in a design/drafting table & mat. Now I keep several and maintain a healthy reserve of blades. My personal favorite is the 18mm for getting into those small spaces (I'm a doll stylist). I even found some at the Dollar Tree!!! 👍🏾

[@handmadeharriells]

At the DOLLAR TREE?!!!!! That’s like a sewing myth!! I’ve got to get the tiny one too, in fact I think I need them all. Whaddayagonnado

[@creating1_c1999]

@@handmadeharriells 🤣

[@zktewa6741]

Great vid! Awesome info on tools! You 2 are the best!

[@angelabatterman6381]

When our daughter was around 10, she got one of my 2 and a 1/2 inch sewing pins stuck in her thigh. She let out a shriek jumped up and there was the yellow round head of the pin in her thigh. I pulled it out it came. She was very good about it and we still don't know how it got there.

[@handmadeharriells]

ACK. THAT IS HORRIBLE. I hope you sewed her something for her good sportsmanship 😅😅😅

[@Musicwarmsmysoul]

That brings back a memory! Ouch! I know how she feels - I had a similar experience when I was a child... I now have a rule that if a pin is found and cannot be put away within arms reach, the pin is thrown out. Hope she tries sewing anyway!

[@lauriemiller2441]

You guys are great! Sent your video to the Hubby. He had the same couch issue, from his mom sewing on it.

[@handmadeharriells]

🤣I hope we didn’t bring up painful memories

[@stevezytveld6585]

Thank you, Ms. Marcy. This was lovely. I am repeating to myself that I don't need another sewing book. I'll let you know how that battle works out. {Right now my future self is shaking her head. I'm thinking I'm hearing an echo of laughter?} _Trick for turning scrap fabric into finely cut up "cabbage" to use for stuffing_ - use the rottary cutter and a cutting mat and just keep skooting that blade around. It is so much easier on your hands than cutting it all with scissors. (ps - got this one from a You Tuber called Opus Elinai). - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi

[@handmadeharriells]

Cabbage. What a lovely word for scrapbusting! I might do this!

[@stevezytveld6585]

@@handmadeharriells Cabbage is the bigger pieces (I got it off of the historic/vintage sewers - it's apparently what the great-great-etc Grannies used to call it). Coleslaw is the tiny little pieces that are about the size of confetti and good for stuffing things like your bustle pad...

[@juliecharron956]

I ordered those scissors…..really sharp and soft on the hands!

[@handmadeharriells]

Excellent!!

[@petrish2005]

You guys are so hilarious 😂

[@daxxydog5777]

Drinking wine and sewing…I can get into that. Right now I’m just drinking wine and watching sewing videos!

[@handmadeharriells]

PERFECTION. I’m now sharing the football watching (still with wine)….he deserves it for my past sewing transgressions 🤣

[@daxxydog5777]

Well, ya did poke him in the unmentionables at some point in the (probably, I’d guess) distant past, and of course he’s not going to let THAT go anytime soon 😂.

[@beth12svist]

:D I'm not doom scrolling, I'm sitting on my bed-slash-sofa and handsewing! :D And watching sewing & historical costuming videos so it doesn't get boring (although right now I'm fell stitching which is my favourite handsewing stitch to do so I guess it's not that big a problem and I just like watching sewing videos). I've recently fallen in love with Amann chalk pencils for marking. Other chalk pencils I've used in the past were meh, but the Amann pencils are wonderfully well-behaved, and become even more well-behaved (and more lasting, I believe) when dipped in water.

[@handmadeharriells]

An EXCELLENT pastime. Just don’t tell Rob. Ok those pencils sound like they need a cozy spot in my sewing drawers. The water bit is fascinating…..

[@beth12svist]

@@handmadeharriells Especially useful on knits. You have to keep dipping; but I think a dipped Amann chalk pencil is by far the best medium for marking knits I've tried so far. It's a trick I learned at work this year. :-)

[@Musicwarmsmysoul]

I have to admit that I prefer using frixion heat eraseable pens, but they do have a downside: If you have a mark on the outside they can show back up in the cold. Fun upside of that: You can make some neat cards by coloring a black and white design, ironing it, and then instructing your recipient(s) to put tjem in the freezer to reveal the magic. :)

[@beth12svist]

@@Musicwarmsmysoul It may be just me and the pens I got, but I found them to be kind of... pressure sensitive; much like ballpoint pens in general can be. Also, they mean I can't press the heck out of the garment / pattern pieces as I work on it, and that's a definite downside for me!

[@beth12svist]

P.S. If I use a non-chalk marking medium, I frankly prefer a regular HB pencil. Probably because I work with wovens a lot more than knits, so the inability to press to my heart's content really does make Frixion pens unappealing, except for very specific purposes like embroidery marking.

[@loukalicious]

Oh how I love your videos! And I will wait with ordering them books cause I like to get my hacks from you two! ( I don't have a sofa...so I'm safe all the time) ((I do "find" pins and sharp things with my feet tho))

[@handmadeharriells]

You and Rob must be family, he shares the same foot gene 🤣 We’ll keep giving you hacks then!!

[@loukalicious]

@@handmadeharriells It's a special skill we share! Yes please, I need the hacks. I really feel like family 🥺

[@Musicwarmsmysoul]

Seems like I'm always finding the sharp things with my feet, too, even though it terrifies me!

[@loukalicious]

@@Musicwarmsmysoul treasure the skill! The other day I found an especially scary tack, but with my eyesight... phew!! Lucky me. Don't know where it came from though, I never use them.

[@KAPPYCAM]

gee, my husband is watching football and here i am with a glass of wine watching your video..

[@handmadeharriells]

Kismet!!!

[@KAPPYCAM]

@@handmadeharriells that is what i was thinking:-)

[@cat9lives999]

Ever think about project runway?

[@handmadeharriells]

Haha! I have for a minute….but then I think about being away from Rob for 2 months and figure I’d throw it in week one 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@JasonMoodie]

Been there Rob

[@handmadeharriells]

I’m sorry for your pain 🤣🤣🤣

[@uniquewhimsy622]

You dropped the killer clown bomb, wow that guy was crazy!😢Hope everything has healed up though!!

[@handmadeharriells]

He goes there. Often.

[@uniquewhimsy622]

@@handmadeharriells just to clarify, the killer clown was nuts not your wonderful husband. 😂 After I read about the psycho I couldn’t sleep right for weeks. 😬

[@vb2219]

I love watching your videos! Do you know about Clover Wonder Clips (or another brand)? Since I discovered them, I rarely ever use pins. Try them and I suspect you'll love them, too. 😍

[@handmadeharriells]

I’ve been toying with the “buy” button on those for a hot minute! I’ve used mini binders when sewing leather, and really liked them. I may have to hit that button…

[@vb2219]

Do it, Marcy! You won't regret it. I waited longer than I should have because they are expensive but they're so worth it.

[@MadeByPam]

I think i'd love that iron. Worth the detachable water reservoir. Wow

[@handmadeharriells]

That detachable but is glorious. And it looks like the new detachable model has a ceramic plate, La dee DAH. I see a new sewing notion in my future….

[@cecilianilsson1594]

They do come in metric as well but... even though I'm European and we use the metric system, as a quilter I soon found that I only use imperial measures as just about ALL patterns are in inches. If I need to know the cm, I just calculate what the correct measure is...

[@handmadeharriells]

True that, very few patterns use cm!

[@moonbear5929]

Speaking of dull pins and needles (though not dull enough for poor Rob). You know those old traditional pin cushions that look like a tomato 🍅 with a small strawberry 🍓 attached by a string to it? Well, the strawberry serves a purpose, it's not just there to be a cutesy decoration; nope. The strawberry is filled with emory sand and it's used to resharpen pins and needles. Just repeatedly stab the strawberry with said dull pin or needle. Be careful not to stab your own finger. The sand scrapes/grinds away some of the metal and makes the tip sharp again.

[@handmadeharriells]

Yes! A great bonus, and they’re so rare now, it seems.

[@peggieloader2159]

😀😅😂😂😂😂😂I love you guys

[@SonyaandSidney]

My husband didn't even get poked, but I was banned from pins when he kept finding them on the floor. That's okay, I like clips.

[@handmadeharriells]

How very dare he

[@world1stage1]

Sometimes you just gotta drink wine and think about sewing!

[@handmadeharriells]

Maybe just ALWAYS…

[@debra5104]

I grew up having a searing pain up my legs. (My mother was a sewer).

[@handmadeharriells]

A daily experience. We’re lucky we don’t have rugs.

[@Sandiegeek]

Words that start with P - pin and PTSD 😁🤣😂

[@danmom769]

WPS!!

[@handmadeharriells]

Wine plus sewing??? 😁😁😁

[@danmom769]

@@handmadeharriells Sure! (but it was when Rob shouted "Go hogs!" Woo Pig Sooie)

[@pristinabread]

I thought Distilled water was the only kind of water that was to be used in home irons….?

[@l.baughman1445]

Nope! If you read manufacturer instructions on many brands of irons (including Rowenta and such) they'll say directly to only use tap water. It's all about minerals and stuff. How interesting is that?!

[@handmadeharriells]

Yes, my Maytag instructions say the same! I’ve also read that rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher is no bueno 🤯

[@drwoo6090]

I guess you could say Rob got a pin prick! 😎

[@handmadeharriells]

HAHAHAHAAAAA NAILED IT

[@barbaracartwright2737]

😂😂😂❤

[@TraceyTruly]

Pro viewer tip, don’t be eating anything when Rob does dramatic readings from sewing books. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 When I was a kid I used to handsew in a big arm chair my Ma had and “conveniently” just use the padded armrest as a pin cushion for my needle…………..my defense is I was 9….anyhoo, it was all craft-tastic good fun til one day I stood up and pressed my palm down on to the arm..and needle…. OWWwwwWWWWwwwwwwwwwwwwWWWWwwwwWwwwwwwWwwwwwwwww hahaha

[@handmadeharriells]

now I'm sure I replied to you but I don't see it anywhere.....maybe I'm just remembering reading this out loud to Rob! Sewing is DANGEROUS 😅

[@doloresw]

Lol my husband says I leaving boobie traps( pins) on the floor!

[@handmadeharriells]

🤣when I lose one he always says: don’tworry, I’ll find it 🥺

[@l.baughman1445]

Rob has "P-word" PTSD!!!

[@handmadeharriells]

TRUTH

[@emmaweatherington5266]

Yaw are hilarious,

[@nancybridegam6903]

I swear men are magnetic - they will find every forgotten or misplaced pin or needle in their body!

[@handmadeharriells]

HAHAHAHAAAAA now this is a magnetic theory I can get behind 🤣