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BIG PICTURE

Gifts for Anyone Who Loves to Sew
Some great ideas for the special workroom on your shopping list.

by Cheryl Strickland

If you’re busy—really busy—it must be getting close to the holidays! If you haven’t gotten at least a start on your holiday shopping, here’s some help.

These timesaving workroom items would make wonderful gifts for your friends or relatives that love to sew! Better yet, these gifts, ranging from as little as $2 to $40, are affordable for any budget. (And don’t forget yourself! Add these items to your own holiday gift list!) Decorators: These gift ideas would be a great way of showing your appreciation to your favorite workroom or sewer, too!

TOP TEN GIFT IDEAS
1. Quickline ruler—This sturdy 24- by three-inch see-through ruler is ideal for pattern drafting and rotary cutting. Laser-cut for accuracy, this ruler features center marking lines, 45-degree bias lines and a ruled edge. Used in conjunction with pattern drafting paper, this handy rule will make creating patterns quick and easy. The Quickline is one of the most versatile rules available for custom pattern drafting and altering commercial
patterns.

2. C-thru Ruler—With this handy ruler, marked in tenths, you no longer have to change your calculations from tenths to eighths. It can speed up your production by allowing you to go straight from your calculator’s results (decimal measurements calculated in tenths) to marking and drawing. It is a must for marking pleats, scaling drawings out of a magazine or book and for creating perfect scallops using the scallop formula.

3. Glass head pins—Usually with more than 110 per box in 48- by 80-mm size. The ones offered through the Custom Home Furnishings Trade School are imported from Germany. These pins are very sturdy and do not bend easily. The glass heads will not fall off and will not melt form the heat of an iron. Once you have tried these, you will never want to use another type of pin again!

4. Compass points and lead—This handy little tool is a must for all workrooms! Never again will you struggle with drafting scallops or circles of virtually any size. Simply attach the compass points to a ruler, yardstick or straightedge and rotate. The package also includes five extra pieces of replacement lead.

5. Vary Form Curve—This curve tool is precision-manufactured of rugged, yet lightweight aluminum that resists breaking. It is an essential tool for pattern making. The Vary Form curve draws a wide range of curved shapes simply by turning. This one curve alone replaces a full set of French curves.

6. Window Treatment Clip Art CD—The author of the book “The Encyclopedia of Fabrication,” Ethel Mahon, has put together a fun-filled collection of more than 350 of her delightful window treatment illustrations. Easily accessible on CD, the illustrations can be placed in any of your own business publications to add pizzazz, interest or whimsy. (Please note: The illustrations are not to be used in any publication intended for resale.)

7. Regulator—This upholsterer’s tool is a handy little gadget with endless uses. It is not like ordinary regulators. It features a flat end and a pointed end designed for tucking and adjusting fabric while upholstering any project including cornices, headboards and furniture. It also is the perfect tool for pushing fabric into grooves, such as when laminating crown molding.

8. Staple lifter—This heavy-duty staple lifter has the correct angle for removing staples of any size, from the smallest leg to the longest leg staples. It is manufactured from top-grade steel and has an easy-to-grip plastic handle. This tool is a must for every workroom.

9. Mite-R-Gage—This tool takes the guesswork out of measuring and laying out angles. Mite-R-Gage can measure or layout all types of angles, check corners for squareness and check alignment of radial arm or table saws. It is accurate to one-half degree and locks in any position. This handy tool is made of Lexan® resin and is guaranteed not to break, crack or warp under normal usage. It comes with complete, easy-to-follow instructions for simple miters, compound miters, measuring inside angles, measuring outside angles and checking corners for squareness.

10. Nylon twist thread—In white and in colors. We call this the miracle thread. It is a favorite thread for industrial sergers and hemmers. Although it is strong enough for virtually any weight fabrics, it also is ideal for sewing sheers. Because it is man-made, this thread can exceed the strength of thread made from natural fibers with much less bulk. It, therefore, is much harder to see when used on window treatments. Because this thread has a smaller diameter than other threads, it also is easier to thread through the machine, a definite plus when working with sergers. Because the thread is so fine looking, white, natural and black colors handle almost every job. This thread also has much less fuzz than cotton thread, therefore creating less buildup inside the machine. And here’s the best feature: it’s even cheaper than other threads. Previously available only in cases of 72, it now is available in eight-ounce spools so you can purchase as little as one spool at a time.