My Recent (and Ongoing) Attempts to Master the 3D Printer
Sewing accessories, experimental 3D printed tools, new bag designs, and a behind-the-scenes look at how Albero is evolving.
In my last post, I mentioned I had been quietly working on something new behind the scenes — and I’m finally ready to share what I’ve been working on.
Over the past few months, I’ve been designing and making a brand-new collection of sewing accessories inspired by the small things that make sewing feel calmer, more organised, and more enjoyable.
If you sew regularly, you’ll know it’s often the smallest tools that become the most-used ones.
The pincushion that always sits beside your machine. The needle keeper that stops hand-sewing needles from disappearing into the sofa. The thread organiser that finally brings order to a tangled pile of threads. The pattern weights you reach for every single project.
I wanted to create accessories that are not only practical but also genuinely lovely to use and keep beside you while you sew.
The New Collection
The collection currently includes:
Pincushions
Needle keepers
Thread organisers
Sewing weights
Every piece has been designed with functionality in mind first, while still feeling thoughtful, tactile, and beautifully made.
Some of the ideas came from my own sewing frustrations. Some came from noticing the tools I reached for most often. And some simply from wanting sewing spaces to feel a little more inspiring and personal.
Not everyone who sews has a dedicated sewing space, and sewing tools and works in progress often end up as part of everyday living spaces. I wanted to create accessories that not only work well, but also look beautiful enough to leave out when they’re not in use — pieces that feel considered rather than cluttered, and that sit naturally within the home as well as the sewing process.
There’s something satisfying about having tools that make the process smoother — especially when they’re designed specifically for makers.
Why I Started Exploring 3D Printing
I’ve always loved the design side of sewing and product creation, and 3D printing has opened up an entirely new way to bring ideas to life.
It allows me to prototype quickly, test new concepts, and create useful tools.
After months of experimenting, designing, testing, redesigning, and learning, I decided to open a second Etsy shop dedicated to my 3D printed creations.
The Design Process
One of the things I enjoy most is taking an idea from a rough sketch all the way through to a finished product.
Sometimes a design works immediately. Other times, it goes through multiple versions before it feels right.
A sewing weight might need adjusting so it feels comfortable in the hand. A thread organiser might need testing with different thread sizes. A needle keeper might need a stronger magnet or a different shape.
I love that process of refining and improving.
It’s the same reason I enjoy creating sewing patterns and kits — thinking carefully about how something will actually be used by someone else.
Building Something New
Opening a second Etsy shop (Albero3D) feels both exciting and slightly daunting.
Starting something new always comes with uncertainty, especially when you’re exploring a different type of product.
But I’ve realised that creativity doesn’t really stay in one lane.
Sewing led me into designing. Designing led me into product development. And product development led me into exploring 3D printing.
Even though these new products are different, they all come from the same place: wanting to create useful, thoughtful tools for creative people.
Expanding Into New Bag Designs
Alongside the sewing accessories, I’ve also been developing a new collection of bag designs that combine fabric inner bags with 3D printed outer frames.
This has been one of the most exciting creative challenges I’ve worked on so far because it brings together two things I love: sewing and product design.
The idea started with wanting to explore how fabric and structured printed elements could work together to create something both functional and visually different.
The fabric inner bags add softness, texture, and versatility, while the 3D printed frames create structure and open up completely new shapes and design possibilities that wouldn’t be achievable with fabric alone.
I’ve spent a lot of time testing proportions, closures, materials, and construction methods to make sure the bags not only look interesting but are also practical to use.
It’s still an evolving collection, but seeing these ideas move from sketches and prototypes into finished products has been incredibly rewarding.
Launching on Faire
Another big step has been opening a wholesale shop on Faire.
For a while now, I’ve wanted to make my products available to independent shops and retailers, and Faire felt like the right platform to begin exploring wholesale.
It opens up opportunities to connect with boutiques, sewing shops, and gift stores looking for thoughtfully designed, creative products.
Wholesale is a completely different side of running a creative business, so there’s been a lot to learn — from product presentation and packaging to thinking about collections in a different way.
But it’s exciting to think about Albero products reaching new spaces and new customers through independent retailers.
What’s Next
I’m continuing to work on new designs and ideas, including more sewing accessories, organisers, and tools that combine practicality with good design.
I’ll also be sharing more behind-the-scenes content here — including the design process, prototypes, product development, and the realities of building creative businesses.
If you enjoy seeing how products evolve from idea to finished piece, there’s a lot more to come.
And if there’s a sewing tool or accessory you wish existed, I’d genuinely love to hear about it. Sometimes the best ideas start with everyday frustrations.
Thank you, as always, for following along and supporting what I create. It means more than you know.
If you’d like to see the new collections, you can explore them here:
I’ll continue sharing updates as new ideas evolve and make their way from sketches into finished pieces. It’s been a really interesting process so far, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it leads next.
Thank you for following along — it means a lot as these ideas continue to take shape.