Hello sewing friends! Today I'm here to tell you about a cool sewing tool you might not know about. Have you ever heard of a "bodkin"? No? Well you're in luck because today I'm going to tell you all about it and why you need one if you sew bags or clothing.
What is a bodkin?
A bodkin (aff link) is a tool used to grasp and hold material to thread it through a casing much like we use a needle to put thread through fabric. There are a few different types but the one I'm showing you today is a like a pair of tweezers with a slide ring to hold them closed. A bodkin also has little rounded teeth at the end of the pincer point. These teeth help to grab the elastic or string to prevent it from slipping off.
A Bodkin vs a Safety Pin
Have you ever used a safety pin to pull elastic through a waistband casing? You can use a bodkin to do the job instead of a safety pin. A bodkin works 1000 times better and easier. A safety pin is 1/3 the length of a bodkin so you don't have as much room to push and pull it through the casing. The long shaft of the bodkin makes it glide easily through the casing and give you more room to grasp through the fabric.
Safety pins can easily pop open as you are pushing and pulling it through the casing. They are practically impossible to close again properly when they are in the middle of a waistband. Bodkins rarely pop open and if they do, you can usually blindly attach the elastic again with out pulling it out. I've used a bodkin most recently when I made my Tie Scrunchies and my Drawstring Skirt projects.
How to use a bodkin
1. Slide the locking ring toward the closed end to allow the pincers to open.
2. Hold the piece of elastic between the pincers and slide the locking ring back toward the elastic.
3. Tug on the elastic to make sure it is held securely. Thread it through the casing (making a tie scrunchie in the photo below) and push it through while pulling the fabric in the opposite direction. Continue until it reaches the other end.
What do you use a Bodkin for?
A bodkin can replace a safety pin whenever you need to thread something through a casing. If you are looking to try out this new sewing tool, here are a few project ideas for you to try.
The Garden Tiles Bag
Use a bodkin to thread elastic to create these cute cinched side panels.
Easy Tie Scrunchies
Use a bodkin in this project to thread the elastic through the inside of the scrunchie.
DIY Drawstring skirt
Use a bodkin in this project to thread the drawstring through the waistband
This cool tool is Easy peasy to use!! Let me know if you have one in the comments below.
Happy Sewing!
Read more about my favorite Sewing Tools in these posts!
- My 10 Favorite Sewing Tools
- How to use Wooly Nylon
- How to Clean a Self healing Cleaning Mat
- Pattern Weights
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