Sewing with Disabilities: Accessible Sewing Tools

There’s a whole world of amazing sewing tools out there that have been designed to make your crafting easier. To celebrate Disability Pride Month, Samantha Waude from @PurpleSewingCloud – who you may recognise as a Tilly and the Buttons model – shares her top five accessible sewing tools. Whether you consider yourself to have disabilities or not, you will want to get yourself some of these!

#DisabilityPride #SewingDisabled #SewingTools #SewingTips

Tools mentioned are:

2. Zirkel magnetic pin dish -

3. Fiskars easy grip snips -

4. Silicone iron mat -

5. Clover desktop needle threader -

Connect with Samantha on social media @PurpleSewingCloud

Find us:

[soniateach]

I was starting to feel like maybe sewing wasn't possible for me because I'm finding it to be challenging as a disabled woman. Thank you for this!!

[ellencr]

Great suggestions! I’ve got two of these already (the pins and the ironing pad) but I am constantly in search of other tools to address my grip, numbness and cramping issues. Bring more of these suggestions on! How about your favorite rotary cutter, marking tools, dress makers shears, etc! I get so overwhelmed by the choices and I hate to keep buying things that fail me.

[mariclements]

So helpful, I love this! I'm late, but happy disability pride month!

[anne-mariewhelehan]

Lovely video. Well done Samantha and team Buttons.

[birteblock]

Love this!! You had me at the pin dish :D

[mellyju]

Who knew I needed those! What an eye opener, thank you. I didn’t know these existed. I’m off to look them up.

[shellyscott]

Some great tips here Samantha, thank you. I’ve ordered the pin dish and the needle threader. I already use the easy grip pins, but the pin dish is a game changer for me.

[angelalysandrou]

I’ve now got arthritis in my hands so these tips, especially the magnetic pin dish will help, thank you x

[nancywerthessen]

Thank you for making this video and thank you to Tilly for considering the need for sewists with disabilities. Arthritic hands here. Not terrible but sometimes frustrating. I have most of these items; need to get the snips. Thanks again.

[wandaherring]

Thank you. Great tips. Especially the needle threader.

[ConkreteMan]

That pin dish is perfect! I’ve thought there had to be a better way than the magnetic jumble of pins, and this is it! The silicone mat makes sense, and lowering to a seated height is a trick that could be a game changer. Made a mile of bias binding last weekend and my back and wrist hurt later. Now I might know why. Thank you.

[Hagardashery]

All great tools Sam. I bought the pin dish after you first showed it on Instagram and it’s the best. I really need to change to those pins - wish they did them glass headed.

[tammyjohnson]

Thank you so very much. I recently found out that I have cataracts on my eyes. Making it difficult for me to see. The doctor said they’re not bad enough to remove yet so I guess that’s easy for him to say, he’s not looking at the world through my eyes. Alas, such is life, I will have to look for another eye doctor. But insurance only allows one eye exam every year. Se I really appreciate your tips. I will be doing some shopping lol. 🦋

[carolynrogers]

Great tools and tips Samantha, thank you

[laurabraun]

Thank you, Samantha - good tips for those with arthritic hands!
BUT, has anyone come across an overlocker machine with a stop/start button for wheelchair users? Plus any other sewing accessories for wheelchair users.
I particularly love my magnetic, telescopic tool with a light to gather all the pins from the floor - where they'd remain without it.
Thank I look forward to any suggestions. Laura X

[bubbiefour]

Great video. Question..what iron are you using? Looks like the one I am looking for. Also I am going to get the silicone pad.