As someone who often uses Japanese pattern and draft my own pattern, the last step after drafting and tracing is something that I like the least: adding seam allowances. Sometimes I forget to add spaces between pattern pieces, so I had to tape new piece of paper or trace the whole pattern piece altogether, which taking so much of oh my precioussss sewing time.
I’m sure you know what I’m talking about as only fellow seamstresses share the same thing, and I wonder why I never came across any tool that address this problem. Until one day Hollie offered me to try her new sewing tool invention, which is simply called ‘Seam Allowance Guide’, of course I immediately agreed!
The tool looks very simple, it is shaped somewhat like a thick, blunt, screw, made from plastic with a black rubber rubber band on it and a strong magnet on one side. There are two tools included in the package, green for scissors with no slope and yellow for scissors with slope. It is attached to the side of scissor on the magnet side and the black rubber band can be moved around to the desirable width of seam allowance. So simple and so neat, isn’t it?
I made a simple black shorts today and used the seam allowance guide for the first time. Instead of cutting my pattern pieces on the lines, I just give some room around the pattern pieces and put them over the fabric. Since I was using pattern paper, I can use my fabric scissor to cut the pattern and the fabric at the same time. At the end, I have my pattern pieces with seam allowance already added and ready to be re-used! Saved so much time! Thank you, Hollie!
You can go to the Seam Allowance Guide site to check out this neat tool. Hollie also generously sent me some extras, which I put up here for a giveaway so you can also have a try! If you’d like to have the seam allowance guide, please leave a comment on this post and I will send it to anywhere you are. I will draw the winners randomly if there are more than four people who are interested. The winners will be announced this Friday, May 6, 2011. Happy sewing!
190 Comments
Wow! That’s one cool tool, especially if you do burdastyle patterns. I’d love to win one and if I don’t I’m definitely ordering it!!
what a fabulous tool!! i’d LOVE one!
What a great idea!! I would love to win one of these!
I hate seam allowances too! This tool would made me sew happy!
That is such a genius product! I’d love the chance to win one!
I would definitely LOVE one!!! : )
What a genius tool! Cutting patterns to hard enough!! This will definitely help out!
What a brilliant idea! Adding seam allowance is one of those annoyances that puts me off my stash of Burda magazine patterns, so having one of these would be fabulous.
how clever! would make adding seam allowances so much easier.
OMG! That is so awesome. Adding seems is one of my least favorite things to do. This is such a great idea and will save so much time.
This is a dream come true! Hope I’m a winner!
this is plain AWESOME！and SO HELPFUL. hope i will be lucky enough to get picked! :)
What a great tool!! Please include me in this fun drawing.
Thanks much!!!!
Desi
WOW!!! That is a great tool! I need one and maybe my seam allowance will be better next time!!!
that is amaaaazing!! I can’t believe it. It’s so obvious!!! I am speechless.
Fingers crossed!!
What an awesome tool! I always have that problem with the burda patterns when I’m tracing.
Oh my goodness!!! this thing is so nifty and ingenious :D
I totally agree with what you said, I spend sooo much time tracing out that seam allowance….
What a nifty tool! Thank you for sharing!! I always have trouble adding the seam allowance evenly.
Such a great invention! This is going to be my new favorite gift for my sewing friends.
I have experienced the same problem just yesterday!!!
I forgot to make a seam allowance, using a japanese pattern and until I cut the fabric I didn’t even realise it! So it will be so great to try this nifty tool! Thanks for introducing it Novita!
Awesome! That’s super neat. I’ve always wished there was an easier way to add seam allowances, and this looks super quick and easy. Thanks for the giveaway! :)
Oh, that is really cool!
So many times I only looked at the pattern without reading the instructions …. and didn’t waste a thought about the seam allowance… until that certain point when I realized I was supposed to add it. duh!
That’s a great tool! I’d love to try, I’m sure it’d save me a ton of time on all those Burda patterns!
what a simple yet great idea!