Staying Sharp: 5 Ways to Sharpen Your Sewing Tools

1. I'm willing to bet most of you have this first item and don't even know its true potential! Did you know ever notice that silly little strawberry hanging off your tomato pin cushion? It isn't there just for looks (LOL), Mr. Strawberry is filled with something called "emery sand". I'm sure you have a few emery boards around the house or at the bottom of your purse to file your fingernails. Emery is also used to sharpen pins and needles and keep them free of burrs that will snag your fabric.

2. I'm going to be honest, my tomato pin cushion is hidden in the back of a drawer. Call me judgmental, but tomatoes are for my sandwich, not my sewing room. With a quick search of Pinterest you can find some amazingly cute ideas for diy pin cushions. Check out my pin cushion Pinterest board for a start. Most cushions call for Fiber Fill, which is great, but for a sharper solution...fill your custom cushions with emery to sharpen your pins and needles. You can purchase it by the pound and vwalla, you've got a cute and sharp solution.

3. Earlier this year, I was getting very frustrated while using my scissors, every snip I'd take, there was a thread that would be missed. I noticed a notch in my scissors, someone had used them for something other than fabric and took a chunk out of the metal. I'm SUUURE it wasn't me, I never get lazy and forget to grab my paper scissors. *clears throat*. I was ready to toss them and get a new pair, but quality scissors are expensive. That's when I found this Sharpener. My scissors are restored and this can be used with knives and other scissors for years to come. A very small investment, with a huge return!

4. One of the most important tools in your sewing room is your rotary cutter. You'll find yourself working way harder than necessary if you have a dull blade, and replacement blades can be pricey!! If you are like me, I have more than one size rotary cutter too. Instead of replacements, check out this handy Power Rotary Blade Sharpener. It is for use with 28m, 45mm, and 60mm blades! This is a great investment that will save you a lot down the line.

5. Keep your marking tools sharp. For accuracy reasons, your marking pencils need to have fine tips. Clover has an adorable solution, the Clover Pencil Sharpener made just for sewing. It will out-perform your dollar store plastic sharpener and additionally it's a decorative piece to beautify your space. It has an antique design that sharpens pencils to a suitable length for sewing and quilting.

P.S. I would suggest watching YouTube tutorials on these products before using them, technique is everything.

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