I need a Thread Zap

While tutoring us on how to make needlepunch flowers with silk ribbon, Allison Aller mentioned a cool tool that I hadn’t seen before. She says,

I got out my handy dandy and indispensable Thread Zapper to seal the cut ends of the ribbon. You push that button on the side and it heats up that little wire tip. (There’s a AA battery in there.) You just run it over the cut edges of the ribbon and it seals them right up, with a satisfying wisp of smoke. The sealed ends won’t ravel and hold the gather in place.

If you work with ribbon very much (I do!), those words are bound to incite a bit of tool lust. Allie’s advice: Google Beadsmith Thread Zap. Soon one will be mine!

See more photos and follow along with Allie’s needlepunch flower adventure on her blog, Allie’s in Stitches.