Above & beyond---tools we never knew we 'needed' :)
06-18-2011, 04:52 AM
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Wisconsin, South Central
Posts: 1,035
What are the tools or gadgets, actually anything related to making your quilting projects that you never suspected would be so important to you?
List your favs here if you would. Explain why they work so well for you if you'd like to do so, maybe how you use something in a innovative way if that's the case.
I can name a good number of things for this thread that make my list but I think I'll start by saying...don't ever try to take my June Tailor Shape Cut rulers away from me! :D I love being able to so accurately cut strips, diamonds and other shapes---and so many at once with little or no repositioning of the ruler necessary. It has made my cutting sessions SO much less stressful and with ACCURATE results.
Share away on specialty items. You might also mention brands of basic supplies that have made your mental list of "I'd have to think long and hard before ever buying this from another manufacturer!"
Have fun!
List your favs here if you would. Explain why they work so well for you if you'd like to do so, maybe how you use something in a innovative way if that's the case.
I can name a good number of things for this thread that make my list but I think I'll start by saying...don't ever try to take my June Tailor Shape Cut rulers away from me! :D I love being able to so accurately cut strips, diamonds and other shapes---and so many at once with little or no repositioning of the ruler necessary. It has made my cutting sessions SO much less stressful and with ACCURATE results.
Share away on specialty items. You might also mention brands of basic supplies that have made your mental list of "I'd have to think long and hard before ever buying this from another manufacturer!"
Have fun!
06-18-2011, 04:59 AM
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Murray, Ky. Looking for a nice cushy pillow to rest my head on!
Posts: 14,022
That would be my rotary cutter and templates. Instead of taking 2 weeks to cut out a quilt top it only takes an afternoon. Try to take any of them and I will use the rotary cutter on you. LOL!!
06-18-2011, 05:02 AM
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Knot Merrill, Southern Indiana
Posts: 5,781
Easy. My glue stick.
I use an Avery brand glue stick for piecing.
Discovered it when reading "Landscape quilting" by Zieman/Sewel for placing raw edge pieces onto a background. Decided to try it for piecing and LOVE IT.
The benefits of the glue stick over liquid glue: 1) I don't have to iron it first to "set" it and 2) If I lay the piece down wrong I can pick it up and move it easily (as long as it hasn't sat for so long that it dried).
Does not gunk up the needle or the machine. Dries completely flat.
And yes, I did first test to make sure it would wash out cause sometimes when I'm laying down a line of glue along the seam I might go outside the 1/4". I also use my old iron so I don't gunk up my new iron (not sure that it will but not willing to find out!).
There are still times when I need pins. If I'm trying to match two particularly seams that need a little easing in the glue stick isn't enough.
I use an Avery brand glue stick for piecing.
Discovered it when reading "Landscape quilting" by Zieman/Sewel for placing raw edge pieces onto a background. Decided to try it for piecing and LOVE IT.
The benefits of the glue stick over liquid glue: 1) I don't have to iron it first to "set" it and 2) If I lay the piece down wrong I can pick it up and move it easily (as long as it hasn't sat for so long that it dried).
Does not gunk up the needle or the machine. Dries completely flat.
And yes, I did first test to make sure it would wash out cause sometimes when I'm laying down a line of glue along the seam I might go outside the 1/4". I also use my old iron so I don't gunk up my new iron (not sure that it will but not willing to find out!).
There are still times when I need pins. If I'm trying to match two particularly seams that need a little easing in the glue stick isn't enough.
06-18-2011, 05:03 AM
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,648
Originally Posted by cjomomma
That would be my rotary cutter and templates. Instead of taking 2 weeks to cut out a quilt top it only takes an afternoon. Try to take any of them and I will use the rotary cutter on you. LOL!!
I don't think I could go without at least one of my sq. rulers... They are so essential to squaring up my blocks. And now that I'm not terrified of my rotary cutter, I use it instead of my scissors :D
06-18-2011, 05:10 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: SE Pennsylvania
Posts: 620
Where to start...
Rotary cutters for one, squared rules for another.
Like DogHouseMom, I use glue sticks a lot, but in my case, the repositional ones for makeing tearable quilting templates.
The neat little clover needle threaders that sit on the table and actually work without having to squint at invisible needle eyes.
Those are the ones that come to mind immediately, but I know going to a sit and sew day requires an extra carryall for the necessaries.LOL
Rotary cutters for one, squared rules for another.
Like DogHouseMom, I use glue sticks a lot, but in my case, the repositional ones for makeing tearable quilting templates.
The neat little clover needle threaders that sit on the table and actually work without having to squint at invisible needle eyes.
Those are the ones that come to mind immediately, but I know going to a sit and sew day requires an extra carryall for the necessaries.LOL
06-18-2011, 06:04 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Omaha
Posts: 550
06-18-2011, 06:06 AM
#8
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Boonsboro, MD
Posts: 2,670
I have lots of templates & rulers that seem to grow. I found these wonderful stickup hooks the base is plastic but the hook is metal. I have them lined up on my wall with all of my templates and rulers hanging. Easy to find and easy to get to and best of all the hooks remove easily and can be reused over and over and don' t leave holes or sticky.. Love it!
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