My All Time Favorite Crafting Tools

These are my tried-and-true favorite crafting tools after more than a decade of crafting for a living.

Did you know that crafting is literally my full-time job? For over a decade now I have worked in the crafting industry through my website. I have partnered with dozens of different crafting companies, dabbled in nearly every type of craft and have tried a lot of different tools. So naturally I have some favorite tools and today I thought it would be fun to share them with you.

I am only sharing tools that I truly believe are the best in their class, that I personally own, use and love. If I don’t have a tool in a certain category listed, it’s because I haven’t found a clear winner yet, but in the future if I do find one, I’ll update this post with any additions.

If you want to see all of my picks in one place, I created an Amazon Storefront page with links to all my favorite tools.

Silhouette Cameo 4

The Silhouette Cameo 4 is my favorite crafting tool by far. It’s so versatile and helps me achieve truly polished, professional results. I love being able to cut paper and vinyl designs. I have also used it to cut felt. I love making stickers and tags using the Print & Cut feature. If you want a versatile crafting toy that you will play with for years to come, this is it. There are just so many possibilities that open up when you own a Silhouette machine. And yes, I prefer Silhouette over Cricut. Both machines cut well, but if you want full creative control, the Silhouette software is just way better for designing projects from scratch and that’s a hill I’m willing to die on.

Cutting Mats for Silhouette or Cricut

The Silhouette brand cutting mats are great, but I found these cutting mats on Amazon for so much cheaper. I took a chance ordering them the first time, but they work just as well, so I’ve never looked back. If you own a Cricut, the same company makes these mats that are compatible.

Scraper

I got this scraper for applying adhesive vinyl, but I use it for all kinds of things. I even used it when I installed wallpaper in our bathroom! It’s just the right size and stiffness and even though it’s not necessary (you can always use an old gift card instead), I really do love it and recommend it if you do a lot of vinyl crafts.

Weeding Tools

When I got my first Silhouette machine, I didn’t want to spend any extra money on weeding tools, so I used a straight pin to weed my vinyl designs. Then someone gave me a Silhouette tool kit and wow! The hook is awesome! It’s a very ergonomical shape and is much more comfortable to hold when doing any tedious, detailed weeding. They sell an almost identical hook at Dollar Tree. I also love the spatula for getting tiny pieces of paper off my cutting mats. Again, you can get the whole kit from Silhouette or find one at Dollar Tree.

Best Paper Scissors

I have two pairs of all-purpose crafting scissors that are my favorites. These gold handled scissors have such a great weight, feel good in my hands and bonus… they’re pretty to look at. The other pair of scissors I have come to love are these Fiskars Mixed Media Shears. They are super sharp and have a really ergonomic handle that fits my hand shape and makes it really comfortable to cut through even thick material like chipboard.

Best Fabric Scissors

I’ve owned these Fiskars fabric scissors for 20+ years and they are my absolute favorite. My old pair look a little different, but the one I’ve linked to is the upgraded model. The handles are spring-loaded, which makes it so much easier to cut through even the thickest fabric. They bounce back up after you squeeze the blades together. They are awesome!

Scissor Sharpener

Even if you’re not a crafter, this scissor sharpener is a must-have. It brings your old scissors back to life. Just slide the blades into the holes and squeeze the handles a few times and your scissors will be good as new.

Rotary Cutter, Mat and Ruler

If you quilt at all, you absolutely need a good rotary cutter, mat and ruler. They help you cut perfectly square and straight fabric pieces. I have used the Fiskars Rotary Cutter since my high school quilting class and it is amazing. Be super careful to always close it though– it’s super sharp and will cut you! Honestly, I don’t have a specific brand for a cutting mat or ruler, but I do have a suggestion. GO BIG! Most fabric is about 43 inches across and you really want to be able to cut big pieces, so in this instance, bigger really is better. This cutting mat is a great size and price and has good reviews and this ruler is a good companion.

Magnetic Pin Holder

When I first started sewing, I had the iconic tomato pincushion. It’s fine, but you know what’s better? A magnetic pin holder! It’s so much easier to just sort of toss the pin in the right general area and have the magnet grab on to it. Fewer pins drop on the floor or roll away when I use it. Mine is an old boring black one, but the one I linked to is a cute color and even has a little spot to store pins.

Cute Thread Racks

My most asked about crafting item ever are these sewing machine wire thread racks. You can see them on the wall in the photo above. I got mine at a thrift store (I squealed with delight when I saw them and snatched them up so fast) but Hobby Lobby sells almost identical thread racks and they are the only ones I can find anywhere that are similar.

Best Glue Gun

Alright, this is an important category to me. I own eleven glue guns. ELEVEN. And guess what? There’s a clear winner for best glue gun.

My criteria? The perfect glue gun has to:

1. heat up quickly
2. have a fine tip nozzle for precise glue application
3. most importantly, it CANNOT DRIP

I loathe a drippy glue gun. Nothing is more annoying to me than a glue gun in idle that just sits there spitting a big mess onto my table. Boo! Say no to drippy glue guns! There is a better way to live.

I bought this glue gun because it supposedly hit all the marks, plus it had features I didn’t’ even know I needed—the big one being that it automatically shuts off after not being used for more than 15 minutes. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve left my glue gun on for days without realizing. I am lucky I haven’t burned my house down. This feature sold me.

I also love that it’s cordless and charges via USB cord so no batteries are needed. It’s super handy when there’s no outlet nearby. One must be ready to craft anytime, anywhere. (Words to live by, right there.)

And the last reason this is the best glue gun is because it’s pink. And it’s cute. And you know what? That matters to me. haha.

If you want to check out the details, you can see this magic glue gun here:

The Craft Patch’s Favorite Glue Gun

I am always trying new things and testing products, so if you have a favorite crafting tool I didn’t list or one you want me to test, I’d absolutely love for you to leave a comment and tell me all about it.