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My favorite tool: The Hemostat

Several years ago, as a medical student, I was gifted an amazing first aid kit from an EMT friend.  It included a cheap hemostat which I never had the misfortune to use.  I broke this out when I was making my first quilt.  Instead of buying the little wooden stick that one uses to pin the quilt sandwich, I tried this.   Ever since, I have discovered a new thing to use it for on almost every sewing project.  Just last week, I used it with my #69 foot (Roll and Shell Hemmer Foot)--I can grab and twist near the end, when the folded part starts to rove to the right which causes the hem to be uneven-- I just grab, lock and twist, get it going again and release at the last second.  I use is for pulling pins at the last minute while sewing, basically anywhere my fingers can't easily get in.  Its also great for tying knots when you have almost non-existent short thread--you just throw a surgeon's knot (which there are tons of videos on YouTube showing one how to instrument tie a surgeon's knot).  It is a crazy versatile tool, useful in apparel sewing and quilting...and tons of hobbies, my boyfriend uses one for fishing.

 Happy sewing!

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