Think Outside the Toolbox: Non-Sewing Tools I Use For Costuming

Non-Sewing tools I use in my costuming adventures! You lovely people voted in my Community Tab for what you wanted to see this week and here it is.

Some amazing Cosplay/Costume Makers:
@StiltbeastStudios
@KirileeCosplay
@Jedimanda

And MANY others that you should check out!
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Social Media:

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For Business Enquiries:
This channel is strictly for entertainment purposes. I do not accept requests for custom work or commissions. Trust me, I am not that good.

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Music:
"Charmed Encounter" - Arthur Benson
"Tapped Out" - Jerry Lacey
"Off My Radar" - Jerry Lacey
"Smoothin' It" - Jerry Lacey
"All of That" - Trio Leo
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Equipment:
Camera: Canon G7X Mark II
Edited in Adobe Premiere Pro

[woodenkat]

My parents give a basic tool kit for every wedding they get invited to. Only exception, my woodworker cousin. He had enough!

[cassievanbrunt]

@LizCapism aviation snips are also called "tin snips" used often in installing air conditioning ductwork, and guttering on your house.

[RetroClaude]

OMG THE LIBRARY! I can confirm, as a poor person who lives in the middle of nowhere that my local library is a godsend. Some libraries do charge for inter-library loans, where I live it's a grand total of 50p. Just think copies of Norah Waugh/Janet Arnold easily go for £60+ but you can get your hands on one for 50p!

[stevezytveld]

Our local library recently started a 'thing' category for lending out - everything from banjos to power tools. Absolute brilliance, I should So be using it more.
Also - universities and colleges will offer lending privilege's to non-students and alumni for a small fee.

- Cathy (&, accidentally, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown

[margaretcarter]

As both a librarian and a costumer I just wanted to thank you for the mention you gave to libraries as a costuming resource. If they don’t happen to own a particular costuming book that you are looking for they will certainly try to obtain it for you through inter-library loan. There may be a bit of wait time, but it is well worth it. I’ve borrowed publications from university libraries and the Library of Congress that I probably would never have been able to access otherwise. Also, if you feel that an item would be of interest to your community as a whole don’t hesitate to suggest that the library consider purchasing it for their collection. As to the bones that you mentioned, if you can possibly find one that is actually made of real bone rather than plastic it is well worth the difference in price as it will do a much better job. Enjoyed your presentation - keep up the good work.

[darklymoonlit]

YES, LOCAL LIBRARIES! A lot of libraries also have audiobooks available to borrow so if you're into listening to those while you sew then no, you don't have to shell out for one book credit per month and the privilege of buying more if you go through more than one audiobook per month. (Fight me, Bezos.) And if you're like me and into watching movies while you sew most libraries are going to have decent movie/tv collections, too.
And remember - librarians want to help you find what you're looking for (most of them didn't go get a Masters degree to do inventory and collection curation constantly, and they're definitely not in it for the money - they're probably passionate about books, yes, but also information and knowledge in general and making it as accessible as possible), so ask for help if you need it! I've never had a question for a librarian that they weren't enthusiastic about finding the answer for, including my slightly esoteric Tudor social history interest.

[catherinerw]

Magbet-on-a-stick is excellent for picking pins off the carpet (I actually got it for fishing bits of broken needle out of the base of my sewing-machine... blonde me forgot that my sewing machine is of a generation where they were routinely made of steel!).

[katherinemorelle]

I wonder if they have that lit magnet on a telescopic handle? At the moment I have to rely on my daughter to pick up any dropped needles, because I’m a wheelchair user and I just can’t reach them.

On the plus side, the fact that she’s also always the one to find them (with her feet) does give her incentive to make sure she finds all the dropped pins with her fingers first.

Edit: I should have waited an extra ten seconds before commenting. Whoops. I blame my ADHD. I comment as I go because if I didn’t, I’d forget what I wanted to say. So now I just need to find that exact magnetic wand thingy.

[jenniferandrew]

Table mounted tape dispenser! My mind is blown. I had no idea these existed.

[julithewizards]

One gadget i found in the hardware store is a magnet on a elastic to put on your wrist.. Normally its meant for screws and nails, but it works fine with pins as well! 😁

[carrieberrie]

Yes!! I am a librarian and we have so many resources. If you're not sure if a library can access something, just ask! We have huge networks and creative ways to get almost any information you need.

[bearrrrrica]

Liz: “Ergonomics!”
Me: oh yeah sure definitely
Also me: sitting in the most uncomfortable and least ergonomic position possible

[nikkicafeina]

If you live in Texas, you can get a TexShare card at most public and academic libraries. TexShare is absolutely massive, and it lets you interlibrary loan from libraries all over Texas! Public, academic, government, specialty, all kinds of libraries are at your disposal with a TexShare card.

[australobuchia]

That Ikea toolkit tho. I have the exact same one, it is *constantly* useful for all sorts of random things.

[cheerful_something_something]

Love your local Libraries! Libraries are amazing, support them, give them the usage and love : D

[warsandrij]

I usually wave my magnetic pin cushion over the floor when I drop a pin to find it! I like my magnetic pin cushion better than the classic pin cushion i find it easier to stick pins in and pull them off.

[Rozewolf]

A great list of tools. My husband teases me that I love the hardware store almost as much as the fabric store because I keep finding items that will work in the studio. One of the best things I've made of late is a needle catcher. It's a strong magnet glued to a big flat button. I can pop my needle on it, and not lose it!

[cauldroncreations]

I love that you mentioned the library! I am a huge library advocate. As soon as I move someplace else I get a new card. They also often will have an ebook portal that is connected to each library so you can borrow ebooks that you can then read on your computer if you don't have an ereader or kindle. They will often have sewing and crafting books, just not as big a selection as the paper options. I also want to mention meetup.com. It is an online platform in the u.s. I don't know if it is available in other country's but my local maker group uses it to set up meetings and crafting demo's and things so you might find other maker groups in your area that way as well.

[julithewizards]

Great! Thank you! 🤗 I never thought of a librarycard as a tool.. but yes! Even in my small town library i could get sewing patterns. You can loan burda magazine there..

[kimberlyrusso]

The wand magnet is also called a mechanics pick-up! There are also magnetic parts bowls...great for pins. Great Job! Wonderful ideas!