Bobbin Wraps

                                    
While looking through a Clotilde catalog, I discovered something that would be very handy for sewists.  They were called Bobbin Wraps and they were elastic bands in a variety of colors that you put on your bobbins to keep the thread from unwinding and making a mess.  A few years ago I had bought something similar only they were plastic. These, however were softer looking and came in colors! Clotilde sells these wraps 24 in a package for $2.48. Sounds like a fair enough deal for something so handy right? Maybe not.

You see, I looked a bit closer at these wraps and they looked like nothing more than baby hair bands. So, I thought that the next time I was in a store that sold those, I would look and see if maybe they would work just the same. So today, that's exactly what I did. I bought a package of 72 for $1.00, brought them home and proceeded to try them out, and guess what? They worked!  So for a lot less money, you too can "make" your own bobbin wraps!

Deals of the Day

I love a bargain! Yes I do. And today I got one that I'm SO excited about! I had to pay a visit to my local JoAnn's store to buy more felt for my counting book (still in the process of making it but will post when finished). While there, two of the associates were trying to decide which tote they wanted to purchase. Then one of them informed me that these totes were on sale for $4.99--they were regularly $14.99!! Well, I had to go take a look for myself.

So I walked around the corner and couldn't believe what a bargain it was! These are nice sized totes--big enough to carry my laptop (which is what I plan on using it for), they have two side pockets (one inside, one out), PLUS they are reversible! Thick batting is also used between the fabrics to give it a very cushy feel--perfect for protecting my laptop. They only had three colors to choose from, but since I'm not picky, that was fine by me! This blue one is the one I chose.

Another bargain I got today was this adorable pattern. It's by Simplicity and they are also on sale for $1.99 each. I love it! I can't wait to make some of these cute baby things!

Why I Love Charm Packs

I love charm squares. What are charm squares? They are precut coordinating squares of fabric (usually 3-5” squares) that come in 20-80 piece packs. Why do I love them? There are several reasons. For one, they are convenient. They are the perfect size for smaller projects. Being precut also means that some of the prep work has already been done—mainly the measuring and cutting of fabric. They’re also all the exact same size. Which means better uniformity in projects.

I also like the fact that they come in such wonderful prints, from babies to florals. You can also find them in cottons, flannels, or even home décor fabrics. You can make anything from quilts to totes with them. I have used them for sachets, coasters, totes, purses, and baby toys (I’m not a quilter). I’m sure in the future I will find even more projects in which to use them.

I also like the value factor. They usually cost $5 per pack and up (my quilt shop usually sells them from $6-$8). It all depends how many charms are in the pack and the designer. Let’s say for example, you purchased a pack of 40 charms for $8 and you wanted to make coasters with them. You could make 20 coasters (since they are usually coordinating fabrics, you have a front and back piece). You have spent 40 cents per coaster (not counting your interfacing). Now is that a bargain or what!

So the next time you visit your local quilt shop, take a gander at what charm packs they may have. You may be surprised at the variety and what you can make with them. You don’t even have to be a quilter to love them!