V is for very sharp things.

Quilters use a number of things that are very sharp. - or at least need to be very sharp in order to work optimally.

Pins - sharp pins make piecing so much easier. They slide into the fabric easily which makes for less distortion.

Safety pins - when pin basting a quilt sharp pins makes the process so much less hassle - it is quicker, less painful (pushing on blunt pins makes for very tender finger tips) and there is less distortion once again

Machine needles - blunt needles cause the stitches to skip and not form properly. As soon as my machine stitching is playing up I change the needle. It isn't always the problem but often it is.

Scissors - sharp scissors are so important. 

Most quilters are very ferocious about protecting their scissors from other family members who might use them for inappropriate purposes.  

    

 

Rotary Cutters - for the non patchworker who has never seen a rotary cutter they resemble pizza cutters but they are for cutting up fabric. The blade (which is circular) is replaceable. They are used in conjunction with a cutting mat and usually a ruler (special patchwork rulers not the ordinary kind used for ruling up pages) Again a sharp blade is important. It cuts through the fabric more easily and more accurately. The rotary cutter must be used correctly and with due care. They can be dangerous if they aren't. A blunt blade though can be more dangerous than a sharp one as then more force is applied meaning a slip is more likely and then... ouch. Blunt blades that are also being pressed down harder can score the cutting mat and damage it.

I tend to be economically minded so I always try to make my things last which means that I don't change my needle as frequently as recommended, nor my rotary blade. Oops. Still it means that when I do change them I really notice and enjoy the sharpness.

Do you have little economies that you make that in the end aren't economies at all.