I am very excited to be able to begin selling some of my favorite softie-making tools in my shop on Etsy. Having the right tools for the job makes softie-making so much easier and less frustrating and my favorite tool of all time is my 5" curved hemostats. I use them every single day, so much so that I have a pretty significant callous on my right hand where they rub against my skin!
If you aren't sure that you need a pair, I hope this video I made a few months ago will convince you that indeed you do! Use hemostats to grasp the extremities of your softie in order to pull it right side out without tearing. Use them to stuff little fingers and toes and bird's beaks. They are amazing and I love this particular pair because they are curved on the tip so that I can reach especially hard to reach spots and they have little ridges inside which makes them hold on tight when I clamp them shut.
Hemostats are a specialty tool and they aren't sold in any brick-and-mortar craft stores or fabric shops that I've ever visited. I am now stocking them in my shop for $8 a pair and I have nine pairs in stock. You can find them right here.
Ooh that’s awesome. I’ve definitely had to give up on making softies for my son in the past when I just couldn’t find a way to turn that particular one rightside out without tearing it apart.
Abby, I agree with everything you said. cannot live without them!
Isn’t it crazy that these aren’t easier to get hold of in crafting circles? Well done for plugging a hole, Abby!
Love mine and use them for all sorts of things now when I sew.
Good job and smart offering.
Since reading your blog I bought myself some hemostats and agree they are an essential item when making softies – especially the tiny things I produce! I had to go to a fishing tackle shop – very good idea to stock them in your shop.