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Tools: What’s on this student’s head?

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Okay, I’m cruising through all the photos of student’s work at a recent Sue Spargo workshop in Kokomo, Indiana and I paused. What is that on this student’s head? If you are like me or know someone over 40 you know we need more light to see as we age. Please someone tell me what this is and where you purchased it. I will not rest until I have one atop my head, just like Pat.

Editor’s note Feb 26, 2011: I have enjoyed reading each of your comments. Thanks for sharing with me all the ways you can use this head light and where to get one.  –Scarlett

Comments

  1. It looks like a basic headlamp. There are tons of different styles ranging in price at most hardware stores. 🙂

  3. It’s called a head lamp. You can buy them at most outdoor stores. We use them at our summer cottage because we don’t have any electric power. Perfect for reading at night and finding our way home in the dark. Great idea for sewing , quilting and art.

  6. My husband and I each used one last night at the end of our hike when it got dark:) Love mine! So nice that it’s hands free, especially since we hike with trekking poles.

  8. My husband and kids have them for camping. I believe we bought them at the local Travel Country store. Should be able to find them at a sporting goods store.

  9. I have a magnifying head thingy that also has a light on it that can move to shine wherever you need it. I got mine at Harbor Freight really cheap.

  10. LED headlamp – most handymen, mechanics have one. Available at places like Home Depot, Lowes…different styles
    My husband’s is made by Coast, it has an adjustable light.

  11. That thing on her head, a basic Energiser head lamp. They can be found all over the place, usually at Target, in the flashligh section. The head lamp runs under $20, closer to $10, if I remeber corectly. They run on 3 triple A batteries, and go a long time between changes. my family has replaced all the traditional flashlights with these, and loves them.

  12. LL Bean, REI, Lands End all carry them. We use them camping, walking the dog at night and they are a more directed light, so I can read in bed with one and the light doesn’t bother my husband. Pay attention to the reviews, they are all a little different. Mine is lighter than my husband’s and my son’s is bomb proof. These are great stocking stuffers and my girls use their’s all the time. My oldest uses it at night when she is on the campus. We have a joke about where we all keep ours.Watch out, mine can sometimes walk away and find itself in my husband’s toolbox.

  13. Like many of my fellow mail carriers I used one when delivering or collecting mail after dark. We must use both our hands to hold, “finger” and deliver mail, so “using our heads” to light our way is the logical solution. I have to admit I never thought about using a headlamp for close work when quilting or other handwork, but since I often do craft projects or read whenever we’re on driving vacations, I will certainly keep this handy tool in mind!!!

  14. I have been using a light like this for years. It is a simple head lamp that some use for camping or other outdoor activities. I spend lots of time waiting on my kids in a dark car so I use the light to keep knitting after the sun goes down and I’m in car line waiting to pick up the kiddos! I get mine at walmart.

  15. Looks like the Everready led headlamp I bought my husband in Walmart for about $10. It allows you to point it down and has several light settings so you can move the light where you need it and use a little or a lot of light.

  16. It looks like a hikers headlamp. You can buy them in all kinds of varieties at REI or Cabella’s. Really any outdoor shop will carry them 🙂

  17. You can also find at Walmart in the flashlight section….and some models even have a magnifiy capability

  18. You can get them at WalMart, Kmart any department store will carry them. You need to go try them on so you can get one that is not to heavy.

  19. My husband bought one for me so that I could walk at night. He got ours from LL Bean. It is one of the most useful tools we have. It’s used for many, many things and we both use it. I see it’s already been correctly identified.

  20. I now have two, I got them at an Electrical supplies shop. I bought the expensive one for me and it is too bright so I gave it my husband and I use the $10.00 version. It is just right and has is a led daylight type.

Have you read?

12 Beginner-Friendly Quilt Blocks That Are Perfect for Scraps

If you’re a beginner quilter with a scrap pile that’s starting to look like a small fabric landfill, you’re in the right place. The easiest way to build confidence is to sew quilt blocks that don’t demand perfection — the kind that look better when you mix prints, use leftovers, and embrace that scrappy charm.

This roundup is packed with beginner-friendly quilt blocks that are ideal for stash busting. Think simple squares, strips, and easy triangle units you can make from leftover charm squares, jelly roll strips, and those odd little pieces you keep “just in case.”

Here are 12 scrap-friendly quilt block tutorials (a mix of CraftGossip and high-quality external sources) you can sew without needing an advanced quilting degree.

1) Fractured Nine Patch Quilt Block (Scrap-Friendly Twist on a Classic)

This is a fantastic beginner block because it starts with a familiar nine-patch idea, but gives you a little extra movement and interest. It’s perfect for charm squares, layer cakes, and small scraps that coordinate but don’t “match-match.” If your scrap pile is full of 5” squares, this one is a very satisfying make. It looks more advanced than it feels while sewing it.

2) Perfect 4-Patch Quilt Block (Beginner Staple)

The 4-patch is one of the easiest quilt blocks to sew, which makes it ideal for beginners — and it’s incredibly scrap-friendly. You can use tiny squares, leftover strip sets, or anything you’ve already cut for another project. It’s also great for practicing accurate seams without a lot of complicated piecing. Simple doesn’t mean boring once you start playing with contrast.

3) Disappearing Four-Patch Quilt Block (Beginner “Wow” Block)

If you love a block that feels like magic, this is it. You make a basic four-patch first, then slice and rearrange to create a more complex-looking design. It’s a brilliant scrap buster because mixed prints actually add to the effect. Great for beginners who want a “fancy” result with simple steps.

4) Fast and Easy Half Square Triangles (HSTs)

Half square triangles are one of the most useful quilting skills you can learn, and scraps are perfect for practicing. This tutorial focuses on making lots of HST units efficiently, which is exactly what you want for scrap quilting. Once you’ve got a stack of HSTs, you can spin them into dozens of layouts. It’s one of those techniques that keeps paying off for years.

5) Newbie Pinwheel Blocks (Classic + Scrap Friendly)

Pinwheels are cheerful, classic, and great for beginners because they’re built from half square triangles. They also love scraps — especially high-contrast prints that make the “spin” stand out. This is a fun block if you’re working through leftover charm squares or you just want something playful. Pinwheels look gorgeous repeated across a quilt top.

6) Easy Churn Dash Quilt Block

Churn Dash is one of those traditional blocks that looks impressive but is totally doable for beginners. It’s perfect for scraps because you can use one feature print for the center and mix leftovers for the surrounding pieces. This is also a great confidence-builder for learning how blocks come together cleanly. If you love classic quilts, this is a must-try.

7) Scrappy Log Cabin Block Tutorial

Log cabin blocks are basically made for strip scraps. You build outward from a center square, adding strips like a little fabric onion (in the best way). This tutorial is ideal if you’ve got narrow leftovers from trimming borders or binding. It’s beginner-friendly, addictive to sew, and looks amazing when you repeat it scrappy-style.

8) Garden Fence Quilt Block (Strip Scrap Friendly)

This one is a great choice if your scraps are mostly strips rather than squares. It’s simple piecing, strong lines, and it works beautifully with mixed prints. You can keep the background consistent for a “controlled scrappy” look, or go full chaos-scrap if that’s your vibe. Either way, it’s a beginner-friendly block that doesn’t require fussy precision.

9) Rail Fence Quilt Block Tutorial 

Rail Fence blocks are a beginner favourite because they’re just strips sewn together and cut into units. It’s fast, forgiving, and very scrap-friendly — perfect for leftover jelly roll strips or random lengths you’ve been saving. This tutorial makes it super approachable and easy to repeat. Great “first quilt” block if you want quick wins.

10) Friendship Star Quilt Block Tutorial 

This is an excellent beginner star block because it’s essentially a nine-patch layout with a few half square triangles added in. Scraps work beautifully here — especially if you use one fabric family for the star and let the background be more neutral. It’s a classic block that looks lovely in both modern and traditional quilts. Perfect for using up smaller leftovers while learning star construction.

11) Shoo Fly Quilt Block Tutorial 

Shoo Fly is a traditional, beginner-friendly block that comes together quickly and uses easy units. It’s especially good for scrap quilting because it’s made from squares and half square triangles, so you can pull from leftovers without needing large cuts. This tutorial gives clear sizing options, which is handy when you’re working with whatever scrap sizes you’ve got on hand. A really solid skill-building block.

12) Simple Checkerboard Patchwork Quilt 

If you’re a beginner quilter with a scrap pile that’s starting to look like a small fabric landfill, you’re in the right place. The easiest way to build confidence is to sew quilt blocks that don’t demand perfection — the kind that look better when you mix prints, use leftovers, and embrace that scrappy charm.