Day 286- 287 Sewing Kit

I believe I acquire the love for gadgets and gizmos from my dad. In some ways, I am even more of a gadget fiend than he is because I buy them even when I don't understand them. Like these sewing gizmos I purchased on 4th November 2011 at the Golden Dragon Store, possibly Singapore's oldest haberdashery. Manufactured by Clover, these accessories were part of their Antique Range and I bought almost every item available that day, even the completely useless ones, just because they were too pretty to resist...

or maybe not, like this one for instance.

It looks like a weapon, doesn't it? A finger duster?

It is actually a thread cutter ring and is supposed to make cutting thread easy. 

Verdict: 100 points for cool factor but 50 for convenience-
easier to use a pair of scissors or your teeth.

About this one that looks like an iron mask, I have a secret to confess. I had never really understood thimble and how it was used until a month ago and this was after I had started stitching for 2 over years. As far as I was concerned, thimbles were vases for dollhouses.

It was only after I had started on the 32 count canvas, broken about a dozen needles and suffered from really sore thumbs that I appreciated thimbles.  Now I wear three of them when I sew. 

This one I bought without knowing what it was for. 

I only found out it was a threader after I reached home and looked at the cover carefully. It is way too big for petite point needles and is therefore completely useless to me. In any case, I have never used a threader because I don't need it. Yet. 

If you think this one is a pin cushion (the red part), then you and I think alike

but we are wrong. 

This is a needle sharpener and polisher.

It is no use for cleaning rusty needles though.

Can you guess what the bigger thimble is for?

Yes, that is a pencil sharpener

and they are for sharpening these.

I went shopping at Golden Dragon Store because I started stitching again on 28 Oct 2011. This carpet was started on 3 February this year and it was so difficult I stopped for more than 8 months. I also made a mistake (as usual) with the count and had to undo the stitches at the border. It is the hardest carpet that I have done to date because I used 4 threads for a 32 count canvas and I am going blind trying to find the holes. 

This is where I am now, going very, very slowly. 

You know what they say about how a bad workman blames his tools?

For me, it is a case of a bad workman needing many tools, the fancier the better.

So I say, indulge, my dear friends,when you can. Spoil yourselves with pretty tools especially if they can make you pick up where you left off and love what you do again. And now, for some late night stitching.