Simplicity Bias Tape Maker

This is the third of a three-step, three-part review of Simplicity’s Rotary Cutting Machine, Bias Tape Maker and the new bias tape winding machine called the Winder.  Individually, each of these products is a useful standalone tool, but when used together the three tools make creating quilt binding and bias tape a breeze.

Test Project: Create 12’ of Single Fold Quilt Binding

Step 3:

In parts one and two of this review, I successfully cut strips of fabric with Simplicity’s Rotary Cutting Machine and after piecing the strips together, I wound the continuous strip onto the spindle of the Winder to prepare it for use with Simplicity’s Bias Tape Maker.

Setup for the Bias Tape Maker is simple.  As with the Rotary Cutting Machine and the Winder, the Bias Tape Maker comes out of the handy carry box practically ready to plug and play and includes a 1” single fold bias tape making tip and one Winding Buddy. It has multiple heat settings for different types of fabric and a ten minute automatic shutoff safety feature.

After attaching the power cord, I removed the heat plate cover. Then, with my fabric wound nicely on the Winding Buddy, I set the spindle in place, pulled the end of the fabric over the guide bar, and gently fed the end of my bias strip into a 1 ¼”  tip for creating quilt binding.

I then snapped the tip in place and pulled the bias strip across the heat plate and over the roller.  At this point I could have replaced the heat plate cover and moved on to the next step in creating my binding but I wanted to see how well the Bias Tape Maker worked with the Winder. So I set up the Winder to the left of the Bias Tape Maker and fed the end of the bias strip through the Winder guide and clipped it to another Winding Buddy spindle. When everything was lined up, I replaced the heat plate cover, turned on the machine, and set the heat setting dial to the cotton setting. I only had to a wait a few short minutes before the green ready light came on. I then pressed the run buttons simultaneously on both the Winder and the Bias Tape Maker.

Magically, the roller on the Bias Tape Maker pulled the bias strip across the heat plate pressing it in half. As the Winding Buddy turned on the Winder, it pulled the bias strip onto the spindle. The whole process took about 60 seconds and I was left with 12’ of perfectly pressed quilt binding wound onto a Winding Buddy spindle. You might think the versatility of these gadgets ends here but you would be mistaken. After removing the Winding Buddy from the Winder, a ribbon or Simplicity’s Winding Buddy Hanger can be attached to the ends of the spindle. Whether attaching the binding to your quilt by machine or hand, the spindle hangs around your neck and feeds directly onto your project. No more piles of binding sitting in your lap.

The Bias Tape Maker is lightweight and portable so you can take it with you to quilt retreats or classes.  The auto shutoff feature and the heat plate cover give you peace of mind and no more burnt fingers! As I mentioned before, the Rotary Cutting Machine, Winder and Bias Tape Maker are great stand alone tools, but used together they make the tedious chores of creating quilt binding and bias tape fun, easy projects.

For more information, please visit the Simplicity Creative Group website.
This reviewer is not compensated for purchases made from links in this review.

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Disclaimer - Sample product(s) were provided for testing and reviewing purposes.
Please see my FTC Disclaimer for more details regarding this review.

Simplicity Winder

This is the second of a three-step, three-part review of Simplicity’s Rotary Cutting Machine, Bias Tape Maker and the new bias tape winding machine called the Winder.  Individually, each of these products is a useful standalone tool, but when used together the three tools make creating quilt binding and bias tape a breeze.

Test Project: Create 12’ of Single Fold Quilt Binding

Step 2:

Having successfully completed Step 1 of my test project, I then made 45 degree cuts on each end of my 2 ½” strips of fabric cut by the Simplicity Rotary Cutting Machine. To make the angle cuts I used the Simplicity 4 ½” Easy Angle Anniversary Edition ruler. Made from tough clear acrylic, this angle ruler is clearly marked making it easy to read and place. Making perfect angle cuts was a breeze.

With the cuts made, I pieced the strips together end to end and pressed my seams open.  Next the continuous strip needed to be wound onto the Winding Buddy to prepare it for use with the Bias Tape Maker.

While this can easily be done by hand, Simplicity’s Winder makes the job a snap. Simply feed the end of the fabric through the guide and clip to the Winder Buddy. Press the “ON” button and the Winder wraps the fabric strip neatly around the buddy in seconds. Nifty! The Winding Buddy was now ready to be used in the final step of my project, folding and pressing the fabric with the Bias Tape Maker.

With the success of the Winder I am ready to move on to Step 3 and Simplicity’s Bias Tape Maker!

For more information, please visit the Simplicity Creative Group website.
This reviewer is not compensated for purchases made from links in this review.

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Disclaimer - Sample product(s) were provided for testing and reviewing purposes.
Please see my FTC Disclaimer for more details regarding this review.

Simplicity Rotary Cutting Machine

This is the first of a three-step, three-part review of Simplicity’s Rotary Cutting Machine, Bias Tape Maker and the new bias tape winding machine called the Winder. Individually, each of these products is a useful, standalone tool, but when used together the three tools make creating quilt binding and bias tape a breeze.

Admittedly, I am a procrastination quilter, queen of the UFO (unfinished object). With my creativity exhausted on the creation of blocks and quilt tops, I tend to have little motivation for the tedious task of creating the binding. Today I had the opportunity to test and review three products designed to add speed and accuracy to the cutting, folding, and pressing of binding and bias tape.

Test Project: Create 12’ of Single Fold Quilt Binding

Step 1.

Under normal circumstances, fabric used for creating quilt binding should be cut on the bias. Simplicity’s Rotary Cutting Machine is designed to cut fabric both on the straight of grain and on the bias. For this test, I chose to cut on the straight of grain so that my binding could be created out of a single fat quarter rather than using longer strips of fabric. My thought was that in sewing 22” strips end to end, I would be giving the Bias Tape Maker in step three of the process a true test of how well it would deal with seams.

Setup of the Rotary Cutting Machine was fairly simple. Lightly packaged in a box that can be used as a carry case with handle, the machine comes out of the box practically ready to use. The single sheet color directions are clear and easy to follow. I also went to the Simplicity Classroom located on the Simplicity Creative Group website and viewed an extremely helpful video prior to unpacking the machine. This put me a step ahead when I needed to change the blade from the installed pinking blade to the provided straight blade. This proved to be a simple task and as I carefully handled the replacement blade I was surprised to find it was not sharp like my hand rotary cutter. This is due to the fact that the Rotary Cutting Machine cuts by pressure between the drum and the blade rather than by the sharpness of the blade. The idea is that the blades will last much longer than traditional blades. Once the straight blade was successfully installed, I simply attached the foot pedal cord and plugged in the power cord. I then attached the extension table which fits snugly around the end of the machine creating a nice size work surface.

Recalling the video I had watched earlier, I knew that I might need to make an adjustment to the tension between the blade and drum so I decided to do some test cuts on scrap fabric first. I ended up running the scrap fabric through several times making small tension adjustments until I achieved a clean cut. Adjustments to the tension are achieved by making quarter turns to the left on the tension screw with a common screwdriver. Please note that if you purchased this machine because your hands are weak making manual rotary cutting is difficult, you may need help adjusting the tension. But once it is set you should be fine.

Now I was ready to cut strips of fabric! The Rotary Cutting Machine contains an adjustable guide suitable for cutting strips between 3/8” to 2 ¾”. For quilt binding, you need to start with 2 ½” strips of fabric. I set my guide and put my fabric in place. The Rotary Cutting Machine is powered by a foot pedal, just like a sewing machine. Light pressure on the pedal pulls the fabric between the blade and the drum creating a clean cut. I’ll admit my first two strips were not pretty and I was feeling less than satisfied with the wavy strips I had created. I decided to adjust the tension again and that, along with a few more practice strips, solved the problem. My final strips came out with straight cuts and perfect widths.

At first, the Rotary Cutting Machine appears to cut strips of fabric at the same speed as a quilter armed with a good ruler and a traditional rotary cutter. However, the time saver comes between cuts. Without the need to move and carefully place the ruler between each cut, I would estimate the Rotary Cutting Machine cuts cutting time in half.

The Rotary Cutting Machine is lightweight and portable, small enough to store easily on a shelf or in a cupboard. An added plus, the Rotary Cutting Machine not only cuts fabric but can be used for paper crafting as well. There are a variety of different blades available to create fancy scrapbook borders and edges.

Extremely satisfied with my machine rotary cutting experience, I am ready to move on to step two and my review of the Winder.

For more information, please visit the Simplicity Creative Group website.
This reviewer is not compensated for purchases made from links in this review.

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Disclaimer - Sample product(s) were provided for testing and reviewing purposes.
Please see my FTC Disclaimer for more details regarding this review.

EasyBloom Plant Sensor – A MomGadget Review – Just in time for Mother’s Day

One of the most exciting and fun gadgets I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing this spring has been the EasyBloom Plant Sensor.

I’ve often joked about this brown thumb that I sport – that has been known to kill cactus plants – but the older (and wiser) I get, the more I realize that it’s not so much a brown thumb as it is a lack of knowledge of what plants grow and thrive in certain soils and light.

The EasyBloom Plant Sensor is a wonderful gadget that takes the guess work out of gardening, be it flowers, vegetables or any type of plant for that matter.

Determine which plants will thrive in specific spots of your yard or home
Diagnose an ailing plant so you can restore it to good health.
Assess detailed plant information on over 5000 plants
Create a custom plant library of your favorite plants

It’s really very simple to use too!

Plug EasyBloom Plant Sensor into your USB port. You’ll then be wisked off to your EasyBloom Dashboard. This is where you select "monitor" or "recommend" mode.

Place your sensor in a spot you would like analized

Allow 24 hours for your EasyBloom to gather enough data to provide you with all the information you’ll need to determine what, if any, plants will do best in that particular location.

It’s truly as simple as THAT!

This year, instead of giving mom or grandma a bouquet of flowers, why not give them the gift of healthy flowers all summer long?

EasyBloom Plant Sensor is available at Amazon and retails for $59.95

Butter Bell Crock – A MomGadget Review

Each year, I am introduced to a product that is so unique and useful it is immediately added to my gift list for items to purchase in mass and distribute to those closest to me for whatever reason I can think of to give a gift. Recently I was introduced to Butter Bell Crock and knew in an instant this was one item that would be a holiday favorite among my family and friends.

Look at how easy it is to use:

The unique design keeps butter at the perfect "spreading" consistency by reflecting outside heat while insulating and cooling the butter. Flavor and freshness is protected by an airtight seal of water at the base of the crock.

Holds up to one full stick (1/2 cup) of butter.

Retail: start at $19.95 – Available at Butter Bell Crock

Seagate Free Agent Go 320GB Portable Drive – A MomGadget Giveaway

Mom’s love to take pictures which means they need lots of storage space in which to store them. As a mother who takes digital photos, I can say without hesitation that external storage is a must. One of the most painful “gadget times” I’ve had has been watching my photos disappear into oblivion when my computer became infected with a virus several years ago.

This Mother’s Day – consider giving mom a gadget that will provide her with safe and secure storage for all the digital media files she could possibly come up with.

With its sleek design and large storage capacity, the FreeAgent Go portable storage solution makes it easy for mom to take her photos, music, videos, and documents everywhere. Easy-to-use software helps keep mom’s information safe with automatic data backup and encryption of important files. Mom can take advantage of the world’s first portable drive with a convenient desktop dock accessory too, adding further to it’s convenience and portability.

Features and Specifications:

• Capacity: 320 GB
• Model Number: ST903203FBA2E1-RK
• USB 2.0: up to 480 Mb/s
• Rotational Speed: 5400 RPM
• Drive Dimensions: 0.49? in H x 3.15? in W x 5.12? in L (12.5mm x 80mm x 130mm)
• Drive Weight: 5.64 oz (0.16 kg)
• Dock Dimensions: 1.16? in H x 3.34? in W x 2.40? in L (29.50 mm x 84.85 mm x 61.04 mm)
• Dock Weight: 6.35 oz (0.18 kg)
• Compatibility: Windows XP/Vista with USB Port
• Retail: $129.00 at Office Depot
• MomGadget is giving away a Seagate Free Agent Go this week!

If you’d like to win, please leave a comment on this post – Tell me of a personal experience when you could have used or will use portable file storage.

Winner will be selected and notified via email on April 27th. Please be sure that the email address that you enter with is one that you check regularly, and also check your spam folder. If winners do not respond with their shipping information within a set time frame – a secondary winner will be drawn.

ONLY COMMENTS MEETING CONTEST RULES WILL BE ELIGABLE

This MomGadget prize package is open to residents of U.S. and Canada.

Mom’s Choice: Breakfast in Bed, By the Beach or By the Fire

Help Mom wake up someplace special this Mother’s Day by giving a BnBFinder.com Gift Certificate. You never have to worry about finding the right size, the right color or the right reservation, because BnBFinder.com Gift Certificates are valid at over 1,500 B&Bs throughout North America. The BnBFinder.com advanced search engine allows Mom to search for a B&B vacation that’s custom suited to her tastes and schedule. What gift is better than waking up someplace special?

BnBFinder.com, a top rated internet directory of Bed and Breakfasts, can help your Mother wake up someplace special this Mother’s Day. When you give Mom a BnBFinder gift certificate, you’re giving the gift of free time. BnBFinder Gift Certificates are good at more than 1,500 B&Bs, inns and small hotels in North America , they never expire and they can be used any day of the week. Whatever interests, hobbies and tastes Mom has, there is a B&B someplace beautiful that’s a perfect fit.

Breakfast in bed is a longstanding Mother’s Day tradition and B&Bs are known for elaborate one of a kind gourmet breakfasts. Mom will be delighted while she enjoys a morning feast to begin her day. After breakfast, the options are endless. Cycling, scrapbooking, historic walking tours and cooking lessons are a fraction of the options and special packages that inns offer.

When Mom receives her gift certificate, with a personalized card and message from you, a world of travel possibilities opens up. BnBFinder, has a search engine that sorts B&Bs by location, activities and specials. For example, if your Mother lives in Washington, DC and enjoys playing golf, but can’t stand driving BnBFinder can help. The advanced search will display all the relevant inns located near golf courses that are a short drive from DC. With help from you and BnBFinder, Mom can find a vacation custom suited to her in a few moments.

With a BnBFinder, gift certificate Mom can also take advantage of the specials offered by inns around the Mothers Day Holiday. Specials range from simple appreciation discounts for Mothers using gift certificates for their stay to free flowers in the room on arrival, all the way to full weekend spa treatments and world class pampering.

It’s the biggest and smallest gift. It’s the opportunity to get away. It’s the free time to pursue what you love, or pursue nothing at all. It’s a gift that really is whatever you want it to be.