2. Hemostats are scissor-like surgical tools that have a blunt end and a locking mechanism near the handle that allows you to tightly grip onto material without slipping. Hemostats have many different functions in 100% Polyester Plush Fabric For Toy making. They are useful in turning small points like ears and tails by clamping onto the outer fabric and pulling the fabric right side out. I also use a hemostat to poke out stitches at corners and curves to produce smooth edges. This can also be done with a chopstick. My favorite use for a hemostat is for stuffing because it allows you to conveniently grab small tufts of fiberfill to push inside the plush toy.

3. Pinking Shears are scissors with serrated blades that make triangular cuts into the fabric. It is very important to notch curves to allow the fabric to stretch around bends, which in turn produces nice finished curves that lay flat without wrinkles. The traditional notching method requires some time to cut every triangle into the seam allowance. I use pinking shears to quickly notch curved edges such as ends of hands, feet, animal ears, tails and parts of doll garments.

4. Basting Glue is a non-toxic, fast-drying glue stick with a waxy consistency. It lightly bastes materials together without permanently adhering to the fabric. All my appliqués and trims are small pieces, so I use this to not only glue my appliqués but also labels, lace, and ribbons onto base fabrics. This glue doesn’t take long to dry (approximately five minutes), and it is much easier than the traditional appliqué iron-on adhesives. I also like that if I don’t like the original position of the appliqué, I can just peel off and re-position with very little residual glue left behind and no damage done to the fabric. The following image includes some examples of how I use the basting glue.

5. A Clear Sewing Foot is made of clear plastic rather than the conventional metal. Plush toys often have little bodies and require small pieces of fabric, so to see the edge of the fabric at all times is handy. My sewing quality instantly improved when I got this sewing foot. My stitches became more precise and even, especially with topstitching, appliqués, and hemlines. I love this clear foot, and it is the workhorse in all my projects.