Parker on the Porch — felt

Recently in the POP Facebook group, we asked members to share their favorite tips, tricks, products and tools. There was so much excellent information that we decided to organize it here for everyone!

TIPS AND TRICKS

Never take your eyes off the machine ~Holly T.

Iron your zippers ~Heather S.

Watch the POP videos! ~Holley H.

Use a short USB extension to plug flash drives in/out to save the port on the machine ~Shari C.

Pull your bobbin thread up with each start ~Patti McP.

Clean your machine! Lint and thread fibers cause lots o’ problems ~Melody C.

Have a pair of scissors on every work surface so you don’t waste time searching for scissors ~Kendra R.

Don’t forget to open the zipper! ~Donna D.

Change your needle often! ~Katie F.

Don’t be afraid to try! ~Terry R.

Run new designs through your software’s stitch simulator to get a feel for what is going to happen in the design before you start stitching. ~Laraine L.

ALWAYS read the instructions first! Lisa S.

Always check that your underside pieces aren’t folded over before beginning stitching ~Kimberly P.

Measure twice. Cut once. ~Barbara D.

I keep a file in my phone of the sizes of the cut material/vinyl for the bags I do often so I can pre-cut them and have them handy and ready to go when I get a chance to stitch! ~Kristi B.

Use Dollar Tree mini hair bands keep thread spools tidy and thread won't unravel. ~Donita W. 

Pick up glitter vinyl pencil bags at Dollar Tree - nice vinyl and a ZIPPER! ~Sue M.

Cut felt from the back and vinyl from the front. Felties and such always look better cut from the back if they are actually felt. Vinyl is better cut from the front. ~Amy P.

When cutting snap tabs and the like, turn the fabric not the scissors! ~Nat R.

I use soap to mark with, and I use either a lint brush or spray a spray bottle of water to remove soap marks after I'm done. ~Missy S.

I use an empty prescription bottle with a hole in the top for storing broken needles. Best tip I can pass along is get to know the sounds of your machine. Often you can hear a problem before you can see it. ~Teresa S.

Use an empty Tic Tac container for storing old needles ~Maria B.

When turning corners trim corner on an angle then fold one side in, fold other side of the corner on top of that, hold this with thumb and index finger of one hand and turn right side out. My corners always look neat when I do this. ~Denise W.

And the award for my favorite tip goes to Lora A.:

Keep a jar near your workspace, and if you swear, put money in it to go toward more things you need. I've made $5 this week!

PRODUCTS AND TOOLS

Favorite Scissors

Kai Curved Embroidery Scissors

Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Curved Scissors

Gingher Duckbill Scissors

Tula Pink Rainbow (!!!) Duckbill Scissors 

Fiskars Pinking Shears

Havel Snip-Eze

Kai Sewing Scissors

Nancy's Notions Embroidery Nippers

Tape, Pins, and Clips

Stitch Witchery

HeatNBond Hem Iron On Adhesive

Sewing Clips

Clover Wonder Clips

Snap Hair Clips

Supaclips (for Fast Frame style hoops)

Basting Spray

Glue Stick

Paper Medical Tape

Transparent Medical Tape

Washi Tape (check clearance bins at craft stores!)

Wash Away Wonder Tape for positioning zippers

Hugo's Amazing Tape

Tools for poking corners and/or holding items in the hoop 

Chopsticks

Bamboo Skewers

ByAnnie Stiletto and Pressing Tool

Old Fashioned Metal Staple Remover

EZ Point and Turner Tool

Clover Hold It Precision Stiletto

RNK Precision Turning Tool

Tim Holtz Retractable Craft Pick

Hemostats

Long Tweezers

Fix the OOPSIES

Seam Ripper

Blade Style Seam Ripper

Snag-Nab-It (this is also a personal favorite for fixing loops)

General sewing tools and supplies

Tailor’s Clapper

Simflex Expanding Sewing Gauge

KAMsnap Tabletop Press

Leather Punch

Crop-A-Dile

Head Lamp

Small Magnetic Flexible Light

Grill Light

Tiny USB Powered Vacuum

Small Tabletop Trash Can

Martelli Tables

IKEA Paper Roll Holder for stabilizer

Magnetic Parts Dish or from Harbor Freight

And the award for Most Suggested Tool goes to...

New designs this week:

Football Stadium Banner Set

Kitty Top Zip Pencil Bag and Charm Bundle

Donut Bow Snaptab

Bow Monogram Snaptab Set

• Fabric is from Sahara Fabrics and felt is from Benzie Design.  Vinyl is from MyPunkbroidery.
• 12 or 16 gauge clear vinyl
• Zippers are from Zipit and My Handmade Space
• Ball Chains
• Jump Rings
• Tassels
• Eyelets
• Eyelet setting tool
• Two Piece Grommets 3/16"
• Keyfob hardware
• Keyfob tool
• Stabilizer used was tearaway from Amazon, I buy in bulk HERE
• Interfacing by Thermoweb, Medium and Lite
  
• Transparent Medical Tape
• Peel and Stick Tape by Thermoweb
  
• Small Scissors, by Westcott
  
• Vinyl Scissors, by Fiskars
  
• Fabric Scissors, by Fiskars