Stitching wool appliqué does not have to cost you a lot of money. Besides the wool and thread, you already may have most of the supplies you need in your sewing studio or home office. Any other supplies you need can be found not only at your local quilt or craft shop but also at local big-box or specialty stores and even the “dollar” store, depending on your personal needs and taste. Following are just a few items you can find and not spend a lot of money. Happy shopping!

Small ruler
Colored pencils
Graph paper
Pens and pencils
Pins and needles
White eraser
Glue stick
Binder clips
Transparent adhesive tape
Painter’s tape
Bamboo skewers
Plastic storage boxes

©Spoolproof®

Just as (I hope) you don’t believe everything you read on the internet, please don’t believe everything you see on YouTube. While creating Artist Trading Cards for my SAQA Pod, I had an issue with the stitching on my Janome, so l whipped out the manual and rethreaded the bobbin. No luck. The stitching still wasn’t right. So, I decided to look on YouTube to see if I could find a video to help me. I did. However, the person on the video instructed viewers to put the bobbin in backwards. At first, I didn’t believe what was said, so I backed up and listened again. No. She said clockwise not counter-clockwise. I decided to return to my manual, rethreaded the bobbin as instructed but same problem. So, I followed the adage – “when all else fails, rethread your machine.” I found the thread had slipped out of the take-up lever, which is hidden behind a door on the front of the machine! The moral of this story is – don’t believe everything you see on YouTube. Most times grandma, mom, your home ec teacher, or sewing instructor are usually right. When all else fails, rethread your machine. Period.

©Spoolproof®