Thread Cutter Pendants

KC Needlepoint talks thread cutter necklaces and why they come in handy.

https://www.kcneedlepoint.com/blogs/news/thread-cutter-pendants-why-you-need-one

The brass one in KC Needlepoint's article is by Clover but there are quite a few brands available.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bohin-Deer-Thread-Cutter-Pendant/499037308?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=6774&adid=22222222222423895977_1198468316916552_pla&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=s&wl2=c&wl3=74904369575011&wl4=pla-4578503903728221&wl5=&wl6=&wl7=&wl10=Walmart&wl11=Online&wl12=499037308_10000006918&wl14=thread%20cutter%20necklace&veh=sem&msclkid=8696c0969e6a186b1aefa6eff76ea471&gclid=8696c0969e6a186b1aefa6eff76ea471&gclsrc=3p.ds

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1510633229/prym-love-thread-cutter-necklace?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_all&utm_custom1=_k_b75b35243c7115fc047b535d55757e4f_k_&utm_content=bing_319339186_1310617986645934_81913644654434_pla-4585513245482005:pla-4585513245482005_c__1510633229&utm_custom2=319339186&msclkid=b75b35243c7115fc047b535d55757e4f

You can also find clip on versions for your purse or key ring.  As always, shop around for the look you want and the best price.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1565230327/thread-cutter-vintage-yarn-cutter-yarn?click_key=5ed543bc36a85f455c31fd2ec2e26a28bce704c8%3A1565230327&click_sum=67cea835&external=1&rec_type=cs&ref=pla_similar_listing_top-5&sts=1

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright June 24, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Ripping Out: The Movie

Lori of Waste Knot continues her tutorials on basic needlepoint skills with a video about ripping out stitches.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C4qUyK_LBiM/

Lori's using a folding seam ripper from Bohin.  I own one and really like it as you can easily flip the cover over to protect the point. Shop around if your favorite store doesn't carry these as the price varies a lot.

https://123stitch.com/item/Bohin-Folding-Seam-Ripper/BOH-92210

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 19, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Bohin's Colorful Embroidery Scissors

Bohin is a French company known for their high quality stitching tools such as needles and seam rippers.  I didn't realize that they have colorful limited embroidery scissors, too.  Needle Nook of La Jolla carries some of their birds, cats, and Russian nesting dolls series.

https://www.needlenook.com/product-category/accessories/scissors/

The Bohin website shows all sorts of fun scissor patterns, including a seahorse, Eiffel Tower, lobster, octupus, squirrel, tiger, etc.  I haven't seen these in person so I can't judge their quality but they are relatively inexpensive.  Some Bohin decorated scissors would make a good present for your stitching bestie or something to tuck in a travel bag.

https://boutique.bohin.com/en/collections/ciseaux-a-broder?page=1

By the way, I found this gorgeous mother of pearl scissors fob while looking for Bohin scissors.

https://www.anitalittlestitches.com/product7079.html

There are two versions, one with a larger clasp for regular scissors.

https://www.anitalittlestitches.com/product7080.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright June 5, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Bohin Has a New Needle Threader

Bohin has released a new wire needle threader with an intricate rose gold base that allows for tassels to be added.

https://yarntree.typepad.com/needlework_news/2020/10/bohin-customizable-needle-threader.html

If you like wire threaders (they are my favorite type) you'll want to check these out.  I suspect they'd make a great gift for a stitching friend, too, especially if you made a tassel in their favorite colors.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright October 15, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Monster Scissors UPDATED

For those who are expecting scissors with dragons, dinosaurs or demons on them, sorry!  I know it's nearly Halloween, but "monster scissors" actually refers to the Little Monster Scissors by Sajou.  They are small embroidery scissors with extra large holes, perfect for those with arthritic hands!  I first heard about them from a friend with arthritis who just loves them.
http://sassy2stitch.com/shop/sajou-little-monster-scissors/

If you are a fan of Bohin scissors, they appear to have something similar.  If you have swollen, tender joints, these might be just the thing for you.
https://www.inspirationsstudios.com/product/bohin-mini-embroidery-scissors/

UPDATE:  The above link is dead but Sara Leigh found them here—
https://www.stitchingbitsandbobs.com/cgi-bin/Store/showimage.cgi?BohinScissors024313-225Mini1700

Thanks, SL!

Happy Stitching!  (And here are scary scissors with a matching magnet for those who were crushed when I didn't have dragon scissors for them.)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/620140995/owl-embroidery-scissors-and-scary-black?ref=shop_home_active_13

https://www.etsy.com/listing/620140383/witch-boot-embroidery-scissors-and?ga_search_query=witch+boot&ref=shop_items_search_1

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 31, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Sharp, Sharper, Sharpest UPDATED

Nothing is more interesting to stitchers than finding just the right pair of scissors for a job. Recently, I've started to notice some very interesting cutting tools recommended here and there.  It seemed time for a roundup of specialty scissors and snips and cutters you might find useful.  Nordic Needle carries the tiny grasshopper scissors for precision cutting of just one thread.
http://www.nordicneedle.com/prod/7178.html

Bohin carries an assortment of seam rippers and snips.  These are squeezable tweezer cutters.
http://www.craftersgallery.com/Hardanger-Embroidery-Scissors/Tweezers-4375--98260/default.aspx?PageID=20&CategoryID=94&ProductID=94701&RootCatCode=03000

I prefer a seam ripper myself.  These are also from Bohin and have a nice little case.
http://www.hedgehoghandworks.com/catalog/TLSBHNRIP.PHP

Lots of people swear by curved blade scissors for trimming turkey work. Nordic Needle carries ten pages of scissors, including several brands of curved blade scissors.  These are just two, a high end and a cheaper set.
http://www.nordicneedle.com/prod/305-371-1527.html

http://www.nordicneedle.com/prod/7250D.html

Other people love scissors with a bend.
http://www.nordicneedle.com/prod/305-476-0003.html

If you have a very steady hand, you might like the surgical seam ripper.
http://www.needlepoint.com/surgical-seam-ripper.html

Whatever type scissor you need, hope you find something just perfect for your needs!

UPDATE:  By chance I stumbled across a mention of Kai scissors on Anna Scott's blog this morning.
http://annascottembroidery.blogspot.com/2015/03/goldwork-plume-progress.html

Here is the company website.  They only carry two styles of small embroidery-type scissors and they are a little larger than the three inch embroidery scissors I prefer,  but I've always been impressed by Japanese workmanship.
http://www.kaiscissors.com/category.php?category_id=50

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 2, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Favorite Needles

Dale (who is my twin in many ways, particularly when it comes to Acid Hands) is talking needles. I can't get the Comments to work on her blog but I am happy to publicly state that I love both Piecemaker and Bohin needles. For me, there is no difference between them except that Piecemakers don't come in as many sizes. You can even get beading needles from Bohin but Piecemakers are limited to tapestry sizes 22, 24, 26 and 28 (plus chenille needles which I like to use for ribbon embroidery).  Whoops!  Piecemakers has beading needles now (see second link).  That makes it even harder to choose a favorite.
http://www.canvasesbegone.com/blog/needles-what-do-you-like/

http://www.piecemakers.com/products.html/Piecemakers_Needles

In case you missed it, here is Ruth Schmuff's posting about the needle sizer cards.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2012/07/id-that-needle.html


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Things You Might Need UPDATED A THIRD TIME

Suddenly this week there are a lot of online postings about various tools folks might want to use to help them stitch.   Makes me think someone turned on the big neon sign in the sky and it read Tools, Talk Tools!

Who am I to not listen?  LOL

Here are the items you might want to browse.  First is Bedecked and Beadazzled talking boxes.  But they are just any box, they are elegant leather boxes and containers in all colors to hold wonderful tools.
http://www.notyourgrandmothersneedlepoint.com/2012/07/boxes-for-storing.html

UPDATE:  You can see more of the boxes here.  The second link is to the company website.  Rowallan is a Scottish firm, a specialist in leather goods.
http://nystitchingsisters.blogspot.com/2012/07/new-accessories.html

Mary Corbet has a set of needle I.D. cards that look very useful if you have a lot of needles you don't know the size or name of.  These come from Access Commodities which has donated a set to Mary to give away.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2012/07/needle-id-cards.html

Needlepoint Tool Time's blog is showing off the new tubular Sparkles and the skin thread collection from Access Commodities (which I think it hard to find, so act now).  I believe the instructions on how to use the silks for shading skin was written by Tony Minieri, so that alone is worth having.
http://stitchplaywithneedlepointtooltime.blogspot.com/2012/07/happy-4th-of-july.html

Here's their website.
http://www.needlepointtooltime.com/

Finally, here's a really good photo and description of the EZ Beader.
http://peaceloveandstitching.blogspot.com/2012/07/more-flower-progress.html

UPDATE:  A friend just sent me this link to an Italian line of automatic needle threaders.  She got hers for $5 on Amazon but shop around and make sure you get the size you will use most.  Anyone with trouble threading needles probably should look into getting one of these.  Thanks, L!
http://www.automatic-needle-threader.com/adw/automatic-needle-threader.html

UPDATE:  Bohin makes a needle threader, too.  This video talks about how it works and gives tips on how to use it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZpRd5xGpyc&feature=youtu.be

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Needle Origins

Like so many other things, the manufacture of needles seems to be moving to China where labor is cheap and government oversight of factory conditions, pollution, etc. is lax. Trish Burr (a very well known embroidery teacher and writer in Australia) noticed this when she started selling needles from Richard Hemming and Son on her website.
http://trishburr.com/2012/05/24/english-needles-no-longer-made-in-england/

Mary Corbet picked up the discussion since she just broke a needle.  I am hoping that Colonial Needle will see this discussion and respond to Mary's question as they distribute John James needles and may have more information as to their country of origin.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2012/05/the-broken-needle.html#more-14437

Mary has discovered the Bohin needles are still made in France as they've been since the 1830s.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2012/05/bohin-needles-company.html  

I like John James needles and have used them for years.  However, Piecemaker needles have always been my favorites until Bohin needles became available in my area.  To me, Piecemakers and Bohin needles are equally desirable needles and they are the same price at my LNSs.  Piecemaker needles used to be manufactured in the USA by a religious lady who founded a business that included needle manufacture but I can't find any current information about them.  Piecemakers have one drawback--they are only made in certain sizes as they are intended to be used in hand quilting.  If you like to use sizes 18 or 20 tapestry needles or beading needles, Piecemakers doesn't have anything in that range (although you can substitute other needles from their line as size 28 tapestry needles often will go through larger beads).  So I always buy 18 and 20 tapestry needles from Bohin and pick up their beading needles at the same time.
http://www.piecemakers.com/products.html/Piecemakers_Needles

If your local shop doesn't carry Bohin or Piecemaker needles, Waste Knot carries the Bohins and Needlewoman East has the Piecemakers.  I'm sure they are available many other places, too, but these are the ones where I know they are since I buy them there.
http://wasteknotneedlepoint.com/

http://www.theneedlewomaneast.com/Welcome.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com