What Is A Bodkin? Styles & Uses In Sewing
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Without a tool, threading elastic into a casing can be a frustrating and tedious task. But with a bodkin, it's a breeze! Get acquainted with this handy tool—including its types, uses and more—in this post. If a bodkin sounds like the tool for you, head to WAWAK to shop for bodkins and more game-changing sewing tools to take your projects to the next level.
WHAT IS A BODKIN?
A bodkin is a sewing tool used to insert elastic, cording, ribbon or sewing tape into a casing or channel. Sewists often use them to insert elastic into a waistband or add a drawstring to a hoodie, waistband or bag. Historically, bodkins have served various purposes, from corset lacing to hair pinning, and they've evolved in shape and function. Today, various styles of bodkins are available, each with different advantages. Let's take a look at a few common types of bodkins:
Types Of Bodkins
A ball point bodkin looks similar to a large, blunt needle. Ideal for pulling notions through a straight casing, it features a large eye to thread materials like ribbon or elastic and a round tip that helps prevent snags inside the casing. Ball point bodkins are also an excellent choice for more intricate work with ribbons, tape, lace or trims, such as lacing eyelets, weaving ribbons or turning bias tubes.
Pincher-style bodkins, sometimes called clip-style bodkins or tweezer bodkins, are shaped like large tweezers. They feature a sliding ring that allows the user to lock the bodkin closed for a secure grip on elastics and other notions. They're an excellent choice for easily inserting elastics and cording, as well as turning out fabric tubes.
Like ball point bodkins, flexible drawstring threaders feature an eye at one end to thread your drawstring or cording. These threaders, however, are much longer and made of flexible material. They’re ideal for pulling drawstrings through circular casings such as waistbands or drawstring hoods. They're also an excellent option for stretch garments like sportswear or casual clothing.
Other Threaders and Turners
Other similar tools are also available for threading and turning applications. For turning out narrow tubes, try a Loop Turner, ideal for bias tubing, straps, button loops and more. Or, for elastic that tends to twist and snag, you can try specialty elastic threaders. If you're in a pinch and need a tool right away, you can also use a safety pin to pull elastic and other materials through a casing, though it may be more challenging than using a bodkin or threader tool designed for that purpose.
WHAT IS A BODKIN USED FOR?
So what is a bodkin used for? Bodkins are primarily used to grasp items like ribbon, elastic and cording and pull them through a casing. However, they can also come in handy in a few other sewing situations. Let's take a look at a few instances when you'd use a bodkin:
Pulling Elastic Through A Casing
Use a bodkin to easily insert elastic into waistbands, cuffs, necklines and other casings. If you sew a lot of casual, sporting, or stretch garments, a bodkin can definitely come in handy!
Inserting Drawstrings
Easily add drawstrings to waistbands, hoods, bags and more with a bodkin. Whether you're adding a drawstring to a new garment, replacing a worn-out drawstring, or re-inserting one that's come loose, you'll find a bodkin super helpful for the task.
Turning Out Fabric Tubes
Since bodkins are designed to pull notions through a casing, they're also pretty good at pulling a casing through itself! Use a bodkin to turn fabric tubing and straps right-side-out.
Lacing Eyelets
Bodkins historically served as a tool used to lace corsets, and can still be used for this purpose today. Use a ball point bodkin to thread ribbon or cording through eyelets for corsets, decorative lacing, drapery and more.
Find Sewing Bodkins And More At WAWAK
If a bodkin sounds like something you'd like to add to your toolkit, find the perfect fit for your sewing style at WAWAK. With our huge selection of high-quality supplies for every sewist, you're sure to find exactly what you're looking for.
