I have some great news for anyone who wants to buy Libby's favorite applique scissors she used in her Threadplay class in Houston and on her DVD. A couple of months ago I sent a request to Luana Rubin at http://www.equilter.com to find out if they carried Libby's favorite Clover Applique 115 scissors. They just notified me that they have her scissors in stock.

Their description is: #CLSC1493 Clover 4 1/2" Mini Patchwork Scissors -- A scissor with sharp tips suitable for cutting and trimming fabrics. Use for chenille quilting, applique work, doll making and more. Durable stainless steel blades enable cutting through multiple layers of fabric. A Libby Lehman favorite.

Hope this helps some of you.

Happy quilting,
Shirley

Great class. I need to watch it again and give her techniques a try. What fun!!

Only 4 days left to watch it. I think I will have to watch it again too. I really enjoyed it first time. Thanks for the reminder BJ.

Sewdreamy wrote:
I saw it again last night and had the same feeling that I might have to buy it

I have it and I am glad I do. I also have Ricky's Grand Finale and even though it will be on the webcite for a while next year I am glad I have it. Every time I do a piped binding Ricky demonstrates right in my very own sewing room. Perhaps when I start finishing a bunch of UFO's I'll learn it well enough for it to stick, but I am not counting on it.

I just rewatched this before it goes away on the 31st. It's just as much fun today as it was the first time. I may have to buy the DVD.

There are two types of useful scissors for applique. The Karen Kay Buckley scissors are useful because they are serated so they grip the fabric and are easier to use when cutting out small pieces. The others are the duck-billed scissors which are nice for cutting the background from behind and applique (or from in front of the applique when using Libby's cut-away method). The Clover scissors that are only available in Japan are small duck-billed scissors (or probably more accurately blunt-nosed on the bottom blade since it looked like they didn't bulge out as much as a duck-billed scissors). You can certainly use Karen Kay Buckley's scissors for cutting out the background, but just have to be careful not to poke the sharp points through your applique.

Nancy

(JoJo - I loved meeting you and Shirley in Houston! I enjoyed my little Halloween candy pack once I got home and each piece was more wonderful than the last!)

I've also been using Karen Kay Buckley's scissors and liking them. (Maybe those scissors are the secret to the Japanese quilter's success at the quilt shows and that's why we can't get them!!??) kidding of course.

Libby is a TQS member so you can send her a PM from her profile. She responded to me the day I wrote her an email to congratulate her on her quilt being chosen as the TQS Quilt of the Day so I know she checks those emails.

I just checked page 20 of Libby's Threadplay book and these are Libby's words about applique scissors: "I prefer the applique scissors without the flange because I am left-handed. These scissors cut horizontally and are very sharp. Mundial and Gingher make them." If you have the book there is a photo including the 5 kinds of scissors she recommends using on p. 20. Hope this info helps.

I don't know what brand Libby uses, but I was in a class with Karen Kay Buckley in Houston last week and REALLY like the scissors she uses. They have serrated blades that actually grip the fabric so that it doesn't slip out from between the blades. She sells a large pair (blue handles) that easily cut through several layers, and she sells two smaller pairs for applique work. The ones with the pink handles have curved blades and the ones with green handles have straight blades. All have large comfortable grips and are serrated. They all work great!

http://www.karenkaybuckley.com/store.php?cat=5

Hey Nancy! It was such fun taking Libby's class together. It was wonderful meeting you.

I took Libby's class in Houston and she said that you cannot purchase the scissors she used in the U.S. They are widely available in Japan, but the company refuses to make them available in the U.S. Libby has asked and asked for them to be made available here but so far -- no go. Maybe if we all write the company or locate a friend in Japan who would be willing to buy a pair for you. I got to try them out and they were very nice. I loved that blunt tip on one side.

I just took Libby's Threadplay class in Houston. Those scissors are made by Clover, but for some reason they don't sell them anywhere but Asia. She's tried to get them to sell them here, but they just don't seem to listen. So, maybe a trip to Japan is in order... Or maybe if they receive enough requests from everyone they'll bring them to England and the states.

Nancy