fiber arts A 2-post collection

Written by Lisa

Do you need a gift for a fiber artist in your life but don’t know what they might want? Here are some ideas of tools, supplies, etc. to help level up their crafting.

Book light that wraps around your neck: Any

Extra light always helps you to see your project especially if working with dark yarn or in a dark location where eye strain can take its toll. A handy gadget to toss in a bag for long, holiday trips!

Little snip scissors: Any

You can never have too many pairs of scissors. Stork shaped are classic, but they come in all different shapes and sizes. Some small scissors have caps or sheathes to protect your projects and hands from accidental stabbing.

Scissors Sharpener: Any

This device is basically a knife sharpener for scissors helping keep your cuts precise and clean. You open the scissors, put them through the holes, and then cut down a couple times to resharpen your scissors. Sharpeners can be paired with fresh fabric scissors as an apology for using fabric scissors on wrapping paper.

Reusable Lint Rollers: Any

When working with fiber of any kind you will inevitably end up with strands of it in places you don’t want it. Reusable lint rollers help get fibers from your project or furry friend off your clothes, project, chair, etc.

Nice fabric tape measure: Any

Tape measures are never where you think you set them down last and measuring your project is always important. Looks for one with both inches and centimeters, with high contrast between the background and numbering. Tape measures can warp over time so it is important to check their accuracy every now and then.

Project Bags: Any

Help keep projects and supplies organized and contained. It can be a tote bag with a quote from their favorite book, a zipper or snap pouch with multiple compartments, mesh or vinyl pouch that allows you to see what project is inside, a sewing box, or anything in between. Just consider what size project they generally work on. Project bags are an excellent way to keep your project safe from small, hairy yarn taste testers.

Magnetic Needle Minders: Hand Embroidery, Cross Stitch, Mending

These hold your needle to your work, made up of a decorative top glued to a magnet and a second magnet to go on the back of the piece. You can buy from craft stores or make your own by turning pins into needle minders by taking off the pin back and gluing a magnet to the back.

O-shaped spool keepers: Hand Embroidery and Cross Stitch

These silicone spool keepers look like an O or a spiral and can be used to keep extra fabric neat and out of the way when stitching using an embroidery hoop. Nothing can break a heart like an errant snag on a fiber artist’s project, save them the tears!

Speed Weave Loom: Any

This mini loom can be used to repair or add to pieces. Great for adding visible mending patches as visible mending has become more popular and learning a skill that has been around for decades.

Point protectors: Knitting

These point protectors keep your project on your needles when you must set your project down and come in simple cones and fun shapes. Losing half of your stitches during a 205 stitch cast on can cause any fiber artist to fall into a rage, save your favorite knitting fiber artist some stress.

Safety Eye Tool: Crochet or Knit Stuffed Creatures

This 3D printed tool can make attaching safety eyes much easier. Safety eyes are plastic eyes that are added to stuffed projects by poking the shaft on the back of the eye through the stitches of your project and securing it with a plastic washer that catches on lips on the back. Securing the washer can be hard on your hands and having a tool can help immensely. Note that this is a more specific tool and should only be given if you know the crafter attaches plastic safety eyes to their projects.

Yarn Bowls: Knit and Crochet

Wood, ceramic, or 3D printed, yarn bowls can help keep your yarn contained, keep your tension even, and they look lovely when not in use.

Hemming Clamp: Hand sewing

Hemming clamps are used to hold your work under tension when stitching a hem or seam. This device clamps on a table or solid surface to help speed up hand stitching.

Gift Card to a Local Yarn, Fabric, or Craft Store: Any

Let them choose their own gift! They know what they have and what they want, so support local businesses and let your crafter have free reign to pick out what brings them joy.

Greetings, Hivemind! Our Tuesday Talk this month will be Karen Anderson. Not only is she involved with Hive13, she's a Weavers Guild member and Bombshell! Learn more about her below:

Karen Anderson loves making things! Especially yarny things. She has been a member of the Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati since 2004 where she knits, embroiders, dyes, spins, weaves, crochets, braids, and lucets. She is a new member of the Bombshells of Cincinnati and the current lead for Cincinnati Nature Center's Earth Expression art installation. Back in 1999, she graduated from the Theatre School at DePaul University with a BFA in Lighting Design and loved working in the scene shop. More recently she enjoyed a 10 week Intro to Blacksmithing and Steel Fabrication at Blue Hell Studio and is VERY excited to play with metal.

On her upcoming project: The Bombshells of Cincinnati is an art collective that yarn bombs throughout Cincinnati. I'm a very new member of this awesome group of artists and this will be the third project I've worked on. This is the second year that the Cincinnati Nature Center has a grants supported project through ArtsWave. The Bombshells were made aware of this opportunity, I designed the installation, collaborated with a few other Bombshells for some editing of the vision, applied, interviewed and we were selected. We've been holding work sessions at the Weavers Guild, which has a room large enough to work on 2 of our arches at once, there will be a couple of work sessions at my house in Springdale to pull everything together, and we will install in mid to late August. There will be two program-related opportunities once we have installed. One to teach weaving and simple macrame to guests at the Nature Center so they may add their art to the installation. And another one to do a community indigo dye vat.

And YOU can be involved with the installation! Stay tuned for an installation date but Karen also needs butterflies, flowers & leaves knit or crocheted in cotton for the installation and maintenance. Curious about the Bombshells? Ask Karen to find out more!

Follow The Bombshells of Cincinnati on Instagram

Check out the Cincinnati Nature Center on Instagram and their website

Follow the Weavers Guild on Instagram and their website