At 23:02 09/02/2006, you wrote:
(What I really want though, is a choice of shapes beyond the standard rather shallow zigzag. Has anyone found a modern or historic tool that really works well for that? Fran)
I have pinking tools that are about the size of the top of my thumb, one with zigzags, and one with tiny curves, which is lovely. I also have a couple of others - all antiques. Someone made one for me, but it is heavy and not really quite as easy to use as the "real" ones. Unfortunately they all could do with a bit of sharpening, and I really don't want to send them to the U.S just for that - I will have to try and find someone in England who can do it properly.
Suzi
I recently bought a lovely reproduction 18th century pinking tool from Dan Brown of Green Man Forge. It was $40. He will resharpen for $10. He can make any shape pinker you want. Here's his web site: http://www.greenmanforge.com/. I wanted to use some pinked edges on my new 18th century patterns for Simplicity. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a cheap alternative that would be readily available. Can't you just imagine people looking at the back of the pattern envelope and seeing that a special-order $40 tool was required! As to the old table-mounted rotary pinking machines, does anybody have one that actually works? Many years ago I was at a huge costume company (now defunct) called Brooks Van Horne. They had several pinking machines and they were a PAIN. They were always dull and full of lint and chewed your seam allowances to heck. Maybe that's because everybody used them and nobody cleaned or sharpened them? Martha
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