1-Stitch Sewing Aid Works as Advertised, but for How Long?

We've all been there. We've been away from home when we've lost a button or ripped a a hem. Quick fixes like safety pins work with varying degrees of success, but they are awkward and can hard to hide. The new 1-Stitch promises to make such on-the-go repairs fast and easy.

If you've missed the infomercial, the 1-Stitch is a small red device that shoots small plastic fasteners into your clothes. There isn't anything magical about the 1-Stitch, however. If you've ever cut a price tag off of a new blouse or pair of pants, you've seen the "amazing" fastening technique of the 1-Stitch. The fasteners are the exact same that you see in price tags, only smaller.

The 1-Stitch works by inserting a hollow needle into fabric and quickly forcing a plastic fastener into the fabric to hold it together. The 1-Stitch needle was easy to insert into every fabric that I used it on, including heavy denim, and the plastic fastener did work to secure buttons and hems, but it isjust a temporary fix for clothing. The 1-Stitch just doesn't take the place of a needle and thread when repairing buttons.

Where the 1-Stitch shines is in crafts and household repairs. I used the 1-Stitch to tack fabric remnants into make-shift curtains, and my daughter used the 1-Stitch attach patches to her blue jean jacket. The fasteners are fairly durable and will holdup to normal use. If you are looking for a quick and easy replacement for your hot glue gun, the 1-Stitch can be that replacement.

The gun is small and can be carried is a purse or a coat pocket so it is available when you need it.

The major issue with the 1-stitch is the price. At $14.95 plus $5.95 for shipping, this is far from a bargain. A similarly sized price tag gun can be had for about the same amount and they are much sturdier. The construction of this little unit is flimsy and I'm not sure it would stand up to being tossed into a cluttered purse. The needle came out of the gun on several occasions and finally had to be secured with a little super glue.

The 1-Stitch uses small half-inch fasteners and is unable to accept larger fasteners, making it's use somewhat limited. If you are completely useless with a needle or are prone to losing buttons or ripping out hems, the 1-Stitch will be fine for you. It performs as advertised, but it is not new, or amazing, or even a very good deal.