nancy’s notions

Friday Favorites: Binding Clips

| Cindy Anderson

IMG_7639_ffWelcome to Friday Favorites!

All quilts have a frame around their border.  The frame or binding, as it’s referred to by quilters, serves more than one purpose.  The obvious intention is a means to provide an envelope to encase unfinished edges.  I like to think of it as the ribbon around a package.  The finishing touch.

While recently applying hand stitches to the back side of a binding I reminisced about the encounters I have had when stitching similar items.  I remembered the pricks and jabs that have marred my fingers and often drawn small droplets of blood from the straight pins holding the binding in place.  While attempting to avoid such encounters I have, over the years, tried several solutions.  I have used

  • Paper clips:  These worked OK but they often easily fell off.
  • Binder clips:  You know the kind you can find in the office supply section.  I found these to be quite effective but I worried about the chance of paint transfer or rust.

Although the above options served their purpose I just knew there had to be a better way . . . an invention perhaps.  Imagine my surprise when I stumbled on these amazing clips made by Clover called Wonder Clips.  Wonder clips are made out of plastic.  To open them you pinch it much like one would a clothespin.  In fact they remind me of mini clothespins.

These minis clips are exactly what I was looking for.  They

  • are easy to use
  • don’t prick your body parts
  • will not draw blood
  • are durable
  • and above all stay put

I just love using these little guys. Here’s a close up.

Wonder Clips can be purchased in quantities of ten, fifty or one hundred. The clips are available for purchase through Nancy’s Notions as well as many other vendors.  I just checked Nancy’s current pricing and she lists the cards of 10 Wonder Clips at $5.49, boxes of 50 at $24.99 and packs of 100 at $46.99. If you haven’t tried these nifty clips I would highly recommend you do!

Thanks for stopping by this edition of Friday Favorites!  Until next time, happy sewing.

Cindy Anderson of In A Stitch Quilting

Friday Favorites: Sewing Table

| Cindy Anderson

IMG_7639_ffWelcome to Friday Favorites!

Once again I have the privilege of sharing with you another one of my favorite things.  Today’s favorite sewing gadget is the Sew Steady Portable Table.  I purchased my table several months ago from Nancy’s Notions.  When searching the internet you will find this table available from many other vendors.  I just happen to like dealing with Nancy’s Notions so I chose to purchase my table from them.

What’s a Sew Steady Portable Table?

Not all of us are lucky enough own a cabinet custom fit to our free-arm sewing machines.  Since we too would like to have the extended work space provided by a custom cabinet there is an option available.  That option is the Sew Steady Portable Table.

  • Sew Steady Portable Tables are constructed from 1/4″ Plexiglas (TM) with smooth beveled edges.
  • Each table is custom-made to fit your machine.
  • The table comes with removable adjustable legs.
  • Each leg can be independently raised or lowered to accommodate your table surface.
  • Just like the name says the Sew Steady Portable Table can be transported to where ever you are sewing.  This makes it especially wonderful for traveling.
  • The tables come in three sizes:  11.5″ x 15″, 18″ x 24″ and 24″ x 24″
  • Also available is a Sew Steady Portable Table Travel Bag
  • The travel bag comes in either 20″ x 26″ or 26″ x 26″
  • Each bag has an outside pocket for storing your table legs.
  • The bag is made from heavy nylon fabric and is padded with foam to protect your table.

I highly recommend the table as well as the travel bag.  I can’t imagine sewing without the table and I’ve used my travel bag on many an occasion.  In fact I took both of them with me when we traveled to my Little Cabin in the Woods..  Do a little research and see for yourself just how handy these two items can be.

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Disclaimer:  I do not in any way receive compensation from the manufacturer of the Sew Steady Portable Table, the Sew Steady Portable Travel Bag or Nancy’s Notions.  The recommendations I make are a result of my own personal exposure to these products.  Your experience or satisfaction may or may not be the same as mine.