• Session 4,  Sewing/Quilting

    Nancy Zieman Bodkins

      What is it? – Bodkins.  Only someone who sews would know what a bodkin is.  Simply put, a bodkin is a tool that is used to pull various thin materials through a sewn fabric casing.  Elastic, ribbon, cording or other “drawstring” type materials can all be pulled through the casing to serve any desired function.  A bodkin usually resembles an over-sized sewing needle with a blunt point and a large eye.  The bodkin is attached to the cording and manipulated through the casing by hand.  The round point prevents…

  • Session 3,  Sewing/Quilting

    Straight Pins

      What is it? – In some of the oldest archeological digs around the world you can find ancient straight pins. They’ve been around that long and probably always will be.  There are so many uses for them and in many cases there really is no substitute.  We use them to hold patterns in place on our fabric, bind fabric pieces, tailor fabric to our bodies, hold seams together, anchor trims, beads or other embellishments in place and even block knitted products.  Because of this wide variety of uses for…

  • Crafts,  Knitting/Crochet,  Session 3,  Sewing/Quilting

    Clover Vision

    What is it? – Time.  Space.  Cash flow.  Rare commodities.  One of the most important functions of any shop owner is to select and maintain a profitable product line.  Knitting, sewing and, crafts there are thousands of variations and combinations for store owners. You only have so much floor space, shelf space, counter space and wall space.  Every inch must be maximized for sales. So what is the solution?  Clover Vision.  Working with sewing and knitting luminaries, current and former shop owners and our own staff of experts, Clover has…

  • Session 2,  Sewing/Quilting

    Hold It Precision Stilleto

    What is it? – Check out “stiletto” in the unabridged dictionary and you start reading about stylish heels or a long narrow knife with a sharp point.  Look it up in the Clover dictionary and you read about something entirely different.  The Hold It Precision Stiletto is an incredibly useful sewing tool designed by Clover in conjunction with Joan Hawley.  Much of what the modern sewist does requires precision cutting, sewing and pressing.  Unfortunately some of these activities put our fingers in precarious proximity to either hot things or sharp…