Craft Test Dummies

Last fall at the International Quilt Market I ran across one of the most colorful, festive and HAPPY booths- Jennifer Jangles. It drew me right in. And I’ve got a daughter who is crafty…so I wondered if some of these kits might be a good fit. Jennifer was gracious enough to send me home with […]

I love it when I find a post that answers a question that I, myself, would have asked. I met my new friend Heather of the Sewing Loft at the Quilt Market last fall and she’s one sharp and talented cookie. Furthermore, she thinks like a “CraftTestDummy” and has posted her results of her experiments […]

As a quilter and crafter, I’ve tried the more traditional ways to stabilize my fabrics – using spray starch and using Best Press. So, when I was asked to try out Terial Magic, I wasn’t sure how excited I would be. Spoiler alert: I was VERY excited! Terial Magic is a liquid that comes in […]

After years in the crafting industry and going to the CHA tradeshows, I’m used to seeing die-cutting everywhere. I was really surprised, though, to see digital die-cutting and the way it’s taken over the sewing and quilting industry! I knew that the Brother ScanNCut actually debuted at Quilt Market last year and that it had […]

It seems like I’ve missed National Sewing Month by a few days, but it’s always a good time for a sewing-themed review. Even if you are not a sewist, you probably use an iron for clothes or crafts- so you’d better have a good iron on hand.  I have a tendency to be hard on my irons- I iron […]

If you do a lot of ironing – like most quilters and seamstresses, you might own an iron cover, or be in the market for one. Recently, I reviewed the Clover Press Perfect Iron Safe Iron Cover here on Craft Test Dummies. You can check out my full review – but the end result was […]

As a quilter, I do a lot of ironing. Fabric needs to be pressed before it can be cut and seams need to be pressed – either open, or to the side, depending on the project. I starch my fabrics, or use best press, or sometimes just a little extra steam. My iron gets a […]

Earlier, I shared my review of the Fiskars Rotary Cutter and Ruler Combo. One thing I wasn’t able to chat about in my review was the no-touch blade system, since I didn’t have a blade replacement cartridge to try. The awesome folks at Fiskars sent me a blade replacement cartridge, and I’m super excited to […]

  I was given the opportunity to test out and do a fabric review for a new fabric called Oly*Fun. It’s made by Fairfield World, who is better know for making Fiberfill, Polyfill, foams, and batting. The fabric has some special properties that most fabrics don’t. From Fairfield World: “The everything material” This is one of the easiest, […]

I have been sewing a long, long time. More than half my life. But that doesn’t stop me from keeping my eye out for books for beginning sewers, like this book “Never Been Stitched” by Amanda Carestio, with the contributions of others. I have lots of friends who want advice on learning how to sew. […]

Are you a quilter? Have you ever tried paper piecing? There are two different kinds of paper piecing – and they are very different. English Paper piecing uses paper templates and hand stitching. You might be familiar with the flower designs made from hexagons – a very popular motif in English Paper Piecing. Then there […]

When I was asked if I would review the new Fiskars Rotary Cutter & Ruler Combo, I immediately said YES! I’m a quilter, and have been for more than half of my life. I teach quilting at a local quilt shop, and often do demos of new rulers. Quilters, as a group, love gadgets. We […]

  I’m a mixed media artist, and I often use photo transfers in my work. I was excited to put “Mod Podge Photo Transfer medium” to the test. The first thing I noticed is that this medium is white in the bottle and dries white as well. My preferred products for mixed media photo transfer […]

I’m putting Glu6 “The Glue that Saves the Planet” to the test. While Glu6 doesn’t have enough super powers to actually save the planet, it is an extremely effective non-toxic eco friendly glue. It’s made from recycled Styrofoam, and will be pushing several non-eco friendly glues right out the door of my studio. Zap! Bam! […]

When I shared my favorite new items from CHA this past January, the DCWV Adhesive Fabric Stack was hands-down one of the products that I was most excited about. It’s time to dig in and see how it works! Now, this product is still so new that DCWV doesn’t have very much on it’s site […]

If you’ve ever tried quilting, you’ve probably encountered the half square triangle. The half square triangle, or HST, is a square made of two right-triangles. The seam connecting the two triangles runs through the middle of the square from corner to corner. Right along the bias. In woven fabric, the fabric most commonly used in […]

Last Spring I was a guest on Scrapbook Soup and I got an eyeful of a new digital die cutting machine- one with an integrated scanner- the Brother Scan N Cut! I was literally salivating with the possibilities! I couldn’t even hold my horses to see if they would send me a review copy- I […]

Guys, something wonderful happened to me last week in the craft studio: I fell absolutely head over heels in love with my new AccuQuilt GO! Baby fabric cutter. Now, I wouldn’t generally get so worked up about a die cutter, but the GO! Baby made cutting fabric so easy that I never, ever want to […]

When I reviewed Nancy Zieman’s Trace N Create Tablet Keeper pattern, I had no idea I was about to fall in love. This wasn’t the gentle, slip into love… this was heart-stopping love. I completely fell for the Clover Create a Strap. I have no idea where this product has been all my life. I’ve […]

I’ve been quilting since I was 12, though my love for fabric started at an earlier age. Several years ago I was able to fulfil a long-time fantasy of mine (and of many quilters) – I worked at a quilt shop. There are many amazing things about working in a quilt shop – being surrounded […]

If you sew, you know that a good pair of shears (scissors) can make or break a project. You need a nice, smooth cut, a pair that sits well in your hands, and ones that don’t crap out when cutting through thick layers. The new Fiskars Amplify RazorEdge Shears are honestly the most amazing non-spring […]

When I was first asked to review the Nancy Zieman Trace n Create Tablet Keeper Pattern, I had mixed feelings. I have a Samsung Galaxy 10 Tablet that needed a new case – it was suffering in an iPad case that was a poor fit. But, I’m not a fan of templates. Still, I thought […]

In the mood for a quick stash-busting yarn craft? The new Weaving Sticks from Clover USA definitely fit the bill! Super-easy and way faster than knitting or crochet, these portable weaving sticks are a fun alternative to more complex yarn crafts, and are a great option for whipping up accessories and simple projects. Clover USA […]

This week I attended the semi-annual Craft and Hobby Association trade show. I’m not a newbie to CHA, but this was the first time I’d been able to attend the summer show and it was the first time I’ve been able to attend in my own backyard – they had the summer show in Las […]

Since winter CHA, I’ve been working my way through the list of new products from Clover USA, and I’ve finally arrived at the simple, handy Pin ‘n Stow. The Pin ‘n Stow is exactly what it looks like: an adjustable magnetic bracelet that’s made to hold pins while you’re sewing, quilting, or doing appliqué work. […]

Ever wanted to add oomph to your fabric?  How about a quick and easy way to stiffen fabric with no ironing required?  Phoomph for fabric might just be for you.  I was sent some Phoomph to run through the CTD wringer so lets put it to the test.  Here is what the Coats and Clark […]

  Every great once in a while I see something online and I think, “that is super cute” and I have to make it. Even if it’s not within the usual realm of my work. I mean, who says I have to stick with mixed media and jewelry making EVERY day? So when my Facebook […]

I love all of the new formulas of Mod Podge and being able to run them through the wringer.  The fabric Mod Podge formula was no exception.  I was eager to dive into my bottle and really see what the benefits of this product are. The manufacturer’s website had this to say about the product: […]

At CHA this winter, Clover USA had a ton of exciting new products, but Nancy’s Hobo Tote Collection Trace ‘n Create Bag Template was definitely one of my favorites. For me, working on this review couldn’t have come at a better time. My current handbags were all starting to look pretty rough, and I really […]

I’m pretty handy with a crochet hook, and Tunisian crochet (also known as afghan crochet) has been at the top of my must-try list for months. So, when I spotted the Boye Artisan Tools CrochetMaster Plus Crochet Hook Set in the Simplicity booth at both CHA and VOGUEknitting LIVE, it was love at first (and […]