OLFA Experts Toolbox – Jessica Lawson
OLFA Expert Jessica Lawson is known to many as the Hollywood Seamstress. She is a Fiber Artist, K- 8 Art Teacher and Costume Maker for the Film Industry. From Pattern making, sewing, knitting, weaving natural plant dye and beyond, Jessica has a passion for her art and is always exploring new mediums. Her toolbox includes items both for work and for her students.
What’s in my kit:
When I’m not teaching K-8 Fiber Arts students, you can often find me on a Film or TV set humming away on my trusty sewing machine. Sewing on set requires quick sewing, fixing the fit of a garment, a tear or popped button, or occasionally sewing a whole new look from scratch while the camera waits to roll. The base of my kit is bellow, not pictured is a rainbow of thread, my Bernina 830, and a travel ironing board. I keep a very small stash of elastic, buttons, hooks, eyes and snaps.
My OLFA tools are major time savers, with my mini RM-6x8 6" x 8" Double-Sided, Self-Healing Rotary Mat, 45mm RTY-2C/NBL Quick-Change Rotary Cutter, and QR-1x12 1" x 12" Frosted Acrylic Ruler, I can zip through piles of pant and skirt hems (my most common alteration when I’m on set!) Lining up the ruler and mat, I don’t even chalk the cuts or hem lines!
Other OLFA must-haves include a QR-6x12 6" x 12" Frosted Acrylic Ruler, FCM-12x17 12" x 17" Folding Cutting Mat, 28mm RTY-1/C Quick-Change Rotary Cutter, and 45mm RB45H-1 Tungsten Steel Endurance Rotary Blades.
The Oliso Mini Project Iron is easy to pack in my set bag and works just as well as my home iron. This little iron gets super hot, steams well, and best of all doesn’t auto turn off. I need my iron hot and ready to go when I’m working quick. I love the little stand it comes with, and its cute to boot!
Other favorites are my seam ripper necklace, chalk pen, and a plastic fork. Plastic fork you ask? I use them to make quick box pleats, like this : https://youtu.be/N2LMky7veaA.
And I can’t live without a magnetic pin cushion with fine glass head pins, chalk pen, sharp trimming scissors, folding scissors necklace, thread conditioner, needle gripper, thimble, seam ripper necklace, lighter for finishing ribbons and cords, pens, a fork, measuring tape, lotion, snaps, hooks and eyes and a small notebook for fitting notes ( I’m often not allowed to bring my cellphone onto the filming stages).
See more OLFA Experts toolboxes by clicking on the image below!
