Well I was only too happy to tell Steve that I use is Presencia 60 wt cotton thread, color # 352. It is a 3 ply 100% mercerized Egyptian cotton. I buy a cone of 4882 yards. One cone lasts me about a year.
It got me to thinking.
About a thousand years ago I worked in retail and at Christmastime I would ask my customers what they wanted for Christmas. What was interesting was the sheer normalcy of the things people wanted. Now I said they couldn't say a winning lottery ticket, or a person real or imagined. It had to be a THING.
After I sent the email to Steve I thought, well hell. Why stop there? So I have put together a list of things I have in my studio that make my life easier. There's nothing wrong in making a wish list. There's not a whole lot of excitement when you open a present on Christmas and think, "oh, what the hell am I going to do with THIS? There are so many other things I would rather have..." So here goes.
1. Pins. I am very fussy about my pins. About 7 years ago I found these. They are fine, long, SHARP and most importantly, STEEL, so I can pick them up with a magnet. Thing is these pins cost five or six bucks a pack. So when I order them (from Amazon, where else) I order five or six packs at a time, and keep them in a drawer in my studio. Because nothing sucks more than running out of something and having to GO SOMEPLACE and get more. Have plenty on hand. I hate going shopping. Look, if somebody gave me six packages of my favorite pins, I'd be thrilled!
2. Bobbins. I understand now that you can buy PRE WOUND BOBBINS! Oh holy hell, how cool is that? Happiness for me is twenty bobbins wound with my favorite grey thread.
3. Rotary cutter blades. Have you checked the price for a pack of 10 lately? Me too. Hell, that would make a terrific Christmas present as far as I am concerned. Just be sure to specify which ones!
4. I love my Gingher shears, but damn the older I get the heavier they are to use. Did you know that they now have some lightweight ones? Oh gee darn they are terrific.
5. Let me see, my 16 foot long measuring tape just got all kinky and now won't work properly. It was the perfect size, and since it was ONLY 16 feet long, it didn't weigh a ton. Betcha you can pick up a bright colorful one at the big box hardware store for short money.
6. Needles! I practically died and went to heaven when Kathy told me I could get a box of 100 sewing machine needles for half the price I had been paying! So they were $50? I haven't had to buy needles for about six years now, and I have at least another four year supply. Stuff like that really floats my boat! And when I break a needle, all I have to do is open a drawer and I know I have another one!!!
7. So, you get the drift. Think about it. A spare iron, a step stool, a BIG, fresh cutting mat. A drafting table so you don't have to break your back when you cut fabric. Maybe a new 6-1/2" x 24-1/2" cutting ruler because maybe yours is nicked. A cart to lug your stuff around when you take a class somewhere. One of those nifty needle threaders with a little light on it so you can actually SEE the eye of the needle, because your eyes aren't getting any younger... A good light (preferably an Ott light.)... One of those cushy mats that make it easier to stand when you're ironing that five yard piece of fabric for the back of the quilt you are making. Or HEY, how about an ironing TABLE instead of the stupid useless things they sell as ironing boards...
Look, the list of things is long. Don't feel guilty asking for the little (or not so little) things that you really USE and make your life better. Because if you're reading this you know PERFECTLY WELL that quiltmaking is THE best thing in life. I do NOT have room in my house for an air fryer or an instant pot, but I would be THRILLED with a pack of Martingale rotary cutter blades...
Yeah, I know I'm weird. What can I say?
12 comments:
Thanks for the thread recommendation, I've just finished my first cone and two new ones arrived in the post yesterday. The shipping is expensive getting it all the way down to NZ so I bought 2 this time. As you say almost exactly a year's worth on a cone, and it is lovely to work with.
Great list for Christmas gifts. Since my family is functionally illiterate when it comes to sewing supplies, I take advantage of 12 Days of Christmas or deal of the day at area quilt stores and ask for gift cards to places where I get my supplies so I can get what I REALLY need.It works wonderfully and they are happy knowing that I'm getting what I want!
My Christmas list to my husband included batting, thread cones, and sewing machine repairs. I'd love to purchase Schmetz by the 100s and never knew it was possible. I'll be looking for that.
I so totally agree about some of these gift ideas, especially those that might be an upgrade to equipment that might not work for us any more due to age - need light, lighter tools, etc. I have Gingher shears, but find myself reaching for the Fiskars due to weight. And turning on more lights, buying more 100 watt daylight LED bulbs, and wearing readers over my glasses or looking for a magnifier.
You are not weird at all! What's weird is giving people a list and receiving anything but what's related to the list. If you're lucky you *might* get a gift certificate to a place that carries things on your list.
Would you be able to share what size machine needles and where to purchase the 100?
I love my wool pressing mat!
If you're "weird" for wanting useful gifts, then you've got a "weird" reader too. Love your list. Now I'm off to find the thread online.
A perfect and timely post. There is not a thing listed that all quilters wouldn’t the thrilled to open Christmas morning.
Please where did you get your needles that would be a life saver especially as i have anew machine and they are certiantley expensive in Australia.
Speaking of scissors - has anybody else tried titanium ones? they are light and extremely sharp - and I have finally thrown out the last of my pre-Fiscars black-handled ones! hh
Decades ago my mother-in-law asked what I'd like for my birthday, and I told her about the vacuum cleaner I yearned for--she was amazed I wanted something so practical and unglamorous, but that's what she got me, and I was thrilled! My favorite gifts from my late husband are a second bowl for my Kitchenaid mixer and a lightweight but sturdy, dream to open and close, folding step stool! Now I buy my own gifts, so get whatever I want most, which means either good chocolates or exotic quilting related stuff...or sometimes both.
I “suggested” that my kids (7 of them, all adults now) give me cash so I can buy myself the pricey Oliso iron that I want. We’ll see what happens!
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