Sometimes, in addition to our sewing machines, we have other tools in our peripheral.  What about you, what do you have?  Look around your sewing room... besides your machine, what other tools do you find invaluable in your sewing peripheral?

This past month after sewing a pair of plain denim shorts for our daughter, the shorts looked rather, well... plain!  So, in order to dress them up and make them a little bit more unique I pulled out some of my own peripherals I keep on hand --  embroidery floss, needle and thimble -- and created a couple embellishments on the pockets.  SweetPea happens to have an old-fashioned, pink, banana-seat bicycle, so I tweaked a bicycle transfer pattern to recreate a likeness of hers. 

Another fun peripheral tool that I use quite frequently, is a Singer Hand Crank Pinker.



My Pinker is invaluable for all that I use it for - seam finishes, applique' pre-cuts, oil cloth edging, wrapping paper embellishment or simply to trim a pretty little notecard.

Every once in awhile these can be found at Estate Sales, Thrift Stores, or other 2nd-hand locations.  When you find one (making sure it is complete, of course), give it a good oiling and put it to the test.  You can use it on fabric, leather - even paper (avoiding staples)!  Used properly, the disk will never go dull because the cut is caused by the appropriated pressure of the blade to the disk - not the sharpness.  Singer engineering at its finest!  If you already have one and just need the manual to know how to properly adjust it, you can download it on our website for free - right here.

 
Enjoy those peripheral tools, whatever they may be!