Do you have the right crafting tools?

Before you start working on a new crafting project it’s important you have the right tools for the job. Working with tools that aren’t right for the job won’t make your work any easier and could even impact negatively on the end result. It’s time to take a look at your crafting kit and determine whether you need to upgrade the tools you have in there, here are the ones you need for the most common crafting projects:

Sewing

Whether you are putting together a new dress or stitching a pretty new scatter cushion it’s important you have the following…

Sewing machine – try to choose a machine that suits your needs. If you are using your machine for basic sewing projects a simple Singer model will do, but for quilting or stitching thicker materials you might need a machine that can swap out needles and feet for special ones. Some machines come with a huge variety of stitches and patterns to choose from while others will have very few. Take some time to choose the right one for you.
Sharp fabric scissors – those ones you use to cut wrapping paper aren’t good enough, we’re afraid.
Pins – you need these to hold patterns in place and keep hemlines secure until they’re stitched together.

Card making and scrapbooking

While the paper and decorations you use depend entirely on the season or occasion you are making the cards for, here are some tools you definitely need:

Sharp paper scissors – never subject yourself to shredded edges again and ensure you get clean cuts every time.
Hot glue gun – these are great for securing decorations to your cards that won’t come off later.
Craft knife – if you want to cut out fun shapes for your cards a craft knife and a protective board underneath are essential tools for the job. You can pick these up from a site such as Home Crafts, that has a variety of blades available.

Cake decorating

More and more of us are taking inspiration from sites such as Pinterest or videos on Facebook and entering the kitchen to try our hand at creating some fantastic looking bakes. Here are some tools you might need for such a project:

Palette knife in various sizes – palette knives are essential when it comes to smothering a cake in frosting and ensuring a neat, smooth finish.
Rolling pin – ensure you get fondant icing smooth and neat with a heavy rolling pin before applying to the cake.
Fondant smoother - once the fondant is applied you’ll need a smoother to ensure the finish is perfect.
Cake decorating turntable – these make decorating large cakes so much easier as you can simply turn the cake on the revolving stand, instead of awkwardly moving it round on a tray.

Whatever your craft experience it’s important you have the right tools for the job, take some time to do your research, follow tutorials and see what the experts are using and ensure you’re always prepared for when the crafting bug suddenly takes hold.