Testing VIRAL sewing tools - are they worth the money?

[@lisbethdc]

I liked that when you didn't know how to use the electric scissors you watched a tutorial. I hate when people try stuff and when it doesn't work they blame it on the product instead of trying to learn. Great video. As a sewer I loved it.

[@Julija_Gobere]

After all these years in sewing, I have to say that most errors are not because of the tool, but because of the operator (aka, me)😅

[@lisbethdc]

@@Julija_Gobere you're totally right. And after discovering your channel I'll have it as my go to sewing guide. Your content is amazing.

[@luciatat4084]

You are so right, I’ve seen people rating a product so poorly becouse they didn’t know how to use it right. For example a person saying a sewing machine (not a cheap one) sews terrible buttonholes but they didn’t know how to interface that fabric and what kind of buttonhole to sew on it. So it’s indeed very wise to make sure you know how something is used before you say it’s a poor quality product!

[@marthabenner6528]

For my seam roller, I bought one of those semi-precious Stone Face massagers on overstock, and I absolutely love it. Ps. Seam rollers do not completely replace steam irons. That round hole cutter with a buttonhole cutter, is for cutting eyelet holes and the round end of heavyweight button holes.

[@Julija_Gobere]

I was thinking if maybe the face massager would have been a better solution!😅 The seam roller I got is very very lightweight, while face massagers usually have a bit of weight to them, so it should work a bit better🤔

[@marthabenner6528]

@@Julija_Gobere I also worried about somehow cutting the threads with the corner of the roller of delicate things, so the softer edge appeal to me. I bought one for my sister-in-law so make it too.

[@Agatha1031]

​ I have a vintage wooden one. It works well to open a tight seam or one with a narrow allowance just enough to be able to get my steam iron in it without having to fuss and fight with fabric refolding under the iron.

[@kthybrown007]

I have a little wood flattener that works ok for piecing a quilt when it is just a small area and you don't want to get out the iron

[@jhgelliott]

The second tool from the buttonhole set is an eyelet cutter!

[@Julija_Gobere]

Ah, that makes sense! Makes this tool even better then 🙌

[@bonniebrown1566]

Your reaction to the magnetic “pincushion” 😂 That was adorable.

[@janeybeasley9525]

I use the seam roller when I’m using faux leather or cork that I can’t iron. It works really well as that kind of fabric just needs help to bend in to place. I have electric scissors as I have had quite severe shoulder problems which stopped me cutting out and so stitching, I have found they are them to be really helpful and they definitely cut through fabric very easily, however it takes practice to be accurate!

[@india1422]

The tool with the buttonhole cute is, I think, for cutting a round hole when you need to punch a small round hole

[@kthybrown007]

for leather I use a mallet

[@iagonizante]

your face when you figured out how to use the electric scissors on the denim pants is priceless!! hahah

[@claudiafairbanks]

The bracelet, I use it mostly when I am fitting my garments. It works phenomenal for fittings. You can put either pins or safety pins on it and it works great!

[@Julija_Gobere]

Oh yes, I didn’t even think to put a safety pin on it! Smart👌

[@cathylombard964]

I was given the magnetic pin bracelet as a gift. I use it when I take something I need to pin away from my sewing area. I put the pins on the magnet to keep from losing the pins.

[@northgone]

I’ve always understood that seam rollers worked WITH the iron. When I have a fabric that doesn’t want to flatten perfectly, I give it a good shot of steam and press with my fingers/hand as soon as it won’t burn. The combination of steam and pressure while it cools is critical for wool. The seam roller would let you press when the fabric has cooled less. If you’ve ever had “bouncy” seams, that’s the solution, even for synthetics.

[@raraavis7782]

Exactly. The tool traditionally used by tailors (who worked with more substantial wool fabrics, that nonetheless needed to be sharply pressed) is called a 'clapper'.

[@agcons]

@@raraavis7782 I bought a clapper nearly 40 years ago because I happened to find one in a large but non-box-store shop. It's been one of the most useful pressing tools I own.

[@lunasmum6869]

I have a set of those electric scissors. They do cut fabric well but you must use the correct blade. Very useful for cutting up those Amazon boxes very quickly! I had one of those needle threaders but couldn't get it to work even after contacting the supplier/maker. Thanks for this. There are so many gadgets we are told we can't do without but need to actually see them working in a home environment before we spend or waste our money.

[@gwynt909]

There is a wonderful needle threader made by dritz which takes all the frustration out of threading needles!! Saved my sanity.

[@susiekline]

I love your channel! I used electric scissors in the 80s when I was sewing corduroy blazers! They were my moms. I was wondering if they were still around! Then I saw them being used at Joann Fabrics by the fabric cutters. I might get me some!

[@jackiezorko2562]

I think the seam roller is best at opening small patchwork seams for quilters .

[@donnanutt3650]

Just found your channel and so much fun. I love seeing the content creators face, especially when there are smiles and laughter. I haven’t seen for months due to wrist surgery, then overdid my therapy and bingo…trigger finger. Got that behind me now and am ready for some sewing again. Watched 2 of your videos so far. Will probably watch several more before I drag myself out to my hot TX garden to water my struggling plants. Videos are much more fun

[@debthompson4498]

I like the magnet, not for keeping the pins on my wrist; but for the ocassional circumstance where I drop a needle or pin on the floor or in the carpet, I can use the magnet to find it.

[@lillic8522]

But then any old magnet will do, no need to buy it new😂

[@julietedesco7804]

I glued a small round magnet to the end of a piece of wooden dowel, it’s perfect for picking up dropped pins while you are sewing, without having to get up from your machine and crawl around finding them.

[@debthompson4498]

Yep, only second to a bare foot! LOL!@@julietedesco7804

[@carolynrogers1510]

I love my buttonhole chisel, I’ve used it with a little piece of melamine hubby found me, works beautifully.

[@BritInvLvr]

I love gadgets. I was surprised seeing the desk needle threader. They’ve been around a long time. I remember seeing them when I was a kid during the 60s. Great video. Now to do some gadget shopping. 😊

[@Julija_Gobere]

I think that needle threader is making a comeback 😁

[@agcons]

Everything old is new again! I've been sewing since 1981 and most of the tools in your video have been around since then in one form or another. Some go out of favour then come back in to please a new generation. I've just found your channel and I'm quite pleased to find many of the techniques you present were taught to me by my sewing teacher back then (she worked in the Montreal garment industry during the 1950s). Please bear with me while I go skipping down memory lane. I'm a big fan of magnetic pin cushions; they've been all I've had for decades. I position one behind the sewing machine to the right of the feed dogs. I was taught to put my right hand through the machine head to help guide the fabric behind the feed dogs and use my left hand to guide at the front. So, when I reach pins while sewing, I pull them out with my right hand and just pitch them in the general direction of the pin cushion. This is very fast as I don't have to stop the machine, and I've never missed the pin cushion. I never liked wrist-mounted pin cushions because of the constant turning of my arm. The Clover needle threader is much newer and it's been on my buy list for a few months, so thank you for consumer-testing it. It looks like it works in similar fashion to the manual needle threader on older Pfaff machines. I have always had good luck with Clover tools: good quality, good function, good durability, and for those reasons I don't mind their higher price. The seam roller looks like an adaptation of a tool that's been used in leather work for a very long time. Purchasing the leather-work tool was recommended in a couple of sewing publications back in the 1980s for people who wanted to work with Neoprene, vinyl, or nylon cordura. I've made items from 1000 denier cordura, and a warm dry iron works great for it (probably not for Neoprene or vinyl, though). If a short fabric seam needs to be opened quickly but doesn't absolutely require using the iron, I'll finger press it just as my ancestors did. The tool you used to thread the drawstring back into your sweater casing is called a bodkin. They work well most of the time, but on some things, such as narrow width braided elastic, the gripper teeth will shred it and you'll lose everything in the middle of the casing. At least you can find it easily to get it out to have a do-over. I fold the end of such elastic over and grip both layers in the teeth before sliding the ring down, which isn't perfect but it does help. There are also flat plastic sticks of different sizes with toothed slots in the larger, unrounded end, and we're meant to poke the elastic or drawstring through the slot so the teeth grab it (somehow). Those are a waste of money; stick to the bodkin. The latch-hook loop turners are OK for piping but they can be frustrating when making rouleau. If a device called FasTurn is ever produced again, or if you see them on eBay, snap them up. They were made in a couple of put-ups with different sizes in each (large tubes and small), and I managed to get only the small-tube package. Worth every penny. I improvised my own buttonhole cutter around 1984 by going to the hardware store to buy a 1cm wood chisel and to beg a small scrap of hardwood for a cutting block. It makes clean precise cuts, and I've never had to sharpen it. I'm still using the same hardwood scrap, too, although by now it looks like it's been through a war or five. The round punch that came with the buttonhole cutter is for eyelets, and will probably do for most home sewing. More than thirty years ago, before this tool existed, I bought a leather hole punch with interchangeable round cutting heads of different sizes and a short threaded shaft. When direct downward pressure is applied to the handle the head turns, cutting a flawless hole in everything from thick leather belts to single-layer cotton lawn. Again, worth every penny. My mother bought corded electric scissors in the early 1970s, used them once, then put them away. When I started sewing I bought a cordless pair that uses two C cell batteries because they were a good price, and she gave me her corded ones telling me that they weren't all that. I tried both once - then put them away. They cut well enough, but they're noisy and actually slower than cutting by hand with quality shears.

[@susanbuck1327]

What you used to rethread your hoody is called a bodkin. I have used mine for many years. I use it for elastic mostly.

[@susanbuck1327]

The seam roller I use frequently to open seams while I am at my machine and I don't want to get up to go into the other room to iron it.

[@darlenemoreno1576]

New viewer......love your videos!!😊

[@agathemeherio2258]

Ive been wondering about those electric scissors, and I also love my Kai scissors, so thank you!

[@daxxydog5777]

I inherited a 1960s set of wired electric scissors from my mother in law and they were a lot better. But I only use them to cut things like towels into rags since they aren’t precise. Most of those things have been around forever since I’ve had a lot of them since the 90s. I prefer self threading needles (also called easy threading needles). The elastic threader is called a bodkin, usually. You can buy regular chisels at Harbor Freight cheap and they do the same thing. Small cutting mats are available at the Dollar Tree in the US.

[@Julija_Gobere]

I haven’t tried the self threading needles - I’ll have to check them out!🤗

[@chizynweze4165]

Your videos are truly amazing ❤❤

[@esthervonhoffmann3429]

I’m starting my sewing path again. These are all great ideas!

[@esthervonhoffmann3429]

The little tool (round) that comes with the buttonhole cutter is for cutting holes for some buttonholes that have a rounded part to the buttonhole

[@pdavis7286]

When using the electric scissors, make a snip to get fabric started, then, with other hand, hold fabric down behind (already cut) fabric with palm. It will stop fabric from sliding away or bunching ahead of scissors.

[@cathylombard964]

I had electric scissors many years ago and I never could get them to work correctly. I have two really good fabric scissors that work just fine.

[@aileenc8622]

Roller works great to press not unpress

[@gracevaughn8132]

I use a roller for quilting on the go. If you can’t take an iron with you, the roller works well.

[@annelumsden5775]

I couldn't thread size 11 milliners needles so bought the clover desk needle threader, brilliant, I now only use fine milliners needles for EPP. I also bought the clover seam roller (the roller is bevelled so gives more pressure on the seam), I thought it was expensive for a plastic roller but it is very good. Thanks for your video

[@Julija_Gobere]

I wanted to get the Clover roller, but chose this cheaper one last minute… I think the Clover one would have been better🤔

[@annemodistach3107]

I have a wooden wallpaper roller used for the seams and it works perfectly on my patchwork seams. It is only 1 inch wide.

[@lorddiablo8575]

The 2nd one ( magnetic wrist strap ) can be found in Harbor Freight at less than $5- each ( but not so beautiful as yours ) ...

[@daxxydog5777]

That’s good to know!

[@ministersofthenewcovenant2951]

Your videos are the very best

[@Sandrab769]

I watched a different video showing a heavier seam roller that people use with leather. I remember my mother having a needle threader like the clover…about 60 years ago! I’m old. 😅

[@sewsable]

The seam roller should work really well on leather if you're gluing it down for hems and seams. I've got a pair of electric scissors, which I love, but the cutting point on them is quite small so you have to be careful how you use it. Mine came from Aliexpress as I couldn't find anything in NZ that was cordless.

[@paulacornelison243]

I tried the loop turners and went back to a safety pin. I keep a piece of wood for all my cutting needs. I used electric scissors, and my arm went numb from the vibration.

[@Julija_Gobere]

Safety pin is definitely a great tool!

[@marieadelegaingne6870]

Lovely video

[@SewCyndi]

Seam rollers are for seams, used especially for quilting, not previously ironed fabric, example: bias strips. Otherwise, they really are not that impressive...but it does work for those little quilting seams. Just a note, CLOVER does all the work for us as sewists...anything you may be in question, the Clover company takes out your risk of buying it. I LOVE CLOVER products!!! (Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with CLOVER...I am just a normal 66 year old sewist that loves all things SEWING! Also, do you think the electric scissors come with blades designed for different thickness/fiber of fabrics? My parents gave me a set of electric scissors when I was a teenager (a VERY long time ago!)...they were great, but lost them. Keep up your videos! You are precious!

[@Julija_Gobere]

Everything I tried from Clover was great quality and they always have interesting items, too! I wanted to get the Clover seam roller, but chose cheaper one at the last minute🤦‍♀️ I think Clover one would have been better…

[@susanpilling8849]

I remember back in the 1960's a friend's mother used electric scissors to cut out the yards and yards of tulle netting needed to make dance costumes. She made tutus for our ballet class, ballroom dancing dresses and those big underskirts that make 50's and 60's dresses stand out.😂

[@ministersofthenewcovenant2951]

Id love to see a diy old fashioned nightgown tutorial for adult women! Like a pride and prejudice kinda thing. Love ur channel! I was able to make an adoreble sundress for my 3 yr old with elastic shirring (from a pillowcase) because of your tutorial on shirring! Your directions were simple and so easy to follow that now Im addicted to shirring! Thank you!

[@Julija_Gobere]

So happy to hear my tutorial was useful!🤗

[@esthervonhoffmann3429]

I love my bodkin for fishing elastic and such

[@josephinenoble2920]

the electric scissors would be great for people with arthritis, patterns - on a flat surface.

[@PaulDurfey-lj9cf]

What is the best walking foot for a machine

[@tracybrewer9640]

Thanks for testing these items out. I've seen a few videos were they use the electric scissors and wanted to buy a set. But not so much after watching your video. Did't seem to work as well when you tried them. I'm not sure if maybe a different brand work work better. But have to say I won't be buying a set.

[@Julija_Gobere]

I was so disappointed about the electric scissors… I tried them off camera several times, but they keep getting stuck and it’s terrifying to try to get that fabric out🫣 I think the scissors I got are just not meant for fabric (even though they were advertised as such) and I would like to try different ones, I just don’t want to spend more money on this😕

[@gedoeniko]

Hi Julija, I enjoyed watching your video. -The other tool with the button hole cutter is leather hollow punch . Put the small cutting mat under the material used to protect the punch edge, and hit the top of the punch with the hammer. Search on KZbin if you are not sure what I tried to explain here. -The seam roller what I have is smaller, and is perfect to use to roll the seam open. Is not really working the way how you used it on the video. Let's say you did sew the shoulder of the garment, and would need to iron the seam open. Instead of going to the ironing board, you roll the seam with your roller. I also noticed, if I am using my small cutting mat underneath the fabric, and rolling the seam on it is giving better result. You can try on a flat cardboard or a soft book or magazine underneath, for soft surface to roll on. -The electric scissors has 2 kinds of blades : the D-type is to cut some hard items, like thin tin foil, thick cardboard, binding board, etc. The O-type is for something soft like paper, curtains, carpets, leather, wallpaper and so on. The little hole on side of the blades indicates which is which. I hope I could help, as you helped me few times too!

[@Julija_Gobere]

Thank you for great insights! For electric scissors - I do have a suspicion that the ones I got are not actually for fabric (though they were advertised as such)🤔 Would be very curious to try different ones (though next time I would probably go with the one that looks more like an electric rotary cutter)

[@sallyescrader1434]

I was bought some electric scissors as a gift… but they are completely useless! They are slower than my rotary cutter and my scissors. Plus, they just will NOT cut in a straight line! I do like my cutting to be accurate & these are not accurate at all. Along with your buttonhole cutter, the round one is for cutting the centre out of round buttonholes, as for pearl buttons. You could use it on leather or faux leather, but after that type of fabric, it would be ruined for cutting more delicate fabrics (including cotton T-shirt fabric) - as I learnt to my cost! Such a fun video! Thank you. New subscriber from the U.K.

[@valleylane51]

What is the brand name name of loop turner package the

[@nedawilmhoff3599]

The seam roller works best on cotton and you need to apply pressure. Quilters started using the a number of years ago. Electric scissors just aren’t for me.

[@roxannlegg750]

We have a saying here - a tradesman is only as good as their tools. I always advise friends not to cheap out when wanting to buy their daughters or friend a machine when learning, but old equipment or inadequate tools that do not have features that assists a poor skill level, will just make beginners feel a failure, The time and stress I would have saved a decade ago, if i had the tools and gadgets I have today. Good advice

[@jenniferchaplin8227]

the button hole cutter is only one size?

[@india1422]

To need to put a bit of pressure on the wheel. There are heavier ones which work better. It's is useful in quiltng

[@india1422]

The tool for threading elastic through is called a Bodkin

[@ministersofthenewcovenant2951]

Omgosh the electric cordless scissors are just the WORST! 😂 yeah, never buying those. Id rather just use regular scissors myself. Glad you tried it for me! Lol

[@Julija_Gobere]

Those scissors look so effortless in the videos I’ve seen!🤔 But they still keep getting stuck for me when cutting fabric🤷‍♀️ They were great for paper though🤗

[@ministersofthenewcovenant2951]

@@Julija_Gobere right?? Agree. Probably great for crafting!

[@Kathyjaeger]

I use mine all the time. I love them. Maybe it's the brand. Mine are pink.

[@Julija_Gobere]

@@Kathyjaeger the brand I got is the same as pink one (I think🤔). These scissors cut good, but the issue is that fabric keeps getting stuck - does it ever happen with your scissors?🤔 I think that maybe I’m doing something wrong

[@CarolynnScoffield]

Question; does your industrial sewing machine make buttonholes?

[@Julija_Gobere]

It’s not suppose to (it only does a straight stitch), but I’ve seen online some special adapters that helps machine do that (though I personally never tried them). I use my domestic sewing machine to make buttonholes🤗

[@daralynncameron3290]

Electric scissors are most useful for those with limited ability to use regular scissors for more than a few moments. Your scissors are not working well. Actually cutting implement of my choice is a rotary cutter..

[@remedymathscoaching8640]

From where you are? Nice video

[@cloudy_berlin]

I have the electric scissors for some years and it is working perfectly but I really hate the noise it is making. 😒 So I use it very rarely.

[@Julija_Gobere]

Agree, noise of those scissors is a bit annoying, my cat ran away from the room the second I turned them on🫣😅

[@raraavis7782]

Regarding thee seam roller: look up how a 'clapper' is traditionally used. It's meant to further enforce the crease created by the steam iron, not replace it. Not for thin cotton or such, but for wool fabrics, that don't crease that easily, but need to be sharply pressed for suits and such. Thag thing you got is likely to flimsy and lightweight, to do the job well, though 😆. Another use would be for pressing contact glue together. I have two, that look exactly like this (just more robust) from the hardware store for that purpose. They're wood and metal mir a rubber wheel though, for pretty much the same price. So you've certainly been ripped off in that regard.j

[@Julija_Gobere]

Oh yes, I know about the clapper, but the seam roller is suppose to work a bit differently - it suppose to ‘press open’ seams without a help of an iron. Doesn’t fully substitute the iron, but should work in some cases🤔

[@raraavis7782]

@@Julija_Gobere Oh, I see. Well, if they really advertise it that way, that's just a blatant lie then. There's no way, that can work, is there? I sometimes try to crease fabric with my (long, sturdy) fingernails and even that barely has an effect, unless it's taffeta or something. What a rip off. Hope, you can return it!

[@davederrick9431]

I tried electric scissors when they first came on the market🤨 - they were retired to the bin😊

[@lillic8522]

Drawstring-threader for 7 euros???? I use safety pins for free…. For cutting button holes the seam picker works very well, the tool Julija bought probably only works for bigger buttons.

[@Julija_Gobere]

The drawstring threader was part of 6 pcs set that was 7euro (there were also loop turners and different threaders). Single items would have been way cheaper 🤗

[@sanusanu326]

Make One video for Fabric knowledge.

[@Julija_Gobere]

What would you like to know about fabric?🤗

[@SilverOnTheCloud]

Here I thought I was a genius who uses the magnetic pin holder to pick up stray pins but it turns out everyone does it! 😅 Also my local fabric store had their cutting counter using the electric scissors the last time I was there! The needle threader might be good for my mom as she’s getting older and starting to get arthritis in her hands.

[@Julija_Gobere]

Electric scissors in fabric store makes so much sense - they should be doing job so fast!

[@kepeb1]

Are you sure the electric scissors are turned on? They are whisper quiet.

[@patbailey-persad6516]

40.00 euros is a lot for me cause I have to multiply that by 7

[@sarahbauer5593]

I have them and hate them

[@yuliyayushchynska3422]

Супер

[@ASaaaxxx]

I bought the electric scissors back in the 80s … used once they were not that great