This unassuming 6 ½” piece of smooth plastic is the ultimate multi-functional sewing tool and I can’t imagine sewing without it. It’s even heat-resistant so you can use it with an iron. Sold as the Dritz Quilting Point Turner & Creaser, I call it a stylus because it has so many more functions.
Use to poke out corners
The pointed end of this stylus is just rounded enough to use it to poke out corners and tips in collars, belts, pockets, appliques etc. without poking a hole in the fabric. To push out a corner, turn the piece right side out after clipping corners. Hold the stylus with the pointed end out and position it in the piece with the flat side down, on the top of a seam allowance, pressing down toward the table surface. Push the point along one side of the seam moving toward the corner, pushing the flat edge of the turner against the seam and the table. Keep your finger and stylus holding tight as you pull the fabric over the stylus. The point will gently push the fabric point out without poking through the corner.
Use as a creaser
The sewing stylus can be used as a creaser to finger-press seam allowances and burnish hems, saving multiple trips to the iron. Smooth the fabric on a flat surface. Use either the flat or curved side down– whichever works best with the fabric. Slide it away from you along the seam or hem edge, pressing firmly toward the table surface. The stylus can also be used for creasing paper, cardboard, or felt.
Use as a hera marker
The rounded edge of the sewing stylus can be used as a hera marker – a hard plastic or bone tool that is used in quilting and sewing to mark fabric by embossing it rather than marking it with ink or chalk. If you have ever dabbled in bookbinding, you’re probably familiar with a similar tool called a bone folder.
There is never a worry about embossed lines not washing out, or bleeding through. By running the stylus edge along woven fabric, you make a crease in the fabric that lasts for days or longer but disappears completely when you stitch over it.
Unlike ink markers, you never have to refill a hera because there is nothing to run out. It can also be used to transfer lines from a pattern with or without transfer paper. Unlike a tracing wheel, there is no chance of it damaging even the most delicate fabric. It works best on woven fabric that has some cushion beneath it, which is why it is a favorite with quilters. Ink-based markers are better suited for marking non-woven or fuzzy fabrics, such as knits or fleece, or single layers of fine fabrics where there is no give to absorb a crease.
Use as a stylus to guide fabric under the sewing machine presser foot
This stylus is especially useful when sewing bulky fabric that gets caught up in the gap in the center of the presser foot. Use the point of the stylus to press down on the seam just before it enters the presser foot. This is also a useful technique when sewing slippery fabric, such as silk or jersey, to guide it under the pressure foot while keeping your fingers safe.
Use as a pocket stuffer
Both the slightly rounded point and the rounded opposite end of this tool enable you to “stuff” pockets (as in quilting, pillow corners, or stuffed toys) without damaging the fabric. This tool has no sharp edges, making it the perfect molding aid.
Use to turn curved seams
After clipping curves, turn the piece right-side-out. Hold the stylus with the curved end out and position it in the piece with the flat side down, on the top of the curved seam allowance, pressing down toward the table surface. Push the stylus along one side of the seam, keeping an eye that the seam is on the edge of the piece. Remove the stylus and use it to finger-press the seam in place.
The Sewing Stylus is one of my favorite 14 sewing tools included in the Made By Me! Sewing Tool Kit.
Leave a reply