Unexpected Tools you (now) can't live without?

[Shyla]

There's always something that comes up and you end up repurposing something, it ends up being so handy, it becomes a permanent part of your toolbox.

Binder clips and manicure sticks

Manicure sticks are perfect seam pressers/point turners, paint stirrers. If your fabric is water safe, lightly spritz, use the stick to press and use a binder clip to hold the fabric down after pressing with the stick. Let dry. Iron free creases, though results can vary depending on the fabric.

Binder clips can be a replacement for pins when sewing tulle, vinyl or leather. Or when you don't want pointy things near your doll, but you need that mock-up to hold steady.

[richila]

Binder clips are the best thing ever for making miniature books. Once you get everything glued together, clip it and leave it for 24 hours. The clip helps the spine set up like the spine of a real book.
A Micra leatherman is my go to tool. It has scissors, screwdrivers, tweezers and 2 rulers-inches and centimeters. Best of all, it fits on my keychain.

[Greyhaunt]

Paperclips- particularly the pastic coated type, are also invaluable as a pin substitute for things like vinyl and leather

[zirconmermaid]

Hemostats. Seriously. We use them all the time when sewing! Have you ever been threading elastic through a tiny channel, only to let go when you are almost done? Get out those hemostats! Chances are you can get to the elastic, grab it, and pull it out.

[Czanne]

A bone awl. Nothing sticks to it permanently, it's washable, so it's perfect for nudging things to be glued. Also makes perfect holes for eyelets without breaking the warp and weft so the eyelet doesn't pull out. The point is the right size for making thread loops instead of buttonholes.

[Greyhaunt]

Hemostats. Seriously. We use them all the time when sewing! Have you ever been threading elastic through a tiny channel, only to let go when you are almost done? Get out those hemostats! Chances are you can get to the elastic, grab it, and pull it out.

Not to mention perfect for keeping the elastic from slipping back through the neckhole of your resin doll when you take the head off to work on it! Hemostats have soooo many uses!

[Iwa_Hoshi]

Needle threader. Don't really want to play 'spot the needle hole and attempt to thread it' anymore, Its good for getting doll hair into the the needle as well as lacing up boots with stubborn laces and eyelets.

[DollyKim]

A plastic spool holder for sewing thread. I can sit any 1/6 heads I'm working on on one of the pegs to dry.

*Here it is in use.

[Shyla]

Ooo, I hadn't thought of the paperclips. I found this at the dollar store and thought it would be handy,



It's no spool holder, but it'll probably get some use.

[Greyhaunt]

It does look less like a celtic display of dead enemy trophies - your head can feel pretty while being worked on