Many of you have asked what tools I use to keep things running smoothly—especially as I’m designing the new Murder Mystery blocks! While I love a good fabric haul, these are the practical “MVPs” that stay on my sewing table day in and day out.
Below are some affiliate links to products I truly love. If you choose to shop through them, it helps support the free content here at The Crafty Girls at no extra cost to you!
1. The Game Changer: Creative Grids Stripology Ruler
If you haven’t tried a Stripology Ruler yet, prepare to have your mind blown. When I’m prepping the kits and patterns for our monthly mystery, this is what I reach for. It allows you to cut multiple strips and sub-cut squares with incredible speed and zero slipping.
View this on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3YT0jR2
Why I love it: It reduces cutting time by 75% and ensures every piece for your mystery block is perfectly square.
2. The “Perfect Cut” Combo: Ergonomic Rotary Cutter
When you’re cutting through layers of fabric, hand fatigue is real. I swear by my Fiskars ergonomic cutter. It’s designed to keep your wrist in a natural position, which is a lifesaver during big project days.
3. My Secret Weapon: Iron-On Interfacing
For certain blocks—especially when we’re dealing with tricky fabrics or appliqué elements in our mystery series—iron-on interfacing is my best friend. It provides the stability you need to keep your points sharp and your fabric from shifting.
Pro Tip: Always keep a bolt of light-weight fusible on hand; you’ll be surprised how often it saves a project!
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4. Magic in a Bottle: Fabric Starch
To get those crisp, flat seams that make your quilt blocks look professional, I never sew without a high-quality fabric stabilizer. It makes the piecing for the mystery quilt so much easier because it prevents the fabric from stretching on the bias.
If you already have a bottle of this and need just a refill here is a link to get the refill.
5. Lighting is Everything
You can’t solve a murder mystery in the dark! I use this special flashlight to make sure I can see the difference between my dark navy and black fabrics. It saves so much eye strain during those late-night “just one more row” sessions.
These are just a few of my favorite must have’s. More to come in future posts as this is just the beginning!
Happy 2026 Sewing!
The Crafty Girls
